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How Did USA’s Trayvon Bromell Become the Voice of the Silenced at the Tokyo Olympics 2020?
Trayvon Bromell ran his first heat in the Tokyo Olympics earlier today, repressing the USA as a favourite in the race and as the current fastest man on earth. While athletes like to keep light feet and lighter minds heading into such a race, Bromell carried the weight of a heavy message on his spikes.
The American was spotted wearing red spikes on which there was something written. As cameras focused on it, it was revealed that these were names. Trayvon Bromell had taken the time to stick papers containing names of athletes that could not make it to Tokyo through means they found unjust.
He was their voice at the Tokyo Games and sent out a powerful statement by doing this. Sha’Carri Richardson, Christian Taylor, Omar McLeod, Omar Craddock, and Marvin Bracy-Williams Jr. were names spotted on the spikes.
— Luke Dias of EssentiallySports (@TheLukeDias) July 31, 2021
Sha’Carri Richardson was suspended weeks before the Tokyo Olympics
As many may already know, Sha’Carri Richardson was suspended for one month ahead of the Tokyo Olympics due to a positive marijuana rest after her trials. She had placed first in the Women’s 100m race and was expected to be direct competition for the Jamaicans. Although she cited mental health reasons for marijuana consumption, she was excluded from the roster.
Jun 19, 2021; Eugene, OR, USA; Sha’Carri Richardson (middle) celebrates after defeating Gabby Thomas (left) and Javianne Oliver to win the women’s 100m in 10.86 during the US Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Omar McLeod failed to qualify for Jamaica in the 110m hurdles team, after placing last in the finals, despite dominating the semifinals and the heats before that. He revealed later that inspite of complaining of muscle cramps that morning, he was forced to run and hence was denied the win.
McLeod asserted that he should have been called up to the team since he was still the best in the race and was the defending champion. He feels denied since the medical team should have ruled him out for the finals rather than let him compete on uneven ground.
Christian Taylor and Omar Craddock were both ousted from competing before Tokyo
Christian Taylor was the favourite to win the Triple Jump event in Tokyo for the USA, up until May when a huge accident in a competition left him with a torn Achilles tendon. Unable to compete, he missed his chance at Gold with this and is still on the road to recovery.
USA’s Christian Taylor competes in the Men’s Triple Jump Final during the athletics competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 2016. / AFP / Adrian DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Omar Craddock was handed a 20-month suspension from competition after missing out on two doping tests and a ‘misfiling’ error which cost him the chance to compete in the Men’s Triple Jump for USA. The athlete protested that he had never failed a test and was forced to accept his omission from the Olympics.
Trayvon Bromell nearly saw his message go in vain as he placed fourth in his 100m heat, missing the automatic qualification mark. However, he survived the scare by playing in the top 3 amongst the non-automatic qualification to book a semifinal place. The fastest man on earth is yet to show up in Tokyo and he aims to do more than just that on the tracks.
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