Eilidh Doyle only squeezed into tonight’s 400 metres hurdles final by the skin of her teeth but the Scot still believes a medal is within her grasp if she can pull off the performance of her life.
The former European champion had to sweat before confirming her place following the semi-finals before progressing as a fastest loser and banishing the demons of her early exit from London 2012.
“It’s the best feeling ever,” she said. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy. People say: ‘oh, you’re ranked sixth in the world but that means nothing because when you get to an Olympics, everybody raises their game. And I put myself in a position where I can now go and challenge in the final.”
Condemned to a peripheral lane, Doyle’s challenge is immense with Czech world champion Zuzana Hejnova proving her fitness with a ferocious run in the semis that will have Doyle and everyone else on guard.
“You never doubt her for a moment,” the 29-year-old acknowledged. “We saw that last year. She’s going to be a contender. She’s experienced under pressure, it’s going to be a very exciting final. I know I’ll get a bad lane, one or eight. But it’s still ten hurdles, it’s still 400 metres. So that won’t bother me.”
Her first two rounds here have not been convincing. In Monaco last month, Doyle looked every bit a potential gold medallist but there have been hesitations that do not bode well.
But she insisted: “The stride pattern I’m doing is what I did in Monaco. It’s about turning the legs over nice and quick rather than slowing down. That’s the really critical thing about this – even if there’s an extra stride in, it’s about making sure I’m running fast. That’s the big difference this year – keeping the running quick while getting the strides right. I can go into the final confident now.”
Meanwhile, Laura Muir’s morning after reflection yesterday was surely one of what ifs, and could have beens. Her fellow competitors in the Olympic 1500 metres final doubtless likewise. The high-performance mantra is always about managing the controllables and blocking other variables from the mind.
The 23-year-old and her coach Andy Young though they had foreseen every tactical twist imaginable but in attempting to match the unbelievable burst of speed pulled out by eventual gold and silver medallists Faith Kipyegon and Genzebe Dibaba, she was left drained and spent. Third and clear with half a lap left, the Scot was consumed by the chasing pack and faded back to seventh in 4:12.88, well outside the British record she set only last month.
“Me and my coach looked at it really carefully,” she reflected. “Me and my coach looked at all the splits – points where people break – what every one could do. So I’m confident the tactics I had gave me the best chance. I executed them well. It just didn’t happen.”
Tipped as a medallist, Muir did not match the hype. With a little perspective, she has come a long way inside the three years since her international debut. Still young, still immensely talented, she has ample time on her side. “I’ve come so far,” she said. “When you’re progressing so quick, it’s easy to put medals around your neck. That was in my potential to do that but it wasn’t in the legs.”
Post-race, naturally, she was on the fringes of the focus here. Kipyegon, one year Muir’s junior, was lauded for her obduracy in holding on for victory. Likewise, Jenny Simpson of the USA for winning the mass sprint for bronze. The runner-up, within her event, verges on a pariah, damned by association with her coach Jama Aden, who remains under investigation by Spanish police after syringes filled with performance-enhancing drugs were found in his hotel room.
Four years ago, the 1500m final in London was retrospectively awarded the tag as one of the dirtiest races in history, with six of the top nine finishers go on to serve doping bans. “I really believe that it’s have come a very long way since then,” said Laura Weightman, who came 11th. “That was a much better final – I’m delighted for the medallists there: Faith Kipyegon, and Jenny Simpson getting a bronze.” Not Dibaba too, we asked. The sound of silence spoke loudly.
Did Muir expect her placing to be eventually upgraded? “Maybe”. Was this result all that it seemed? “I have my doubts, let me say that,” she added.
Protesting her innocence once again, Dibaba claimed the scrutiny has held her back. “The world knows my coach is purely for my training. The rumours roaming the world are deeply affecting my training and my competition. And this adversely affected my performance and psychological condition. I had blood and urine four, six, eight times this year. I assure you I am crystal clean.” Why keep him then? She prevaricated. “If he is clean, I will stay with Jama. If things are worst, I will stop. Still he is only under custody.”
Not that it will be consolation to Muir. Without Dibaba’s turn of speed, she might have held onto a medal. But what ifs she cannot control. She can only look forward, not think back. “To make the final in my first Olympics in the way I did and to perform as I did in that final, I’m proud. It’ll take me a few more years to get the strength I need. But I’m looking forward to Tokyo now.”
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