The Generation Games: Sharp joins McColgan as selection row rages on

Doug Gillon

Sports writer

Wednesday 4 July 2012

TWO Scottish Olympians are celebrating after confirmation that their daughters will follow in their spike tracks.

Lynsey Sharp: 'Frankly, I never expected to be chosen'

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Doug Gillon

Eilish McColgan (steeplechase) and Lynsey Sharp (800 metres) were among four Scots named yesterday in Britain's squad for 2012.

The others are Eilidh Child (400m hurdles) and Lee McConnell, who goes to her third Olympics in the 400m, despite lacking the required A standard this year. Her place was at the discretion of UK performance director Charles van Commenee. Both are also in the 4x400m relay squad.

For McColgan, whose mother Liz won Olympic 10,000m silver in 1988, and world gold in 1991, selection was a formality after she won at the UK trials. A place was guaranteed to anyone in the first two who had fulfilled the A qualifying standard.However, Sharp won the trial while securing only the B standard. Two other women, Marilyn Okoro and Emma Jackson, had achieved the A mark this year, while Jemma Simpson and Jenny Meadows were also selectable, having recorded it last season. Meadows, who has not raced competitively since last September, did not contest the trial, but Sharp beat the other three, winning decisively with a well-judged sprint. Then she emulated her father, Cameron, by taking silver at the European Championships last weekend. Cameron took 200m silver 30 years ago, and reached the semi-finals in both sprints at the Moscow Olympics.His daughter graduated with honours in law from Edinburgh's Napier University two weeks ago, but it was the selectors who were left studying the fine print of their policy. Deliberations lasted two hours, revealed Van Commenee.The decision on Sharp prompted immediate uproar. UKA selection criteria permits selection of someone with just the B standard, but only if no A standard athlete is included. Naming Sharp automatically ruled out all four rivals. "Frankly, I never expected to be chosen," said Sharp last night.Meadows and Simpson conducted an aggressive social network campaign to promote themselves – a novel experience for selectors. Meadows, a former world bronze medalist, issued a public ultimatum on the eve of Sharp and Jackson's European final, saying she would appeal if she was not selected. Sharp's selection provoked uproar on social network sites even before the team was announced. In defiance of warnings to the contrary, Okoro tweeted: "I'm quitting" before the team had been made public. Where that leaves her selection for the 4 x 400m relay is unclear.McColgan and Sharp have come through the ranks as friends and training partners. "We've grown up together in the sport, and it is nice to share this together," said Sharp. Both have won the genetic lottery. McColgan's father, Peter, competed in the steeplechase at the 1991 World Championships, while Sharp's mother, Carol, was an 800m runner whose international career spanned three decades. Cameron, seriously injured in an accident in 1991, did not know who Lynsey was when he came round from a coma, but they were celebrating this week, comparing championship medals.Mum has downsized three times in recent years to help fund Lynsey's career, and was ready to do so again ahead of Rio. "I hope she feels it has been worthwhile now," said Lynsey. "It has not been easy."The manner of her selection was not lost on Sharp. "I hoped they would give me a chance, but it is a huge, unprecedented decision. I do not have the A standard, but the sport is about performing when it matters. I realise legal challenges from the other girls are likely."A legal adviser sat in on selection. As Sharp observed: "They have applied the policies in a way they think is acceptable, but I just want to savour the moment."

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The Generation Games: Sharp joins McColgan as selection row rages on

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