Samoan sprinter embarrassed

19 August 2016, 12:00AM

Samoan sprinter, Jeremy Dodson, has not minced words in expressing his feelings after his performance at the Rio Olympics.

Dodson missed out on a berth in the 200m semi finals at the Rio Olympics with the 28-year-old finished fifth in the opening heat with a time of 20.51 seconds. 

The race was won by Panama's Alonso Edward in 20.19.

Dodson’s mark was well short of his personal best time of 20.07 seconds from 2011 and the 20.2 mark he was hoping to hit to assure himself of a place in the final 24.

“It's so hard to hear "4 more years" because I said the same thing 4 years ago,” Dodson wrote on his Facebook page. 

“I am embarrassed and disappointed in my performance because I am better than that, and everyone deserved to see it. 

“It is a blessing, and a burden to run for a smaller country because on one hand, you have the love from an enormous amount of people. 

“On the other, you have the whole country on your shoulders as you become the ambassador of a nation to the world. I am running for more than myself.”

Dodson said he could have done better.

“Everyone deserved the best of me, and that I failed to give,” he continued. 

“I am not calling for sympathy, but rather giving a statement of more to come. 

“I learned my lesson and am ready to move forward. I am tired of this heartbreak. I owe it to myself. I owe you all a show. God is amazing, and I cannot wait to see the works being done.”

19 August 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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