SHARED GOLD
Now that the Matildas story has come to an end, I thought I would watch some of the World Track and Field Championships currently on in Budapest.
Some people argue that this is a tougher competition to win gold at because the best athletes are not limited to just two contestants from any one nation.
What a delight it was to watch the pole vaulting. I remember seeing it for the first time on a shop television in 1956 during the Melbourne Olympics. I had never seen anything like it (and that was just the television). It has to be one of the most skilful techniques on show. It has the same skill set as a long jumper with the run up. Then it combines a two-step introduction to the bar along the lines of a triple jump event and finally the body twist of a high jumper to clear the bar. Quite a feat.
To think that now we have a world champion in this event. Her name is Nina Kennedy, and it was only the third medal we have won at these championships. The other medals, by the way, were a silver medal in the 20km walk and a bronze medal in the javelin. All medals by the way have gone to women. The best performing male just missed out on the final of the 100 metres.
Back to Nina’s outstanding effort and what a shame it was to see all the controversy about her sharing the gold medal with her US friend and current World and Olympic champion Katie Moon. Both ladies have been subjected to unnecessary vitriol with comments suggesting they were cowards, and their decision was shameful and pathetic. Even the great American 400 metre champion Michael Johnson got involved and questioned the way it was decided.
Even in the grandstand here opinions are divided. Some people say there should have been an elimination via jumping heights below what they both missed until there was a stand-alone winner. Others including me say if sharing the medal is an agreed option and validated by the relevant authorities, so be it. Basically, it’s a dead heat.
Looking back on the previous three hours of jumping they had identical jumps and near misses. No one could be eliminated because one took two or three attempts at that particular height (while the other contestant got over on first attempt). This is what usually happens in high jumps as well.
Looking ahead was mired with danger. Both girls were exhausted and in genuine danger of an injury if they had to press on and run the risk of a fall from over five metres if they were to misjudge things.
Besides, it had happened before. At the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo two high jumpers decided they would share the gold medal and like this one, pictures from around the world showed the joy, the relief, and the good will of both contestants. Let it be.