Collins Respects Athletes’ Choice
Thu 05 Jan, 9:09 AM
UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins has emphasised athletes should be allowed to make their own decisions when major championships clash.
Nathan Morgan and Nathan Douglas have opted to compete at the World Indoor Championships rather than travel to the Commonwealth Games, although the pair would both have been medal contenders in Melbourne.
Their absence in Australia will almost certainly affect Team England’s tally of podium places in what is forecast to be a keenly-contested Games where the track and field programme gets under way on March 19.
But their decision to represent the Norwich Union GB side at the world indoors in Moscow, which finish seven days earlier, has prevented the pair from doubling up.
“I would have liked to have done but it would be almost impossible to do so,” said Jason Gardener, who is concentrating on his bid for the Commonwealth 100 metres title rather than defending his world 60m crown.
With the clash of the two events inevitable due to the Games having to take place during the Australian summer, Collins played no part in the pair’s decision, leaving every athlete to make their own choice.
As a result Morgan, the reigning Commonwealth long jump champion, and triple jumper Douglas, ranked third in the world in 2005, will compete in a chilly Moscow rather than a sunny Melbourne.
Collins said: "Like every other individual they had to make a tough decision at a time where there are two major competitions taking place at almost the same time.
"The choice is theirs and I’m sure being coached and advised by Ted King, a thoroughbred senior UK athletics performance manager, they have made the one that suits them best.
“Different people have different attitudes to what they wish to achieve, but we must remember this is an individual sport and athletes must be respected for the choices they make.”
Despite the pair’s presence in the Russian capital, Collins admits it will be a very depleted UK squad which travels to Moscow.
He said: "I have to accept not only will we be losing the chance of picking the number one in each event but also in some cases down to those ranked eighth or ninth.
“We are unlikely to take a large team to Moscow, instead it will almost certainly be a small select squad, but one also giving us the opportunity to take some other younger athletes as part of the development programme.”