http://www.smh.com.au/news/beijing2008/ross-missing-a-coach/2008/06/16/1213468333248.html
Wonder how true Rizk’s allegations are…
Rizk factor leaves Ross minus a coach
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Jessica Halloran
June 17, 2008
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AUSTRALIAN sprint star Joshua Ross says he is still Beijing-bound despite being dumped via text message by his coach, Emil Rizk.
Rizk yesterday slammed Ross, claiming the sprinter was more committed to partying than running, and fired off a text that read: “I cease being your coach”.
Rizk pointed at Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, who recently broke the 100m world record clocking 9.72 seconds, as a man committed to his sport.
“I heard that overseas he was still going out and getting drunk,” Rizk said. “I don’t think Josh Ross has changed. Usain Bolt; now there’s dedication. He knows what it takes to be No.1.”
Ross, whose personal best is 10.08s, declined to comment on Rizk’s allegations and said he believed he would be on the 100m start line in China in August.
It is understood that AA officials would like him to run around 10.10 before he can secure an individual place on the Australian track and field team to be finalised on June 23.
“I feel like I’m in reasonable shape,” Ross said. “I’ve kept going with my training. I started pretty late in preparing for these Games and it’s going to be a miracle if I can run those times. AA want me to run 10.10-10.15 and I believe I can do it.”
This year has been chaotic for Ross. He abandoned his Olympic campaign in February battling depression but was back on track after reuniting with Rizk in March. Since then, Ross has posted a fastest time of 10.29s and that is unlikely to be enough to ensure him selection.
Ross has another chance to go faster at a meeting on the Gold Coast this weekend.
As Ross trained on coachless yesterday, Rizk said he lacked determination to be an Olympian, adding he showed him no respect at the end of their partnership.
“I don’t think he’s dedicated or determined enough,” Rizk said. “I think he’s got a lot of issues. He has shown no respect at all to the coach. He has shown no dedication or commitment. I think he has lost his path again. He lacks that determination to be an athlete. I feel without dedication in this sport he won’t go a long way. You just can’t come in half-hearted. I don’t work with anyone that’s going to be a liability.”
It’s the not the first time that Rizk, who was Ross’s third coach in five months, and Ross have had a public falling out.
The pair split after their disastrous world championships campaign in Osaka last August, which led to the sprinter terminating the partnership via email soon after.
After they parted, Rizk said Ross was not “mentally capable” of running at major international meets and more interested in partying during last year’s European season. Rizk said Ross was “too busy focusing on girls and alcohol and going out”.
It could be the first time for 28 years, since the 1980 Moscow Olympics, that an Australian man has not run the 100m and 200m.
