The theory that she felt fine before the start doesn’t hold water. Watching the replay, she started immediately off the back, was well behind the last place finisher (Bhutan, 3:52) at 2 minutes with a clear debilitating injury, and dropped out shortly after. The ONLY rational explanation for a self-respecting athlete like her is a sponsor commitment to start the race. Otherwise she should have given a chance to the alternate.
This has NOTHING to do with ego, or checking a philosophical box... it is part of contracts. It is a literal checking of a box that equals $$$. You need to start to meet the contractual requirement of olympian. Des Linden did the same thing her first olympics. She also said the experience was invaluable for her. Jess McClain is my favorite runner right now, but this is just the reality of the sport. Fiona starts that race 100 times out of 100 if it means 1 more dollar in her pocket.
ReyGun, the Australian break dancer, who finished her assignment has gotten all the hate there exists in the world and Fiona O'Keeffe, who ran just 2km of the marathon in Paris is going free. When are people going to start kick her ass? As a runner, knowing what a strain it is to run 26.2 miles, how in the world could she even think she was fit to run.
She became an Olympian by virtue of winning the Trials. If she knew that she was injured prior to the race, she should have given her spot to the alternate.
No, she shouldn't have. She should have done whatever she wanted to do because she earned a place on the team. Alternates are people who weren't good enough at the trials.
She gave up at 2k and ran the entire thing at the speed of a 68 year old. Premeditated obviously. Clearly she doesn't believe in her ability to make the olympic team again.
Unfortunately its confirmed she knew about the injury but the pain sort of came and went. She hoped sleeping on it would help and apparently she went on a run before and was okay. But by the time she got more information it was too late to sub. Excuses.
reputational damage to puma should have allowed common sense to reign and allow her to have whatever bonus was contractually contingent up on starting and allowed an alt to start in her stead. puma should have offered her that without her agent needing to negotiate. however, if her agent didn't present this argument to puma himself if puma didn't bring it to him, the agent has culpability too. most people will rightly hold this against puma. too bad for them.
The same happened with Australia. It was NOT the three fastest that were selected. One who should have been picked objected, but no. Sinead Driver started the race and lasted about the same as the American...
Alright I might be sceptical but here is another talented puma marathoner with hip injuries!! Molly Seidel (after Tokyo), Fiona O'Keeffe and Rose! Is this just a coincidence or it might be related to shoes?
You’re not an Olympian until you start and contracts have Olympian clauses. That could have been a 10’s of thousands of dollars decision. I understand both cases. I don’t love that USA didn’t race 3 athletes and someone healthy could have filled that spot. But I understand the personal finance part of this decision and contract impacts. I agree, I feel bad for McClain, but this happens at all levels.
No matter what problem Fiona had, it was her spot. SHE earned it and she earned the choice to do whatever she wanted. Anyone who feels cheated or betrayed should train better or race better because they didn't earn the right to represent the U.S. Fiona did. So she wanted to race and that's the end of it, armchair athletes!
That’s the problem with USA track. They need to make last min subs without feelings. Ethiopia won gold with a sub. Faulkner was a sub because the other cyclists had the triathlons and knew her limits. Tokyo women’s marathon gold was also a sub as well. Many countries are willing to take emotion out of it and sub in for a potential win. She was greedy and hopefully this shows USA that injuries should force somebody to step down.
When did this foolishness about who is and is not an Olympian gain traction? She won trials, she is an Olympian. Just because Kara Goucher says it ......
These Podcaster's admit they don't have any details, but that doesn't stop them from speculating out their ass'. Reported elsewhere that the deadline for alternate passed before it was recognized O'Keefe couldn't run.
I don't run anywhere near O'Keefe pace for marathon, but I do run, and I can tell you anyone who has spent any time training for marathon knows exactly what kind of injury they are having. IMHO O'Keefe is not at fault at all. Maybe she had contractual obligations, and she has every right to think and act in her best self-interest. However, to say deadline for alternate had passed is a bunch of bs, they knew exactly what was going on.
It makes a difference if you get a 100K $ more per year or not. You would do the same. It was the right move. She qualified, she started, deal with it!
Host: “I want to give her the benefit of the doubt” Proceeds to doubt her. Lol wow. Who cares why she did it. She trained for it, put in the work and earned her spot. If she needed to start to get her bonus from a contract then so be it.
The theory that she felt fine before the start doesn’t hold water. Watching the replay, she started immediately off the back, was well behind the last place finisher (Bhutan, 3:52) at 2 minutes with a clear debilitating injury, and dropped out shortly after. The ONLY rational explanation for a self-respecting athlete like her is a sponsor commitment to start the race. Otherwise she should have given a chance to the alternate.
If Jessica McLain was called to fly to be an alternate in Paris she should have run
This has NOTHING to do with ego, or checking a philosophical box... it is part of contracts. It is a literal checking of a box that equals $$$. You need to start to meet the contractual requirement of olympian. Des Linden did the same thing her first olympics. She also said the experience was invaluable for her.
Jess McClain is my favorite runner right now, but this is just the reality of the sport. Fiona starts that race 100 times out of 100 if it means 1 more dollar in her pocket.
You’re right. Jess wouldn’t want people to harp on about this I’m sure.
Well, it was OBVIOUS that after she took her first step over the starting line that she had injured herself!
ReyGun, the Australian break dancer, who finished her assignment has gotten all the hate there exists in the world and Fiona O'Keeffe, who ran just 2km of the marathon in Paris is going free. When are people going to start kick her ass? As a runner, knowing what a strain it is to run 26.2 miles, how in the world could she even think she was fit to run.
I’m just gonna say it. She’s not eating enough which leads to injury. ☹️ We’ve seen this with so many distance runners of the past.
Yes we have, and recently.
She stopped 2k into the marathon.?? Nah, no benefit of the doubt. Sounds almost surely premeditated and incredibly selfish.
Complete nonsense.
She became an Olympian by virtue of winning the Trials. If she knew that she was injured prior to the race, she should have given her spot to the alternate.
officially you have to start your event to be an Olympian.
No, she shouldn't have. She should have done whatever she wanted to do because she earned a place on the team. Alternates are people who weren't good enough at the trials.
We will find out in 4 years when they do a documentary and it is ok to speak out..🤷🏽♂️
She gave up at 2k and ran the entire thing at the speed of a 68 year old. Premeditated obviously. Clearly she doesn't believe in her ability to make the olympic team again.
Unfortunately its confirmed she knew about the injury but the pain sort of came and went. She hoped sleeping on it would help and apparently she went on a run before and was okay. But by the time she got more information it was too late to sub. Excuses.
she sacrificed the team for a check. overstriding big miles wrecked her hips
Hard to judge. Who doesn’t wanna be an Olympian? 🤷♂️
reputational damage to puma should have allowed common sense to reign and allow her to have whatever bonus was contractually contingent up on starting and allowed an alt to start in her stead. puma should have offered her that without her agent needing to negotiate. however, if her agent didn't present this argument to puma himself if puma didn't bring it to him, the agent has culpability too. most people will rightly hold this against puma. too bad for them.
The same happened with Australia. It was NOT the three fastest that were selected. One who should have been picked objected, but no. Sinead Driver started the race and lasted about the same as the American...
Alright I might be sceptical but here is another talented puma marathoner with hip injuries!! Molly Seidel (after Tokyo), Fiona O'Keeffe and Rose! Is this just a coincidence or it might be related to shoes?
You’re not an Olympian until you start and contracts have Olympian clauses. That could have been a 10’s of thousands of dollars decision.
I understand both cases. I don’t love that USA didn’t race 3 athletes and someone healthy could have filled that spot. But I understand the personal finance part of this decision and contract impacts.
I agree, I feel bad for McClain, but this happens at all levels.
Contrast her performance to the woman from Bhutan.
No matter what problem Fiona had, it was her spot. SHE earned it and she earned the choice to do whatever she wanted.
Anyone who feels cheated or betrayed should train better or race better because they didn't earn the right to represent the U.S. Fiona did.
So she wanted to race and that's the end of it, armchair athletes!
That’s the problem with USA track. They need to make last min subs without feelings. Ethiopia won gold with a sub. Faulkner was a sub because the other cyclists had the triathlons and knew her limits. Tokyo women’s marathon gold was also a sub as well. Many countries are willing to take emotion out of it and sub in for a potential win. She was greedy and hopefully this shows USA that injuries should force somebody to step down.
An Olympian with a DNF...not acceptable.I've coached runners in marathons for years and the marathon is not an option
When did this foolishness about who is and is not an Olympian gain traction? She won trials, she is an Olympian. Just because Kara Goucher says it ......
No one knows exactly what happened.
I’ve never heard such snooty ppl! Jess McLain didn’t make the team. Fiona did and it was her decision and none of your business!
She knew she wasn’t fit to run, it was a poor & humiliating decision.
Let's chalk it up to covid
These Podcaster's admit they don't have any details, but that doesn't stop them from speculating out their ass'. Reported elsewhere that the deadline for alternate passed before it was recognized O'Keefe couldn't run.
I don't run anywhere near O'Keefe pace for marathon, but I do run, and I can tell you anyone who has spent any time training for marathon knows exactly what kind of injury they are having. IMHO O'Keefe is not at fault at all. Maybe she had contractual obligations, and she has every right to think and act in her best self-interest. However, to say deadline for alternate had passed is a bunch of bs, they knew exactly what was going on.
Deadline was friday evening, she knew she was still hurt after many shots. The coaches knew her status & didn’t pull the plug. GREED
It makes a difference if you get a 100K $ more per year or not. You would do the same. It was the right move. She qualified, she started, deal with it!
Host: “I want to give her the benefit of the doubt”
Proceeds to doubt her. Lol wow.
Who cares why she did it. She trained for it, put in the work and earned her spot. If she needed to start to get her bonus from a contract then so be it.
Sorry guys but I think it's easy to sit on your coach and cast judgement without knowing shit. Thumbs down on you.
They just shouldn’t have alternates.
Ethiopias alternate literally just won the men's marathon.
@@MattIncognito He got on the juice and got better
@@PiestewaPeakhe’s been running great all year, they just have a deeper legit talent pool
Ego
Money, she had a bonus in her contract for running the olympic marathon
@@davidrosenthal5795this