Reece Prescod on Tokyo Olympics disqualification: ‘The pressure eats you up inside’

Reece Prescod was residing the dream. A minimum of he thought he was whereas anxiously ready within the blocks on the Tokyo Olympics. Prescod was lower than 10 seconds away from a spot within the males’s 100m closing when a shock false start led to his disqualification and one of many loneliest walks in sport.

Acknowledging how he had grow to be agitated and determined to grab the second, the European silver medalist determined to embrace the merciless lesson and resist the temptation to direct the blame elsewhere. As an alternative, the Nice Britain sprinter hopes to harness his out of physique expertise all through an intense yr of athletics, beginning with the 60m on the British Indoor Championships this weekend.

“I used to be there bodily in Tokyo, however I simply wasn’t myself,” Prescod, who has lifetime better of 9.94 seconds, recollects. “I wasn’t within the form I wanted to be. It’s such a surreal surroundings to be in as a result of it’s the place you dream of being, however you’re not truly prepared for the second.

“I keep in mind going to mattress the night time earlier than the semi-final, I used to be considering, ‘this isn’t how I need to really feel ever once more’, you may’t predict some issues. I need to be at a championships and suppose, ‘you already know what Reece, the final yr you’ve ready actually laborious and it doesn’t matter what occurs tomorrow you may be actually pleased with it’.

“I can see the place I made some unhealthy choices. I put a persona up in Tokyo, I acquired to the second and wasn’t actually prepared for it. I’ve by no means false began in my life. Within the warmth there have been related cases of it, so once I left the competitors it was taking part in on my thoughts. My begin, an entire day fixating on my begin.

“I shouldn’t have been worrying about my begin if I’m in form, I ought to be capable of get up, have breakfast, do what I’ve to do and benefit from the expertise. Whenever you’re not ready for one thing you exit on a whim.

“The exterior stress from residence, the expectations, it eats you up inside. You suppose, ‘I must placed on a present, it’s the Olympics’. Nevertheless it’s in regards to the course of. Competitors must be the straightforward half and if we don’t construct proper, I can’t do what I’m able to doing.”

So a dejected Prescod returned to the locker room that night and began to piece collectively a plan to make sure that his dream-turned-nightmare by no means occurs once more.

A revamped teaching set-up now sees Prescod intently monitor his weight, observe quite a few efficiency indicators and meticulously keep a excessive stage of accountability, together with every day check-ins with teammates on WhatsApp earlier than going to mattress.

Prescod’s humiliation on the most important stage signalled what has been a turbulent interval for British sprinting. Teammate Zharnel Hughes suffered the identical gut-wrenching destiny out of the blocks within the 100m closing earlier than the final word disgrace arrived when the boys’s 4x100m relay staff had their silver medal stripped on account of CJ Ujah’s failed doping check.

A bitter style lingers, however Prescod, an alternate for the relay staff final summer season, has been left in an unenviable place: trapped between displaying loyalty to an in depth buddy and seizing the chance he has craved for therefore lengthy.

With a spot now accessible to affix Zharnel Hughes, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Richard Kilty, who maintains he will never forgive Ujah, there’s the tantalising prospect of redemption this yr on the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Video games again residence.

“I skilled with that staff for 5 – 6 years and by no means had the chance to run in a staff,” Prescod provides with a touch of remorse. “They made the choice primarily based on expertise, so I’ve to indicate them that I may be trusted in that surroundings and what I’m able to. I’m shut to each single member of the staff. It’s not all about me.

“However now, on account of circumstances, now we have some younger guys arising, there’s a void in that staff clearly, it’s time to maneuver ahead, run that final leg, I want to indicate I may be trusted in that scenario.

“It’s laborious, folks suppose there’s all the time rivalry amongst ourselves, however after we come collectively as a staff and we’re collectively. Me and CJ are very shut, he’s like a brother, so on a private stage I attain out to ensure he’s OK. Not simply when it comes to operating, I ask about how you’re doing.

“He’s doing fantastic and in good spirits. It was upsetting for everyone, however it’s important to supply help if you happen to can and go from there.”

Competitors will probably be fierce this weekend after American star Noah Lyles dragged British sprinters Charlie Dobson and Andrew Robertson to occasions of 6.59 on the Muller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham final weekend. However in contrast to Tokyo, Prescod has discovered consolation in believing the laborious work has been completed earlier than the gun goes off.