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Imagine having to change your starting technique in the blocks in the final of a sprint race in the World's.
That's what happened to Suetsugu in Paris.
I don't know what U.S. viewers were shown on ESPN but this is my description of what happened.
Suetsugu has an unorthodox starting technique in that his blocks are almost paralel and he kneels on the track with both knees on the track surface prior to the "Set" command. This created no problems in the heats and semi- final. But in the final, with a different starter, the sprinters were twice told to stand up before the "set" command. Both times the assistant starter went over to Suetsugu and indicated that he did not like Suetsugu's foot placement. At the third attempt Suetsugu had to alter his blocks so that they were no longer paralel and he also had his right knee off the track surface in the "normal" way prior to the "set" command. Still he managed a for him average reaction time of 0.176 and went on to win bronze.
During this whole episode he remained absolutely calm, showed no irritation and did not protest or argue. He just sucked it up and went about his business.
Few thing I saw from the World's impressed me more.
That's what happened to Suetsugu in Paris.
I don't know what U.S. viewers were shown on ESPN but this is my description of what happened.
Suetsugu has an unorthodox starting technique in that his blocks are almost paralel and he kneels on the track with both knees on the track surface prior to the "Set" command. This created no problems in the heats and semi- final. But in the final, with a different starter, the sprinters were twice told to stand up before the "set" command. Both times the assistant starter went over to Suetsugu and indicated that he did not like Suetsugu's foot placement. At the third attempt Suetsugu had to alter his blocks so that they were no longer paralel and he also had his right knee off the track surface in the "normal" way prior to the "set" command. Still he managed a for him average reaction time of 0.176 and went on to win bronze.
During this whole episode he remained absolutely calm, showed no irritation and did not protest or argue. He just sucked it up and went about his business.
Few thing I saw from the World's impressed me more.
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