Nick Symmonds always one of the best interviews in the sport because he says what he believes had some insightful comments on the Nike Oregon Project investigation after making the 800m final.
The strongest line from the straight shooter Nick that will get a lot of attentions was "I've got to say right now, everything I see, I owe Salazar an apology unless some better evidence comes out." and he called Salazar's rebuttal one of the "finest rebuttals" he's ever seen.
He then went on to commend the Gouchers and Steve Magness for speaking out about what they saw and saying how this entire investigation was good for the sport and "I don't know who is right, we haven't seen all the evidence I don't think yet, but I know this process is great for this sport."
And he thanked LRC for asking the tough question and also said, "I respect LetsRun for always asking the tough questions"
Full interview here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEYVcvAZdUY
More quotes:
He also talked about Cas Loxsom's "ungold speed" and the final.
Highlights:
If you want to be a contender for a medal at worlds you can't peak here, that's the reality. The veterans, the guys like Duane and I, who are pretty much in this to win medals, we have to make the team on our "B" game. I was able to do that in my 20s. I don't know if I can do that at 31.
On Cas: He just has ungodly speed. It's insane. He could step on that track right now and give you a 33 second 300. I'm not joking. I've trained with maybe 100 different training partners the last 10 years and I've never met anyone with the speed Cas Loxom has....I'm confident (now that he's put in the work and developed more endurance with a 3:44 pr at 1500) he can run even faster than that in the finals."
On the NOP Investigation:
"I was disappointed it took us 2 plus weeks to hear the other side, but I got to say that was one of the finest rebuttals I'd ever read. The exhibits that were presented, the evidence, it's really hard to know what to believe. You've got 20 guys on this side and Salazar and a team of lawyers on this side. I've got to say right now, everything I see, I owe Salazar an apology unless some better evidence comes out. It's a lot of he said, she said. Salazar he may be a mad scientist but from what I've seen from the evidence that's been presented I haven't seen any evidence that he's broken any rules yet. I'm also disappointed from the other pros who have no comment on this. This is your job, this is your career, I respect LetsRun for always asking the tough questions and I always say I'll never say no comment because this is our job to have a comment on this stuff."
on what supplements he takes:
"I take a men's one a day multi-vitamin and some iron. I think everyone has to decide what's best for them and what level of supplementation they are willing to put up with. I wouldn't have fun if I was getting IV's or on an inhaler. This is about what I can do. But what I can consider is the right moral code for myself I can't tell someone else to consider that. Someone might look that I train at altitude and consider that an unfair advantage. There's a governing body, whose sole job is to set those guidelines for us and we play within those guidelines. I have not seen any evidence that Salazar has broken those rules.
What is healthy and what I respect so much is people like the Gouchers, and Steve were able to come out, and say what they saw. I think transparency is the best thing in the sport. Whether it is from an economical standpoint or a clean sport standpoint. If something rubs you the wrong way say something and let people exonerate their name or clear the accusations. That is what is so healthy about this process. I don't know who is right, we haven't seen all the evidence I don't think yet, but I know this process is great for this sport. Thanks for asking the tough questions."