I am trying to say this gentle, but it is beyond clear she has a serious eating disorder. I don’t think acting like we’re unsure is helpful, especially not for younger generations of runners who want role models & to perform in the sport. I know I’m going to get downvoted for this, but it’s so hard to want okeefe to succeed when she’s so clearly not taking care of her body. I always thought making it to the start line of this marathon would be a long shot, based on the way she looked at trials, and based on the comments she made about fueling on Ali fellers podcast.
This board is disappointing. That was her spot! Unless the governing bodies make changes in the future, but they haven't. It’s also clear that there's negativity towards her here, like this one, comments alluding to an eating disorder and hoping for her failure. Understand that runners naturally have varying body types, with some being thinner than others. It's no one's responsibility to look like a 'role model' for younger generations. If it bothers you, look away. More than not women who think this way and are triggered by thinner women are typically fighting their own ED or had one. Wishing harm on her because you don't like her body is disgusting.
you are misunderstanding. I am not wishing harm on her, nor am I judging her "body type." I am wishing for her to get help, and cultivate success in a better headspace. That's good for USA athletics too, so I'm not sure why you're upset. Though I would suggest some education on the difference between natural body type and bodies breaking down via eating disorders. not the same thing.
She has likely been injured for a while and knew it. Did not run the 10k track Trials. The alternate came to Paris a week ago 'just in case'.
Long term injuries just do not miraculously go away overnight, or even within a few days.
Even Noah Lyles chose to pull out of the 4x100 relay when he realized there were other US athletes that could run faster than him (inability to complete baton exchanges not being considered...) When you are one of the best you might be able to finish a sprint race acceptably, but you can't limp through a full marathon and expect to do well.
I do not know if she has an eating disorder or not, or what her mental health is like, and I hope she is ok. But it is common for other people with mental health issues to be in denial...'no I do not drink too much alcohol', 'no I eat enough to maintain a healthy weight', 'no I am not injured and will be able to finish the race and do well',
Maybe it is not on the same level, but imagine what it would be like if Biden (or Trump) were elected as POTUS, were sworn in, and then decided February 1 that they were unfit to serve, could not continue and resigned!
It’s a little different with relays, where as we saw with Kendal Ellis, there’s a coach or coaches who can straight up tell the athlete they’re out. Lyles as individual champ probably gets more deference than most but if he insisted on running, a coach could tell him no. I don’t know if the coaches have that power, or if they do, if they’re as apt to use it, in individual events.
I also wonder if O’Keeffe felt confident she could go a lot farther, maybe halfway? I’d love to hear from her if even she was surprised how little of the course she could complete.
She replied to an Instagram comment about how she should have dropped out "if I could time travel and know exactly how I was going to feel this morning I would have." Seems a little suspicious since she was limping from the start, no?
She only wishes to travel back in time because she realized how large a sht storm she’s made
“Hip flexor tightness.” Yea right. Everything about her gait and inability to go faster than a jog screams pelvic stress fracture, and if she went to the start line knowing this and her coaches knew this, she should be dropped by her sponsor and her coaches should be sanctioned by USATF for coaching malpractice.
American does a very American thing and now everybody's a communist. But seriously, Fiona had every right to do what she did. Also, screwing everybody over to benefit yourself is what this country's all about. In theory, it's best for everyone right?
what is this, the thin police? This isn’t your concern! She’s a talented, successful Olympian being criticized by hobby joggers who think they know best. Stop trying to diagnose strangers based on your own assumptions.
From reading their tweets about O'Keeffe's decision to race, Des and Kara seem to agree that these two propositions, or both of them in combination, are so self-evidently persuasive as to be effectively debate-settling:
1. No rule or policy prohibited O'Keeffe from starting the race (a/k/a "She earned the right to make that choice")
2. It was in O'Keeffe's self interest, financially and intangibly, to start the race (a/k/a "You do what you gotta do" / "You play the hand you're dealt" to be an Olympian)
In their view, it seems, if someone cannot refute the truth of either 1 or 2, any criticism of O'Keeffe for making a choice she earned the right to make, and choosing the option that was more beneficial to her, is unfair criticism.
This reminds me of another position on which they were in complete agreement when they discussed it on their podcast: that criticism of the BAA, for declining to pay Buzunesh Deba additional prize money that they had been unable to recoup from Rita Jeptoo after she was banned for doping, was unfair. They were adamant about this but, in my view at least, they never offered any substantial counterarguments to the criticism of the BAA beyond versions of 1 and 2: no one could point to a way in which their refusal to pay Deba violated their contract with her, and the Jeptoo prize money hadn't been returned to the BAA so if they paid Deba too, well, they'd be out more money, so it wasn't in their financial interest to do so. (They didn't phrase it that way, obviously.)
It seems to me that some people just aren't uncomfortable acknowledging the existence of moral or ethical choices, or the possibility that those choices could be subject to judgment by others. If no binding authority requires a person to do X, and it would unquestionably be in that person's personal self interest not to do X, might doing X nevertheless be the right thing to do, and might criticism of that person for not doing X be legitimate? I feel like I learned that the answer to that question is "yes" when I was still a child, but conversations with many adults have led me to believe that not everyone agrees.
Lasted about 30 seconds after dropping out of the race this morning and the waterworks hit. I wanted so badly to be able to represent Team USA to the best of my ability this morning, and I fell far short of that goal. Much as I wanted to show the fitness we worked so hard to cultivate over this block, what hurts most is feeling I’ve let people down. Just last Friday I had a great last track session and was feeling rock-solid, but over the weekend started feeling some tightness in my left hip that progressed quickly to pain in the following days. The team doctors assessed me Wednesday and determined that I should get an MRI, which came back clear. Since there was no fear of long-term damage, I remained optimistic and tried to wrap my head around competing on the Olympic stage. We had to take it day by day, and my body unfortunately didn’t come around in time.
The decision to start is not one I take lightly and was all mine. Unfortunately, by the time I had enough information to make a call, it was past the deadline to sub in an alternate. But I couldn’t let go of that sliver of hope that I’d wake up this morning and be good to go.
Thank you so much to everyone who’s reached out—your support means so much. My teammates, agent, sponsor, friends, coaches, family…I wish I could have done more today. Next time I line up, it will be with love and gratitude in my heart for all of you. For now, going to be looking for answers on the hip and how I can show up better next time.
Lastly, it’s been an honor to be a part of this Olympic team and witness incredible performances across the whole distance crew! So inspired watching @dakotahlindwurm and @em_sisson_ run with such heart today.
Yes, she had a spot to compete. She did not have a cosplay spot to pretend to be an Olympic marathon runner when she was not healthy enough to jog a single step at that easy pace.
Yes, runners have different body types, but tryingtobegebtle was correct that O'Keefe looked unhealthy and emaciated at trials - not thin, but an unnaturally low body weight. I don't think anyone is wishing harm on her, almost all of us on the board want American distance runners to succeed. If someone is not healthy enough to make any effort to compete, they should give the American spot to another deserving runner. We want everyone to be healthy and fast.
she was the only deserving runner along with the other 2. She won the trials. The risks of injury are always high with marathon running, no one is guaranteed health come race day. Even Sisson explained how she has not feeling great physically leading up to the race. Was she suppose to call up Hall to come replace her? They earned the top 3, they trained their lives away for this dream moment. Even in the worst, there is a bit of hope that maybe it will all work out. Unfortunately it didn't for either. The heartbreak has to be devastating for her knowing how fit she was months prior. I don't get why this is even a discussion. What can we expect from these boards, no empathy from the hobby jogger gang.
I am trying to say this gentle, but it is beyond clear she has a serious eating disorder. I don’t think acting like we’re unsure is helpful, especially not for younger generations of runners who want role models & to perform in the sport. I know I’m going to get downvoted for this, but it’s so hard to want okeefe to succeed when she’s so clearly not taking care of her body. I always thought making it to the start line of this marathon would be a long shot, based on the way she looked at trials, and based on the comments she made about fueling on Ali fellers podcast.
What comments did she make about fueling? I can’t find it. I agree though she is severely underweight. The lanugo on her arms is another tell tale sign.
95% of you would do the same in O’Keefe’s position. She has been training her whole life for this moment. Especially if her livelihood (bonus) depends on her being an official Olympian. McClain didn’t earn that spot. Fiona did.
This is totally 100% pure BS. Maybe a case of projection on your part. I think 95% of us have a deep respect for the sport. Obviously the sentiment on this board is that what she did was totally unacceptable - whatever the reasons and people behind it.
You, my friend, are in the 5% that think what happened here is acceptable. It's not. It completely violates the honor of athletics.
Mention of money and contracts makes me want to puke.
If I was the CEO of Puma I would be horrified about how this reflects on the company. It should never be allowed to happen again.
This really doesn't make much sense when we know that McClain arrived in Paris on August 7, the same day Fiona says she was told to get an MRI and was in pain. Why would USATF call her if, as Fiona says, it was too late to sub in someone else?
She has likely been injured for a while and knew it. Did not run the 10k track Trials. The alternate came to Paris a week ago 'just in case'.
Long term injuries just do not miraculously go away overnight, or even within a few days.
Even Noah Lyles chose to pull out of the 4x100 relay when he realized there were other US athletes that could run faster than him (inability to complete baton exchanges not being considered...) When you are one of the best you might be able to finish a sprint race acceptably, but you can't limp through a full marathon and expect to do well.
I do not know if she has an eating disorder or not, or what her mental health is like, and I hope she is ok. But it is common for other people with mental health issues to be in denial...'no I do not drink too much alcohol', 'no I eat enough to maintain a healthy weight', 'no I am not injured and will be able to finish the race and do well',
Maybe it is not on the same level, but imagine what it would be like if Biden (or Trump) were elected as POTUS, were sworn in, and then decided February 1 that they were unfit to serve, could not continue and resigned!
It’s a little different with relays, where as we saw with Kendal Ellis, there’s a coach or coaches who can straight up tell the athlete they’re out. Lyles as individual champ probably gets more deference than most but if he insisted on running, a coach could tell him no. I don’t know if the coaches have that power, or if they do, if they’re as apt to use it, in individual events.
I also wonder if O’Keeffe felt confident she could go a lot farther, maybe halfway? I’d love to hear from her if even she was surprised how little of the course she could complete.
Do you honestly think at this point that she would be honest about that? With all the heat this has generated? No way she says if she was feeling it weeks ago and knew it wasn't probably going to work. She is not going to admit that. There will be a cover up story that attempts to make this seem less self-serving than it was. It might have been her right to decide to start, but it was purely self-serving.
From reading their tweets about O'Keeffe's decision to race, Des and Kara seem to agree that these two propositions, or both of them in combination, are so self-evidently persuasive as to be effectively debate-settling:
1. No rule or policy prohibited O'Keeffe from starting the race (a/k/a "She earned the right to make that choice")
2. It was in O'Keeffe's self interest, financially and intangibly, to start the race (a/k/a "You do what you gotta do" / "You play the hand you're dealt" to be an Olympian)
In their view, it seems, if someone cannot refute the truth of either 1 or 2, any criticism of O'Keeffe for making a choice she earned the right to make, and choosing the option that was more beneficial to her, is unfair criticism.
This reminds me of another position on which they were in complete agreement when they discussed it on their podcast: that criticism of the BAA, for declining to pay Buzunesh Deba additional prize money that they had been unable to recoup from Rita Jeptoo after she was banned for doping, was unfair. They were adamant about this but, in my view at least, they never offered any substantial counterarguments to the criticism of the BAA beyond versions of 1 and 2: no one could point to a way in which their refusal to pay Deba violated their contract with her, and the Jeptoo prize money hadn't been returned to the BAA so if they paid Deba too, well, they'd be out more money, so it wasn't in their financial interest to do so. (They didn't phrase it that way, obviously.)
It seems to me that some people just aren't uncomfortable acknowledging the existence of moral or ethical choices, or the possibility that those choices could be subject to judgment by others. If no binding authority requires a person to do X, and it would unquestionably be in that person's personal self interest not to do X, might doing X nevertheless be the right thing to do, and might criticism of that person for not doing X be legitimate? I feel like I learned that the answer to that question is "yes" when I was still a child, but conversations with many adults have led me to believe that not everyone agrees.
Kara has been doing a lot of policing lately of how fans are allowed to respond to track and field events. Like she has established herself as track czar. She has graduated from telling us what the runners think and feel to now telling fans what they are allowed to think and feel. It's like she thinks she is the only person who is allowed to have an opinion, and somehow her opinion is policy.
She has likely been injured for a while and knew it. Did not run the 10k track Trials. The alternate came to Paris a week ago 'just in case'.
Long term injuries just do not miraculously go away overnight, or even within a few days.
Even Noah Lyles chose to pull out of the 4x100 relay when he realized there were other US athletes that could run faster than him (inability to complete baton exchanges not being considered...) When you are one of the best you might be able to finish a sprint race acceptably, but you can't limp through a full marathon and expect to do well.
I do not know if she has an eating disorder or not, or what her mental health is like, and I hope she is ok. But it is common for other people with mental health issues to be in denial...'no I do not drink too much alcohol', 'no I eat enough to maintain a healthy weight', 'no I am not injured and will be able to finish the race and do well',
Maybe it is not on the same level, but imagine what it would be like if Biden (or Trump) were elected as POTUS, were sworn in, and then decided February 1 that they were unfit to serve, could not continue and resigned!
“Hip flexor tightness.” Yea right. Everything about her gait and inability to go faster than a jog screams pelvic stress fracture, and if she went to the start line knowing this and her coaches knew this, she should be dropped by her sponsor and her coaches should be sanctioned by USATF for coaching malpractice.
"Just last Friday I had a great last track session and was feeling rock-solid, but over the weekend started feeling some tightness in my left hip that progressed quickly to pain in the following days." According to her own words, it sounds like she has been in pain for a week, and not been able to run well for over a week. Her coaches should be sanctioned as well.