Eric Gillis left off Canadian Olympic Team

you need to be objective when thinking about this. Gillis is a great guy, and yes he has done everything to maximize his chances to be selected. But the fact remains he would not be competitive even in the heats at the games.

He got destroyed by ryan mckenezie in the 5k over the last 600m - the results speak for themselves.

the time gillis ran over 5k, is not even fast enough to be in mix at the 5k split in the beijing heats.

Athletics Canada needs to justify the investment to the canadian olympic committee. the rules state that while the rising star option is available it is not guaranteed. The real question is, in 4 years will be able to make it through the heats? unfortunately the answer seems to be no.

Results Management Systems - Contractor License

2008 Canadian Track & Field Championships

Championnats canadiens d'athlétisme 2008

Windsor,ON - 7/3/2008 to 7/6/2008

Event 12 Men 5000 Meter Run

=======================================================================

Canadian: % 13:13.96 1998 Jeff Schiebler

Championship: ! 13:25.16 2000 Sean Kaley

U.W Stadium: $ 13:34.55 7/13/2007 Reid Coolsaet, Speed River

Name Year Team Finals Points

=======================================================================

Finals

1 Mckenzie, Ryan Unattached-BCA 13:42.14

2 Gillis, Eric Speed River 13:55.65

3 Bruce, Matthew Toronto Olym 14:19.22

4 Macharia, Gitah Phoenix Athl 14:31.08

5 Nakluski, Derek Toronto Olym 14:33.42

6 Thorson, Cleve Speed River 14:34.84

7 Marial, Deng Windsor Legi 14:41.30

8 Dolmage, Jay Indépendant 15:00.79

9 Yohannes, Selam U. OF Toronto T.C 15:17.74

You don't even mention the worst of it. I can accept that AC didn't think he met the criteria, but the way that they told this guy he wasn't going to Beijing was about the cruelest, cold-blooded way I could imagine. If the public knew what happened Sunday night, there would be outrage that AC treats ANY athlete like that.

Mike Bolton wrote:

You don't even mention the worst of it. I can accept that AC didn't think he met the criteria, but the way that they told this guy he wasn't going to Beijing was about the cruelest, cold-blooded way I could imagine. If the public knew what happened Sunday night, there would be outrage that AC treats ANY athlete like that.

sooo.... why don't you tell the public what happened?

Did he have the Olympic A standard prior to the race?-If not than he should have known there was no way he was going.

6:00pm: Dinner served by COC. Eat and hang out with other Beijing-bound track people.

6:35pm: Meeting with AC and COC people about what to expect in Beijing. A powerpoint tour of the Bird's Nest and the athlete's village. All of the perks of going to the Olympics are discussed. Everyone in the room got to see a preview of their three weeks in Asia.

8:10pm: Meeting wraps and everyone walks down to the indoor track to pick up Team Canada Nike gear and sized for their uniforms.

8:12pm: As he stands in line to be sized for his Olympic gear, he is approached by Martin Goulet and told that he's not going. Other athletes in the indoor track watch this while they recieve their Olympic gear...

The justice is that Gillis isnt going in the 10000m not the 5000m you chumps. He wasnt even close to making it in the 50000m but in the 10000m he satisfied the Canadian requirements of making a B Standard at the Cardinal - 28:04 I believe and placed first at Nationals. And since there were no Canadians with the A Standard he should be going.

I hope this clarifies this for some people.

What happened to that Simon something dude that ran for Wisconsin? He's Canadian, where's he?

did the other people who did not make A standard line up for gear? there were about 15 athletes with medical appeals in, i would expect they werent in line.

he also got dropped by 13 seconds in the last 600m by an athlete that is not Beijing bound. Thats 4 seconds per 200m. (true his event is not the 5 k, but everyone knows that the 10,000 heats will split at 13:50ish.)

it was must have been a tough decision for AC, but i support it since he wouldn't even be considered if coolsaet and bairu were running. and wasn't even close to the A+ standard of 27:47.

looks like they are going to the media for help

http://news.guelphmercury.com/Sports/article/351589

All the Rising Star hopefulls were in line (and wentto those meetings) because AC told them to.

who else were the rising star hopefuls, of which who were named to the team?

so he wasn't the only one approached by goulet, or were all the other hopefuls named to the team?

i agree, tactless move by AC, but i think the decision was correct, just delivered poorly.

This makes me sick. I can't believe they told him that way.

from published criteria from AC

http://www.athletics.ca/files/NationalTeamPrograms/NationalTeams/SelectionCriteria/2008OLYMPICGAMESSELECTIONCRITERIAFINAL.PDF

‘RISING STAR’

To be eligible, must minimally: achieve two “B” standards between May 15

th - July 6th 2008 AND win the Qualifying Trials, AND must not have been on a World Championship or Olympic Games team prior to 2007.

EXCEPTIONS – Marathon and 50km Racewalk must achieve “B” standard once between Sept 1, 2006 and May 25th, 2008 Combined Events, 10,000m, and 20k RW must achieve “B” standard once between April 1

st, 2008 and July 6th, 2008 IMPORTANT NOTE: Being eligible for “Rising Star” does not guarantee selection

There was absolutely no guarantee Gillis would be named to the team. He is obviously a good guy, and worked hard to jump through the necessary hoops to be considered, but to be brutally honest, seeing him named to the team would have been a surprise. The rising star criteria is for athletes that have proven they can compete on an international level and are showing significant improvements season to season. I'm sorry for him, but there is no doubt that he should not have taken his appointment for granted (the team was not being named until Monday, everyone knew that.)

watch this video. do you think he should represent the country?

sullivan (krs1) and linc, effectively put this issue to rest on this thread.

http://tnfnorth.proboards70.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=3913

I don't know who all the other rising star hopefuls were, I just know that all the hopefuls and all the As had to go through the same process (presentation and uniforms) that night. Then Eric was in line for his uniform and Goulet walked up to him.

Like I said before: the decision was correct but my goodness the behaviour of AC (Goulet) was obscene.

What hoops did he have to jump through???

"All" he had to do was hit the B standard once and win the National 10,000m champioships. That doesn't seem like a lot of hoops!? It is 2 simple criteria.

Whether or not he was selected, he didn't have to jump through hoops.

Someone remind me again what people were saying about Rupp's race leading up to USATFs. The 5k and 10k are vastly different events.

Mike Bolton wrote:

6:00pm: Dinner served by COC. Eat and hang out with other Beijing-bound track people.

6:35pm: Meeting with AC and COC people about what to expect in Beijing. A powerpoint tour of the Bird's Nest and the athlete's village. All of the perks of going to the Olympics are discussed. Everyone in the room got to see a preview of their three weeks in Asia.

8:10pm: Meeting wraps and everyone walks down to the indoor track to pick up Team Canada Nike gear and sized for their uniforms.

8:12pm: As he stands in line to be sized for his Olympic gear, he is approached by Martin Goulet and told that he's not going. Other athletes in the indoor track watch this while they recieve their Olympic gear...

Wow, that is totally bullshit. I hate Martin Goulet with a passion. My man Gillis deserves a serious apology.

1) Sully is on the committee, so of course he can't come out and say the truth.

2) Linc didn't even make it to the Trials, did he? I wonder if he is bitter...

3) Gillis ran the time, won the Trials, he's on the Team --- if not, come up with a damn good reason why, AC.

4) Martin is a good man - not his fault.

hoops=he had to submit training, objectives, etc....... the 'rising star' selection process was obvious subjective stuff, it was such a tremendous addition to the insanely difficult A++ standards Canada has set for the past Olympics, and now since everyone who met the objectives isn't on the team, people are pissed. get serious.