MICHAEL NORMAN DFL in Semi heat

ghjhhh wrote:

Norman's interview was just strange.....

He wasn't hurt. He was scared. When you are suddenly scared to lose then it's not supposed to make sense, whether it's how he handled the remainder of the race or the post race interview.

I don't think it's overly complicated: Earlier in the year Norman defeats Lyles. He assumes the remainder of the season is going to be one routine victory after another, and likewise for his buddy Rai Benjamin. Both of them were prepared to win easily. They weren't prepared to fight for it.

Once Norman lost to Kerley a few months ago he was stunned. You could see it in his face and body language. Kerley wasn't some upstart who could be dismissed as a one-time fluke. He was an extraordinary talent at an early age who then had a couple of lull years. Consequently Norman knows he now has a problem. Athletes are never stupid enough to focus on current form. They value the kid who was always the best in the playground and on the streets. That is a Fred Kerley type.

Norman saw his buddy Benjamin forced to answer questions all year about the Norwegian guy. What an annoyance. But Norman assumed it would straighten itself out in the end. How is some white guy from Norway going to hang with my bro Rai?

Whoops. The Norwegian guy won. Norman saw his buddy Benjamin labor down the stretch and then throw out injury excuses. The only thing Benjamin didn't do -- to his immense credit -- is grab his hamstring with 20 meters remaining and launch a feigned pained facial expression while bouncing around on one leg. For a few seconds...the perfected track tactic.

Josh Norman doesn't want to deal with any of those decisions. He senses he's going to lose the final to Fred Kerley, and perhaps others. Much easier to simply avoid the final in the first place.

But since it's not a scenario he planned or practiced long in advance, he doesn't have an ideal blueprint toward how to lose that semi, nor how to conduct the interview following the Doha jog.

It was a track version of "No Mas"

Michael Norman, not Josh. I'm making more and more wee hour silly mistakes.

shut up scumdinavian garbage

My theory is stomach trouble, that he felt got far more critical after around 40m and didn't want an on-air "accident". He ran to the extent he could control it. Given he only came in/out at the 400 start, that's where the only toilets he'd have known about were.

FrenchDawg wrote:

ex-runner wrote:

He said he had "warning signs".

Michael Johnson thinks it extremely strange. He said 'if you can run the whole lap in 45 you can run it in 44 or 43'.

Denis Lewis said '...it was nonspecific as if he's reading from a script'.

What a stupid quote from Johnson. Like really, what a stupid fucking quote.

Exactly what I thought. But Denise Lewis had a point.

He just was not mentally ready to run the race.

It has happened t a couple of folks in the WC.

He said he had a problem already at USATF but that it was good enough for him to run pretty well and here he said he had a problem. It is irresponsible to speculate but I am positive that it was a potentially serious physical problem, because he is a competitor and a great, great talent. He wasn't afraid to lose; he probably has either a cardiovascular issue or an achilles problem, either one would be serious enough to cost him the Olympics or worse. I hope it was just the achilles and he can get healthy.

waxonist wrote:

this will likely be an unpopular opinion but, michael norman peaked too early. 43.4 in april. great for the audience, but it never meant a (projection-wise) 42.9 at worlds. i dont blame his training or his schedule at all, but actually his own body as a first-year professional, not used to peaking in september at all. BUT, same thing happened to brazier his freshman year. couple years later, and look at him obliterating them two laps with an american record.

physiologists feel free to chime in, but i believe his speed endurance was april-may-june ready, not september (let alone october for christ's sakes). nonetheless we got michael norman for a looong time.

I stated here on Let'srun this spring that his coaches were fools for peaking in, spring, 2019. I stated either Norman's coached peaked him too soon or Norman is a 42.75 400m man. I got a lot of push back. Posters stating Nike knows best. This situation is nothing like Brazier in 2016 while Brazier was a student-athlete at Texas A&M. High school and college T&F coaches are supposed to peak their athetes for May/June. Nike peak Norman for SAC Relays or some other nonsense meet.

i think whatever drugs hes on were wearing off.full natty he wouldnt be able to run more than 45 seconds,anyway.

Finally just watched this race. He quit before it started. He knew what he was going to do. He was laughing with people after. Interviews were so awkward having to lie about an injury. He wanted out of the whole situation as soon as he could.

He Choked!

jeff tallon wrote:

i think whatever drugs hes on were wearing off.full natty he wouldnt be able to run more than 45 seconds,anyway.

How many positive tests will come out of this wc?

Far less than the actual amount of athletes doping.

Norman will never fail a drug test. He’s American.

Sprint sensai wrote:

jeff tallon wrote:

i think whatever drugs hes on were wearing off.full natty he wouldnt be able to run more than 45 seconds,anyway.

How many positive tests will come out of this wc?

Far less than the actual amount of athletes doping.

Norman will never fail a drug test. He’s American.

X years down the road it could be a few, look how many 4th place runners that have been bumped up to bronze or even silver.

Hateraid wrote:

Finally just watched this race. He quit before it started. He knew what he was going to do. He was laughing with people after. Interviews were so awkward having to lie about an injury. He wanted out of the whole situation as soon as he could.

But why? This is his job and career. Why go all the way to Doha if you don't want to compete? I just don't get it.

popo wrote:

My theory is stomach trouble, that he felt got far more critical after around 40m and didn't want an on-air "accident". He ran to the extent he could control it. Given he only came in/out at the 400 start, that's where the only toilets he'd have known about were.

I'm thinking the complete reverse and that would be an all time epic fail that would be permanently hosted on Live Leaks.com and other non edited sites.

Running loosens your bowels and when that happens it can get ugly.....

nothing but a controlled agent of american intel .

Times is up .

told to drop out for whatever reason they want .

they provide the dope that most other athletes cant get .

they made his carreer from start with dope .

so wise to do as say and will run fast maybe the next time and be standout of champs .