I don't think this is about lack of practice or bad coaching so much as it is the fact that the curse is in their heads. Instead of aggressively pursuing victory, they are avoiding failure. That posture usually brings about the worst case scenario that you're so desperately trying to prevent.
I don't think this is about lack of practice or bad coaching so much as it is the fact that the curse is in their heads. Instead of aggressively pursuing victory, they are avoiding failure. That posture usually brings about the worst case scenario that you're so desperately trying to prevent.
You know what fixes "A curse in their heads"? PRACTICE.
Love it. We've got The Basketball Tournament for people to put their own teams together, why not do it for relays and let them have a chance for glory?
How do you see the big ass piece of tape on the ground and the incoming runner is no where near it and your brain says RUN! Just mind boggling.
I noticed that Kenny started in a 3 point stance while the runners on either side of him were standing. Could Kenny even see the tape from a 3 point stance? If not, that's another thing the relay coach should have corrected.
All this talk about how good China is, they were dead last in the final. Is that better than a DQ? I guess so. Good handoffs are important, but you still need talent. I would have left Kerley 2nd like he was in the prelims and only subbed Bedbarek in for Lindsey. I am not sure what the correct answer is, but I do know it is difficult when most of the relay guys are running open races in the Olympics or Worlds. It has to limit relay practice and there is obviously some fatigue that can come into play. That was Bednareks 7th race of the Games for example.
I don't think this is about lack of practice or bad coaching so much as it is the fact that the curse is in their heads. Instead of aggressively pursuing victory, they are avoiding failure. That posture usually brings about the worst case scenario that you're so desperately trying to prevent.
You know what fixes "A curse in their heads"? PRACTICE.
It isn't that simple. It's one thing to execute in a controlled environment when you have infinite number of attempts. It's quite another to execute in a packed stadium on the world's biggest stage when you only have one rep to get it right.
Think shooting a basketball free throw. Empty gym vs NCAA National Championship, down 1 with 1 second left. You can practice all you want. If you're head's not right, it's not happening.
Lets face it, these guys don't really care by the last day on the track. They likely partied deep into the nights. Bednarek was obviously out of his mind today, sprinting out too early.