SA athletes snub Johnson
2004-08-12 13:04
Athens - Michael Johnson, the world 400m record-holder and one of the greatest athletes in history, was stood up by athletes of the South African Olympic team at the Olympic Village on Thursday.
Johnson was scheduled for a workshop to address team members and coaches with a motivational talk over two sessions during the course of the day, but embarrassed officials had to cancel when only a handful of athletes showed up an hour late for the event.
"I'm here exclusively for the South African athletes," Johnson told international and South African media shortly after arriving at the lecture room in the international zone of the Athlete's Village on the outskirts of the city.
"I have a special relationship with South Africa after having competed there. I also held a special clinic in South Africa back in January."
Johnson, who retired after the defence of his Olympic 400m title in Sydney 2000, is commentating for BBC television. He travelled to the Village at the paid initiative of Athletics SA and president Leonard Chuene and Banele Sindani were clearly embarrassed after the tall Texan left.
Athletics team manager Wilfred Daniels left to fetch athletes as a large media contingent and a couple of coaches hung around waiting for something to happen after Johnson had spoken to media in a brief informal press conference.
He told them he had made time to come to the Village to help the South Africans with their mental preparation for Olympic competition.
'Not quite an A-level team yet'
"The Olympics is so huge," he said. "There can be many distractions for an athlete. So this programme is about mental focus to prevent the many influences from causing distractions in the physical preparations and competition."
"I'm really happy to be here to enjoy the Olympics as a spectator and to be able to get out to some of the ancient Olympic sites that I would never have done as an athlete," said Johnson who won double-gold in the 200m and 400m at Atlanta, then won gold again in the 400m in Sydney.
"I've worked with the South Africans earlier this year and I believe this team, which is not quite an A-level team yet, could be up there among the top by the time they get to Beijing. They have some really good athletes."
Eventually about 15 athletes arrived, including seasoned Hezekiel Sepeng, 400m runners Marcus la Grange and Arnaud Malherbe. Sprinter Leigh Julius was also there with triple-jumper Khotso Mokoena as were 400m hurdlers Alwyn Myburgh and Ockert Cilliers and 110m hurdler Shaun Bownes. Among the women athletes were walker Nicolene Cronje and javelin-thrower Sunette Viljoen.
There were those who were clearly disgruntled at being woken up after a late night on Wednesday when the Olympians attended a lavish party in the gardens of SA's ambassador to Greece, Jannie Momberg. Most were recovering from early morning training sessions and resting after breakfast.
- SAPA