The Dean Machine (Athletics in General)

Member Name: renoraines

Product:	Athletics in General
Date:	09/08/01 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: He battled against the odds , overcame injury, did his country proud

Disadvantages: I wish he had done it earlier in the day!!

Televised sports events anywhere other than in Europe are always going to be a pain to me. It happened during the olympics in Sydney, it is going to happen next year with the World Cup in South Korea and Japan and it is happening now with the World Athletic Championships being held in Edmonton. Johnathon Edwards hopped, skipped and jumped his way to gold for Britain early on in the competition and things looked bleak after that. But up stepped Dean Macey, the decathlete from Canvey Island. He had finished fourth in the Olympic games and was unlucky not to get bronze when Erki Nool, the Estonian sportsmen of the century appeared to have fouled with his last throw in the discus. However this was overlooked by judges and officials alike and Dean was edged out by the smallest of margins. However in Edmonton he became a major force for a gold medal, and led the field, albeit by a point, at the end of the first day. The fairytale was not to be however as multiple injuries held him back from haveing a strong second day and Macey ended up with bronze. Now, I say ended up with as if it was a bad thing, and of course it isn't it was fantastic, and he earned the recognition that he deserved for some wonderful performances. This was highlighted by his terrific high-jumping, which he later claimed he had not worked on since the Olympics, nearly a year ago. Howver the point I am trying to make is that athletics seems to be riddled with dopeing claims and drug test failings, even in a competition where surely every athlete will be tested at some time over the week we have seen test failures and bans handed out already. However on Monday and Tuesday night, especially Tuesday, a man showed us all that natural talent and determination is worth far more than steriods, testosterone or whatever athletes take these days. He was obviously injured in most the events yet managed personal bests in several. He battled hard against stiff competition and did brilliantly when the odds seemed
stacked against him. Well done Dean we are proud of you and I don't mind staying up for a performance like that. Now I wonder, can England do the same next summer...

Summary: