By Amy Tennery
PARIS (Reuters) – American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks said he is still “broken” from the positive COVID-19 test that shattered his Tokyo Olympic dreams three years ago, as he hopes to write a new story for himself at the Paris Games.
The Rio bronze medallist was one of the favourites in Tokyo after winning two world titles but was ruled out when he turned up a positive test for COVID-19, one of several athletes forced to withdraw under health protocols.
“It was a positive test (for COVID at Tokyo 2020) that sealed my fate, not that I was sick at all. I’m still broken because of it, and also damaged goods in the eyes of every brand,” Kendricks told reporters on Saturday.
“I can’t go back and change it, and that is how sports are written.”
Kendricks, 31, got through the opening stage of the pole vault competition with a leap of 5.75 metres on Saturday but nearly did not come to the Games.
He told reporters at the U.S. trials he was considering staying home.
“The Olympics screwed me – everybody at Team USA left me behind,” he said.
But Kendricks, who will bid for gold on Monday, was clearly inspired by the fans inside the Stade de France.
“There is no greater joy than being in the Olympic stadium and being welcomed in front of a crowd that is loving and supporting,” he said. “I have missed it, I really have. I never want to be without it for any reason ever again.”
He faces a huge task to beat world record holder and defending champion Mondo Duplantis, but said he was relishing the chance to compete against the Swede.
“Mondo has to realise that I’m in his shadow all the time,” Kendricks said. “I am like the small bogeyman in Mondo’s life, but he and I are very good together in championships. I’ve never done poorly when Mondo has been there, and he has built me up.”
(Reporting by Amy Tennery, editing by Ed Osmond)
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