Will Williamson take Chambers' crown?
Dwain Chambers flashed his gold tooth as he broke into a smile, but there was a resigned shrug of the shoulders too as it hit home that he'd been beaten.
He was trying to put a brave face on it and he remained defiant, but the fact he failed to appear 24 hours later for the 200m told its own story.
The warning signs were there as Simeon Williamson stormed to victory in his semi-final and suddenly you sensed Chambers had a challenger.
It's possible that we've witnessed a changing of the guard in Birmingham with Williamson at the forefront of a new era for British sprinting.
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
You could hear a pin drop as the protagonists lined up for the final of the 100m and as the race unfolded a new star was born.
Williamson powered down the track to become Britain's top sprinter and if it hadn't been quite so windy he could even have ducked under the magic 10 second barrier.
The result leaves Chambers in limbo. With the winner picked automatically for next month's World Championships in Berlin - and Williamson is comfortably inside the qualifying time - the other two spots in the men's 100m for are down to the selectors.
Chambers could struggle to prove his worth because he hasn't been invited to run at the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace in a fortnight's time and isn't welcome at many meetings across Europe.
With youngsters like Tyrone Edgar and Craig Pickering finishing just behind Chambers at the trials, there could be a case to take them both to Berlin and leave Chambers behind.
After all, new head coach Charles van Commenee won't pick Chambers for the relay because he can't run at the London Olympics, so is there any point taking him to the Worlds?
He was Europe's fastest man until Williamson edged ahead, and Chambers remains confident he can perform at the highest level.
"I've still got a month to go to get myself ready and I will be" he said. But at 31 years of age, is it the beginning of the end for one of the sport's most controversial characters?
How can he possibly beat Usain Bolt if he can't beat Simeon Williamson?
Maybe in the fullness of time, it'll be no disgrace to lose to Britain's new number one.
At 6ft 2in tall, and almost as wide, Williamson wouldn't look out of place on a rugby pitch.
At almost 15 stone he's honest enough to admit he needs to lose some weight, but he's a powerful-looking athlete, with huge potential.
As a teenager he dreamed of being a footballer but his mum insisted he went to church on a Sunday, so that put paid to that.
He chose athletics instead and perhaps now she'll get some thanks. He took gold at the European U23 Championships in 2007 and has been making steady progress since.
Williamson perhaps under-performed in Beijing, but has since been training with Asafa Powell among others in Jamaica and it looks like it's starting to pay off.
The big target now apart from making the final in Berlin is to break 10 seconds. "I know it's waiting to come out," he said.
Maybe he'll get dragged to a quick time in Paris on Friday night when he lines up alongside the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt.
It's the fourth leg of the IAAF Golden League, and you can hear the men's 100m live on BBC Radio 5 Live at 2040 BST.
Someone else with the world at their feet is Jessica Ennis. She couldn't stop smiling after winning the high jump and the 100m hurdles on Sunday after battling back from a horrible ankle injury that kept her out of the Olympics.
Small in stature, but a huge talent, she's currently the best heptathlete in the world and favourite for the title in Berlin.
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
"It shocks me every day that I've come back and I'm number one in the world" she said, before breaking into another smile.
Ennis is a cover girl for the sport in the making, but don't write off Kelly Sotherton, the Olympic bronze medallist from Athens, who is also on the comeback trail after a chronic heel injury.
She spent the whole of March with her foot in a protective boot, has only been back in action for the last six weeks and is having physiotherapy every day in a bid to be competitive in Berlin.
Sotherton did the long jump, shot put and high jump at the trials and remains one to watch.
She may need a huge slice of luck as well, and so too could Dwain Chambers.
I'm 5 Live's athletics reporter and will be trackside with all the stories behind the scenes, the injuries and intrigue, the gossip and glory.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~30~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
I am no fan of drug cheats.
But once you have rules you must stick to them
A two year ban is what it says. Chambers has so far served 4 years AT LEAST
with no sign of the ban being lifted.
Dwain is the fastest in europe - but is presently suffering from double jeopardy.
to the point where even WADA are supporting him against this vendetta.
Williamson has so far just won one race - against a Chambers
deprived completely of top class opposition which proves nothing.
Can he beat a fit Chambers? I doubt it. - maybe in time but not yet.
The only question is whether Chambers will be allowed a level playing field.
And as for should the team take hime?
It is Chambers earned right.
I think the riddle of Chambers is amply solved in a book called "influence" by
Robert Cialdini. Peoples respect for authority outweighs common sense.
See how ordinary people in america became capable of serious torture , in controlled
experiments simply because of the power of authority. Not Nazi Germany.
But america in the last 20 years.
Dwain saw the best...the likes of Marion Jones.. some of the best.. He Looked up to them
And they betrayed him as surely as he betrayed the sport. Stupid yes. A justification no. But should
we destroy someone for one conviction??
This is meant to be a world which allows rehabilitation of offenders.
It is not. Dwain Chambers proves it.
Im no fan of drug cheats, but this vendetta must stop.
As for a relay place at the worlds? using the olympics as an excuse....How dare they?
Complain about this comment
I keep saying it to friends and family alike but if Ennis keeps her head down and goes on to even greater things in 2009 we should be looking st the next Sports Personality of the Year.
Complain about this comment
the line is drawn Dwaine Chambers has had his punishment and served it and also means his dreams winning the Olympics are gone from him for good
The British Athletics Association need to make their minds up if they want the best athletes available to get medals at major championship or let rookies and juniors go and gain experience for latter years
This issue about Dwain Chambers running in the relay. Would people change their stance say if it was the difference between gold or silver then
Complain about this comment
Your argument about not taking Chambers might have some merit if you weren't advocating taking Craig Pickering in his place, Pickering is the same age as Usain Bolt and is light years away from his level, he's as old as Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell were when they were winning their first major competitions, how much longer can Pickering ride around on a "promising young athlete" ticket? Pickering will never ever ever be world class, he's UK national class, but that is nowhere on a world stage.
Even Williamson is pushing the envelope of when a top sprinter should emerge given the evidence of the three above, Chambers for all his faults is having to work outside the top competitions and still beats 3/4's of the UK 100 metre relay team at 31. He's more deserving of a team slot than any of his competition, unless one of them runs out of their skin at the London Grand Prix.
Commenee can talk about not taking Dwain to do the relay because Dwain won't compete in 2012 but I'd argue that Pickering and Edgar aren't good enough to compete in 2012 on the current evidence anyway, the fact is unless we get some better sprinters the UK won't be competing at 2012, and no amount of sanctimonious BBC crowing at Dwain Chambers defeat is going to change that.
Complain about this comment
I'm not sure that there's a vendetta a gainst Chambers. He hasn't won the trials, which (along with a qualifying time) is the only guaranteed way to get on the team. Van Commenee is right to start preparing a team for the Olympic Games now. Yes, these are the World Championships, but in the grand scheme of things they are a stepping stone to the Games.
I, too, believe that Chambers has served his time. Unfortunately, as a result he's probably also wasted the best years of his career.
Complain about this comment
Dwain is not "still serving a ban" other than the Olympic one which is a BOA decision. There is no Vendetta, thier are Rules. If foreign meet promoters don't invite him to races then that is their decision. He decided to cheat and has to live with the consequences. He is perfectly eligible to run for GB at the Worlds and he will do so. Not sure why Sonja is calling for him to be left behind after 1 bad run but we have come to expect these kind of statements from the BBC who have taken utter delight in his defeat. There is noone else capable of beating Chambers in this country at the moment. The best of the rest didn't even dip under the qualifying time this weekend.
As for the Relay, why should he be involved in a relay team that he can't stay with? This is a perfectly justifiable decision from CVC
Complain about this comment
Hi Sonja
I have never been a fan of the Dwain chambers circus since the drugs scandal. Maybe its time to say, get down to the sprinting, the press to leave him alone and produce the times in Berlin.
Yes he got beaten by Simeon Williamson who may get to the olympic final, but seriously, Edgar and Pickering and their current form won't get through their heats. I also compete in athletics and I understand the hard work they put in and that competition can spur you on sometimes, but I'm unsure. To me Dwain Chambers should compete in these Worlds, if he fails then great for the other sprinters.
On the other hand he won't be running at the olympics so maybe we should just not take him, but is it right that he has trained so hard to get into this shape?
We should take it seriously and I am sure Charles Van Commennee and his coaches will make the right choice.
Can't wait for the Worlds now though, they should be more athletics televised on BBC as well, don't you thinks?
Complain about this comment
i expect this comment to get moderation
but why are the bbc such (insert rude word here)s to dwain chambers...is it because we all have to be perfect?!
give him a break...and look at facebook! I still love him and am just happy hes got some competition!
Complain about this comment
I don't understand the point of having trials if only the winner gets picked automatically. I certainly don't agree with the US system of top 3 or bust but having a system where only 1 person is automatically picked is even worse. It leaves room for too much politics rather than ability on the track or the field to determine who gets picked for major championships. What would be fair would be for the top 2 to make it and then leave 1 place for discretion. Dwain has clearly earned his right to be in Berlin 100m and would be a shame if politics deprived him of that right.
Having said that we can now all clearly see that Dwain has as much chance of beating Usain Bolt as I have of learning to fly in the next 10 minutes and I hope we don't hear anymore of that fantasy talk.
Complain about this comment
The only people questioning his place is the BBC..... suprise suprise
He will go to Berlin
Complain about this comment
Williamson still has a lot too prove. He's only won one race at the moment. Yes he has potential, but is yet to prove himself on the international stage. I think everyone is getting just a little carried away with what happened at the weekend.
Mark Lewis-Francis came along as world junior champ and supposedly the next big thing, but look what's happened to him.
Chambers has proven since his "comeback", if you can call it that given his lack of top quality competition, that he's still britain's best hope of a 100m medal at major championships. I think he's served his ban and should now be receiving all the backing and support he can because he's still our best sprinter.
Complain about this comment
It really was an amazing event to be at, as said in the blog the tention at the start of the race was amazing. Chambers and Williamson had this massive ego battle at the start where both wanted to be the last to go to their marks, Chambers gave in first and Williamson was officially warned, so when they got ready for the start the 2nd time around it was Chambers who went down last.
Williamson may be a future star, and I hope he will be, but Chambers is our only consistant world class performer and I think on his day he would still beat Williamson and will be our best performer at the World Championships. It would be a joke if he wasn't picked. He is one of the best sprinters in Europe and is a real role model for people who want to put past drug problems behind them.
Complain about this comment
There is this asumption that young inexperience athlets should be taken to the worlds to gain some experience for 2012. I think it is a funny old repeated cycle,this has been happenning for donkey years. UKA should only take athletes who are on form currently, to all competitions. Most of these so call young athletes never matures...you want to go to the worlds train hard for it now...
I guess everybody knows Chambers have to go...being 2nd in 1 race over a long period of time does not make 1 a bad sprinter.
Complain about this comment
Agree with Post #1. Drugs are wrong, Chambers was wrong. But it isn't right that he should be the focus of a witch hunt. He served his time. Now let him run.
If this Williamson kid is any good then we need to allow Chambers to contribute to his development. Chambers cannot win an olympic gold medal now, but perhaps by being given to oppertunity to race the young talent and give them the regular competetion they need, he can find some kind of redemption.
Complain about this comment
On the one hand I'm happy about the aim of this article - its an attempted epitaph based on performance rather than history. But, it fails because it just reveals how inadequate UK Men sprinting is. The clock does not lie, Wiliamson, Edgar, Pickering won't get to the semi's with the times they are running. A fit Chambers is still at least 7 tenths quicker and the only one of them that can consistently run sub-10 sec. The aforementioned three have just not taken that next step. I fully expect Chambers to run the required time, go to the worlds and get to the final. The other 4 won't.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I've seen three comments up for moderation on here now, i think that tells a story regarding the opinion of this article. A read it in disbelief at the clear vendetta against chambers here. Really appauling im afraid bbc. I wouldn't be as bothered if it wasn't such a blatent attempt to knock him AND try to say he is not the fastest in Britain, which is absaloute rubbish!!!
Complain about this comment
Hincy 123 - you think there's a vendetta against Chambers?!
It's not a vendetta, its far more simple. It's pure distaste for a former cheat who deprived numerous other athletes of a chance to perform/medal; deprived numerous events of a clean race; damaged his sport's image; and provided a sickeningly grim liar of a role model for many years before he was caught.
Simeon Williamson... thank you. Maybe now fans can start to support the GB team again.
Complain about this comment
All this talk of who should and shouldn't go is pretty meaningless as it's so obvious. It has to be Simeon and Dwain as they have hardly any competition. As far as I'm concerned only two groups of athletes should make the teams for major championships (privided they meet the IAAF qualifying standard; those wit realistic chances of making the final of their events and those who are obviously huigely talented at a young age, with widely regarded potential to be medallists in the future.
I find it unfathomable that certain athletes (and in no way is it their fault) such as Janine Whitlock (former UK champ pole vaulter, about 75 years running) and that great lighthouse who throws the shot/discus (is it Myerscough) have hundreds of thousands spent on them when we know they're never going to win a medal or even make the final. I'd ratehr that money was reinvested to produce genuine contenders.
We don't need representation for the sake of it in every event, do we?
Complain about this comment
Great to see Williamson finally start showing his potential. It has to be great training in JA with Powell - this should help give him the edge and competitive experience.
Complain about this comment
If there is a fully fit and in form contingent in the 100m final in Berlin, no Brit would get near a medal, so why so much support on here for Chambers?
As none have any real chance anyway, let's at least pick a 'clean' squad.
Complain about this comment
Chambers is the last UK athlete to go under 10 seconds, but this was back in 2001 when he was 23.
6 years, and a 2 year drug ban later he is in the twilight of his controversial career.
I think its fantastic that a young clean athlete has just mopped the floor with him and who can now stand proud as the top sprinter in UK athletics and maybe, just maybe we can move off this sorry subject and focus on he future and some of the great talent this country is producing. oh and Hinchy, get a spell checker mate,
Complain about this comment
In fairness I wouldn't say the article was a "vendetta against Chambers", it just reflects the excitment that surrounds Williamson after this impressive victory which a lot of the media is also picking up on. What I don't agree with though, as I said before is any suggestion that because he was beaten in this one race he shouldn't be picked for the World Championships. We shouldn't not be picking athletes for the World Championship because they wont be able to run in the next Olympics, that would show so little respect to what is probably the 2nd most highly regarded athletics compition. We need to be picking our top athletes to try and get the best performances on the world stage as possible. I don't think anyone could seriously argue that Chambers is not one of our top 2 sprinters, and he has managed to get the qualification time needed so therefore must be picked.
Complain about this comment
Dwain Chambers is a likeable person and is always polite and helpful when I request an interview. He's simply wants to get on with his life and perform, but I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't occasionally refer to his tainted past.
It remains relevant, especially when he can't get competitive races because of the moral stance taken by some meeting promoters in Europe.
I have no vendetta against Chambers, and I'm certainly not calling for him to be left out of the team for the World Championships, I just thought the issue was worth debating.
Chambers now faces an anxious wait to find out if he'll be on the plane to Berlin. Head coach Charles van Commenee refused to be drawn on whether or not he would be picked, saying Chambers is "in the waiting room" as far as selection is concerned.
While there is an element of doubt, it's worth discussing the way forward for British men's sprinting and I'm glad you've taken that opportunity.
Complain about this comment
Simeon Williamson without a doubt is great talent but he still has alot do. He needs to be more consistent with his times, if not he won't reach the World championships final.
For me Chambers is still the top sprinter in Britain, even though he got beat, he has more experience than Williamson. Even though age is creeping up on him, he is still the best in Europe. It's a shame really because he's not getting the quality competition and that is going to hinder his success if he does get picked to go to the World's which i think he should do.
Taking nothing away from Williamson i want him to do well at the World's this is a big oppotunity for him to make a big impact and take British sprinting forward in the right direction.
Complain about this comment
Williamson looks talented but he is definitely carrying too much weight. He could lose a stone and that would give him another tenth.
Complain about this comment
While Chambers is arguably still the best sprinter on the domestic scene, he has never performed on the world stage. He had great chances to win Olympic and World medals when in his (drug-fuelled) prime, and spurned them. Now, at 31 and running slower times, and with the likes of Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay on the scene, I believe he has got zero chance of medalling at this year's Worlds.
The decision for Van Commenee is whether to take an athlete who has been given his chance but is now past his best, or a younger athlete who is unproven but not yet at Chambers' level. The problem is that the younger athletes aren't that young, and haven't made the progress that would indicate they are likely to break through this year, Williamson aside. For Sonja to call Tyrone Edgar a "youngster" (he is 27) indicates either she is badly informed or she is stretching the facts to suit her argument. At 22, Pickering could just about be classed as a youngster, but as someone else has pointed out, he's the same age as Usain Bolt. Personally I can't see him improving much from now on, and he certainly doesn't look capable of running the sub 10 second times he'll need to to compete on the world stage. Edgar showed promise last year, but he has gone backwards since then and time isn't on his side.
It's a disappointing trend that of the world class juniors that Britain has produced in the last 10-15 years (Chambers, Malcolm, Lewis-Francis, Pickering), none of them has translated that promise into an individual 100m medal at the Worlds or Olympics. Only Darren Campbell, arguably the least naturally-talented of his generation, seemed to have the mental strength to be a true championship performer. Even Harry Aikines-Aryeetey seems to be running slower now than he was as a junior, though he's had a bad time with injury and is still only 20. I suspect the coaching has a lot to do with it, lets hope Van Commenee can improve that aspect of UK Athletics.
All credit to Simeon Williamson, he looked fantastic in the final, and should make it to the final at the Worlds on this sort of form.
Complain about this comment
I totaly agree with the first comment from Mike B Warrington and sorry Sonja but as hard as you try you will never give the impression that you are being fair to Dwain.
Like most, you are guilty of 'sterotyping'. The guy has served his time so let that 'angle' go ! When an offender is rehabilitated in all walks of life he or she is monitered is which Dwain has given 100% positive reaction and has returned as a worthy human being within his trade.
But within the vast majority of walks of life an offender is given as much suppoet as possible in which to develop and achieve the obvious goal. Sadly and quite unbelievably Dwain has recieved very little support from his 'Trade Masters' who prefer to continually condem rather than support.
Dwain appears to have become (at the grand old age of 31) the best 100 meter runner in Europe totaly off his old back, without the correct backing. It is quite sad that those who could help have been instrumental in preventing him from gaining the proper support by banning him from the all important events.
He was beatern for the first time at the Nationals. While having to work without the right preparations and relying on self belief, no wonder the guy pulled out of the 200 metres. The lack of support was obvious.
In all fairness, he must be allowed to compete in both events in the Worlds. The punishment finished when he completed his ban. Until the facts are overwelming against him (not just one glitch) he is still the best in Britan and Europe.
Please Sonja, stay in touch. Don't do a Cramb and disappear in the weight of Public opinion.....Coley
Complain about this comment
We seem to be missing the point here.
Research has shown that the benefit of steroids will remain with the athlete for at least 6 years after taking them.
If a criminal serves time for robbery would you be happy for him to come out and live off his gains? I doubt it.
Yes Dwain is a good guy, im sure hes a nice bloke, and yes he knows hes a fool for what he did, but you can understand the reason why so many athletics events have not invited him.
Athletics is struggling to deal with the numbers of athletes from around the world who have been found to be cheating with drugs.
They need to take a hard line to discourage younger athletes from thinking it is ok to take drugs and cheat.
This is not and should not be about personality.
Complain about this comment
I think lots of people are really biased towards Dwain Chambers and really love it now that he has been beaten. I think its time to leave this guy alone for once. This article was really biased and it shows what you guys have been expecting for long. We make it look like he is the only one who has ever failed a drugs test. He failed the test, got the punishment allowed which was not his fault and has come back clean. Why won't we give him a chance. Even criminals are given hundreds of chances not even a second chance alone so why won't Dwain be allowed to live. Lots of the people in the media who seem to 'know' our minds would love if he is not selected. I feel this guy is the best hope we have now and we should let him carry on with what he knows best to do. he is obviously suffering for being honest in a culture where honesty no longer pays. he could have kept silent and carried on enjoying but he refused and he is paying the price for that.
Complain about this comment
I want to deeply thank Coleyatwork for that piece. I did not read your piece before i sent mine. I just reacted to Sonja's article. You hit the nail right on the head. There are so many people waiting for him to fail. When i listen to the interviews on TV it is all false. He is never wished well. They would always ask him questions that are scripted to take the shine off his achievements. I am sorry to say this but it seems true - If Dwain had not been black maybe the treatment would have been different. Its time to leave this guy alone.
Complain about this comment
To clarify my earlier comment about Dwain's colour. Do we hear about Myerscough at all? He admitted drugs after the UK athletics tried all to not deal with the case. He was banned and has since been competing for UK with no cry for him to not compete again.
Complain about this comment
ALPHA4521 - I'm sorry but 'we are NOT missing the point' because your statement is totally untrue...Do you think that the authorities would let Dwain or whoever complete in the World and European Indoor Champs, the European Team and British Champs if there was the slightest chance that he/she had an advantage from taking an illegal substance at any time ??......The reason for the ban at most meets was to keep out the not so prominant and not so good athletes so that the promotor could show the public that they had principles without the loss of talent at a particular event. Along comes Dwain's situation and throws the thoery out of proportion. (Event organisers have stated that they thought about breaking the pact) but most held firm under pressure.
The point I had previously made was that due to lack of the right competion Dwain has struggled to run sub 10 seconds and seems to have his own self belief as his only advantange, there has been no other support. So of course he was 'gutted'. You can't keep fighting a negotive system and keep winning...He should have been individually monitored and supported in return for his efforts.
Also ALPA4521, lots of 'robbers' are living in luxury as the result of their ill-gotton gains but many are rehabilitated with the right support and rewards.
Thanks Kay for liking my last statements BUT we do not think the same - It was totally unnecessary to bring 'race or colour' into the debate. Frankly such comments do the situation no good at all. Even Dwain would agree.
Dwain's book title maybe 'Race against me' but he has stated that is nothing to do with his colour. He has thousands of white supporters of all ages who see him only as a human being and he is being treated as such.
Kay you should appologize for you statement you are 'Well out of order'. There are a lot of sensible and educated people that are putting some very relevant and interesting points into the Dwain Chambers senario. By making such comments you are belittling them.Carl Myerscouch case was and is completely different.....Coley
Complain about this comment
It's possible that we've witnessed a changing of the guard in Birmingham with Williamson at the forefront of a new era for British sprinting.
---------
What like you mean when Christian Malcom came through? or Jason Gardner, or Mark Lewis Francis?
Sorry but wake me up when Williomson manages to run uner 10 seconds half a dozen times and I might actually take notice, until then he is nothign but potential.
Complain about this comment
Hincy 123 - you think there's a vendetta against Chambers?!
It's not a vendetta, its far more simple. It's pure distaste for a former cheat who deprived numerous other athletes of a chance to perform/medal; deprived numerous events of a clean race; damaged his sport's image; and provided a sickeningly grim liar of a role model for many years before he was caught.
-----------
Yes of course it's distast, however distaste has nothignt o do witht imes or results and those are pretty much the ONLY criteria that should decide either selection for teams or analysis of performances.
If you allow distaste to come into the criteria for either then that IS a vendetta.
Complain about this comment
Hakerjack...Unfortunately,It's not quite as simple as you state..The system allows for previously banned athlets to make a come back..That's the rules...SO you either ban drug takers for life or you allow them to be rehabilitated which can only work with support.
The grievance by many people is that there has been no support for Dwain and a 2 year ban has turned into about 6 years. Maybe it would have been better to ban him for life that the unacceptable treatment that he has been afforded...The arguements are about the system as it is not your personal feelings of how it should be.
If you banned drug takers in sport for life you are not going to stop it. People will always think that can get away without being caught and the rewards are great if you don't, so maybe its worth the chance anyway...Sorry mate, that's life....Coley
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS