Kingdom replies to doubters
Roger Kingdom, who at age 41 recently announced his intention to shoot for the 2004 Olympic Trials in the 110 hurdles, took note of several posts here and elsewhere regarding the hazards of an elite comeback. Here’s what he sent me today in reply:
Hello Gentlemen,
Thank you very much for your assessment of my health, as well as erformance. I thank you for the advice on human limitations because of age. Who is it to say
what type of condition our bodies are in? I am a track & field coach who continues to train over the 42” hurdles. When you can still beat some of the young kids, why not try to make the Olympic Trails at 41 years old. Did you tell David Ashford that he couldn’t do it? His challenge is no different then that of
ours. I have been told many times in my life what I can and cannot do. If I had listened, I would have never won my first medal.
However, it’s good to hear someone else’s opinion. Your thoughts are noted as your honest opinions, but please take under consideration neither of you are
Edwin Moses or Roger Kingdom. Equally! We know that we are not “Superman”. Edwin chose to stop his challenge because of a pre-existing injury that wouldn’t allow him to put in the time he needed. Gentlemen! Are we not allowed to set goals for ourselves? Think about it, the ambitions we have now are the same that helped us win Olympic Medals.
Yes! We are older and might not reach our goals, But! Are we to limit ourselves the way you men have? We are all different human beings! We hurt and heal
differently! We win and lose differently! We approach adversity differently! So if you men can’t do it. Don’t get envious if some else does.
I challenge you both to make a donation to the California University of Pa Track & Field program, as well as to the Roger Kingdom Foundation Inc. if I
qualify for the trails. Being that you are so sure I want make it. The qualifying time is 13.55. Follow my progress on the California University of PA. Website
(www.cup.edu)
I spend my days and some nights coaching and mentoring young minds. I teach them to have faith and believe in themselves. That way they’ll never put limitations on themselves. We should “stop trying to predict our
future and start creating it.”
Yours in Track
Roger Kingdom
3 Responses
Roger
I hope you do make it to the Olympic trials. I once heard a definition of failure that states “If you never try or attempt an endeavor than you have failed for not trying” Yes you may not qualify and the naysayers may be right, however by putting forth the effort to make the Olympic trials tells me that you are a success. At the end of the day you can say I tried and that will be one less regret you will have at the end of life wondering “I wish I would have tried to make the Olympic trials when I was 41 years old”. Life is too short to have any regrets. In short “GO FOR IT ROGER”!!!!!!!!!!
Tyrone Waller – Cincinnati, OH
M43
From one of the naysayers………We have no intent to try to dissuade Roger from attempting his quest nor to criticize his efforts. Personally, I applaud his attitude. True, I am not a double Olympic champion (only in my dreams), and I am sure he has the heart and mind of a true champion. I recall pulling for Roger in the Olympics.
I simply do not believe his comeback will be sucessful. He can pretend that he is different and that the laws of physics do not apply to him. That is his right. I just don’t believe it. I am sure few people do, if, for no other reason than it has never been done.
I was not aware that he continues to train over 42″ hurdles. Thay would certainly help in any comeback. I wish him neither ill will nor bad luck. It would be exciting to watch, and I would actually be pulling for him to prove me dead wrong.
Just like in Moses’ case, we masters have long known that getting to the starting line is many times more difficult than getting to the finish line. It is no surprise to me that a “pre-existing injury” stalled his comeback. We could have predicted that. There are a lot of us that would have done much more if we weren’t injured, Roger included.
We are not “envious” (one of the seven deadly sins), nor have we “limited ourselves as you men have.” We are in a different stage of life. I am 60, and no longer pretending to be 30 because, “I can still beat some of the young kids.” Roger is a proven champion. We just add to his challenge, as insignificant as our opinions might be.
Good luck Roger!!
Courtland Gray
M60
I think Roger Kingdom will qualify for the Olympic Trials. I’m sure we can all think of examples of people past 40 who have done so. I personally went to 2 Trials in the javelin at age 33 and 37, and missed qualifying for a third at age 44 (threw 226′ 10″ at the Masters Nationals in Orlando in ’99 when the qualifying mark was 228′).
I think there was a long-jumper at the trials in ’92 who was 42. That’s an event that’s possibly as challenging at that age as the hurdles are. I also think there’s a BIG difference between age 41 and 48.
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