Botswana’s Nijel Amos has won an appeal to be reinstated to the men’s 800m following a trip by USA’s Jewett Isaiah on Sunday night.
The third fastest man in the world, over the distance, was well on course for qualifying for the final until the incident 200m from the finish when he tumbled after being spiked by the American as he tried to wriggle away and charge for the homestretch.
Team Botswana officials launched an immediate appeal and after a review of the footage, it was ruled his progress was un-sportingly impeded and he was restored to the semis after his Olympics dream appeared buried with a sixth finish in the third and final heat.
Nijel had positioned himself well behind three leaders, jostling for fourth place before Jewett veered into his lane. The two stumbled with the Botswana athlete escaping with a slight injury.
The duo dusted themselves and joined arms before making a jog for the line which showed remarkable sportsmanship after accident that came as they began to accelerate around the final bend.
“I’ve got a cut on my leg but I don’t know what happened,” Nijel told reporters after the race.
On his part USA’s Jewett expressed his disappointment but had placed hopes that he would also be reinstated and run the final.
“I was super disappointed but I saw that Nigel was also disappointed. And he kind of like looked at me and said like, ‘I’’m sorry.’ And I was like let’s just finish the race. And I just wanted to, at least finish. That’s what my mom tells me, ‘always just finish what you started.”
“Honestly, I’m just glad that I’m here. I hope I can get into the final because I really wanted to run, and like to show everybody who I am. At the end of the day, I’m glad that I’m here. Hey, I worked hard to get here so hopefully they can get me into the final, but it’s ok,”Jewett concluded.
