Kenia Sinclair was disappointing in what she says is her last Olympic Games, but she is pleased that she was able to set the trend to establish Jamaica as a middle distant running country, with the island now having three representatives in Rio de Janeiro Brazil.
For years, Sinclair was Jamaica’s sole representative at international games, although she failed to show up for the starter’s gun at the London Olympic Games, but did make the final of the event in Beijing.
This time, Sinclair crashed out at the heat stage on Wednesday, as she finished seventh in 2:03.76 minutes.
She said, “I didn’t think it was a tough heat. I just think starting off I didn’t feel like myself. I felt tired (mentally). I don’t know if it is the sun, but I just felt drained. I felt like I had no energy and I literally ran the race in lane two trying to hold position. But I am not going to be ungrateful.
“I am a bit disappointed and hurt. This is my last Olympics and have always come to championships going into the final and for me to actually gotten knocked out at the heats, it is a very tough one.
I am very thankful as I am able to finish the race without pain. I am still healthy but it is just one of those days where today was not mine,” she said.
According to Sinclair, her disappointing performance stems from placing herself under pressure to advance beyond the heats.
“Today was just a tough race mentally. Physically I was okay, but mentally it was tough. Lining up here today, for me, it was just mentally tough. Like (I was thinking), I have to be in the semifinals.
“I think I put mental stress on myself and I think I went into the race, thinking too much more than actually racing, because 2:01 is my thing and I have been pretty consistent with 2:01. The workout I have been doing at training camp, indicates that I am in way better shape than 2:03. I haven’t run 2:03 forever,” Sinclair said.
She continued, “for this one, I realised that every year the competition gets tougher and tougher. And today when I was going out on the line and to see a fellow Jamaican racing, I was next up and Notaya Goule was up, I was just overjoyed. I mean to see that since I have been competing for Jamaica over 14 years, we have three solid girls in a competitive event.
“I think I am just happy, I am just glad that I have company, and even if I should walk away tomorrow, I am glad to know that I have built the foundation and let them believe in themselves and know that Jamaica is not only the sprint factory, but we have world-class middle distant runners,” Sinclair said.
The national record holder said she will be looking forward to the World Championships in London next year, ready to once again perform at optimum level.
“Mostly definitely (I will be in London). I couldn’t end my season like this. I just have to come back and redeem myself. I just have to build on what I finish now, and the most important thing is, I am not injured, so therefore a lot of work can be done.
“Regardless of my performance, you are going to have some that are not proud and some that are very proud of me, considering my struggles. My family and I are proud of me so that’s what matters. But today, I just have to give God all the glory. It could have been worse. I could have been home watching it and today, I actually came out here and race,” she said.
