How 100m runner-up lewis-francis mark picked himself up from a down-and-out situation
How 100m runner-up lewis-francis mark picked himself upu00a0 from a down-and-out situation |
| PROUD: England's Lewis-Francis Mark celebrates his second place finish in the men's 100m final at the CWG yesterday. Pic/AFP |
No one could have imagined England's Lewis-Francis Mark would compete again. Two surgeries on his Achilles tendon made Mark a doubtful starter in the 100m event. But the belief of his coach and trainer helped him gain self-confidence and he was back on track.
Yesterday, as part of his resurgence in track and field, Mark clinched the sliver medal, clocking 10.20 seconds. He finished behind Jamaica's Clarke Lerone, who ran the 100m dash in 10.12 second and ahead of Trinidad's Armstrong Aaron, who finished the race in 10.24 seconds.
Support"If someone had asked me if I could compete at the Commonwealth Games, I would have said, no way. But then, my support staff encouraged me and showed tremendous amount of belief in me. That's how I started again. Initially, it was light training and gradually it was full induction on the track," Mark said after his sliver-winning effort.
England's athletics fraternity thought they had found a replacement for Dwain Chambers, who was serving a dope ban. But Mark, who did exceptionally well on the junior circuit ufffd he won the World Junior Championships in 2000 ufffd failed to translate his performances at the senior level.
"I achieved way too much too early in life. I couldn't handle the success," Mark revealed.
Perhaps Mark's confession yesterday could explain the reason for him being stripped of his silver medal in the European Indoor Championships in Madrid. Mark had tested positive for cannabis after that event.
But the injury-lay-off gave Mark some time to put his career in perspective and he seems to be focused to change his past.
"I am delighted with this medal. It is only my second medal at the senior level (heu00a0 won a sliver in the 100m European Championship earlier this year). Obviously, the next step is the London Olympics and I will do what I can to be on that team," he said.u00a0
'Best Games'Meanwhile, Mark also praised the manner in which the Games have been organised. "It is one the best championships I have been to. The tracks are good, the venues are fantastic, the food is amazing, the Village is fabulous... everything, everything is just perfect.
"I will remember this edition of the Commonwealth Games for a long, long time," he gushed.
Meanwhile, he also dismissed suggestions that some of the members of the England contingent were down with a stomach bug. "Our stomachs are pretty strong. There are no worries," he assured.u00a0
