Six-time national 800m champion Nick Symmonds will “do everything he can to race on Friday” in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, according to 93.1FM KTIK in Boise.
He’s been battling a torn ligament and stress fracture in his left ankle since he stepped awkwardly during some interval practices. His only two races since August were unimpressive, but his 1:44.53 was the third-fastest qualifying time for Trials.
A two-time Olympian (fifth in 2012), Symmonds is the reigning national champion in the 800m and he won silver at the 2013 World Championships. He earned a spot on the 2015 Worlds team, but didn’t make the trip to Beijing after refusing to sign a USATF statement of conditions in a protest of some sponsorship issues.
Symmonds also told his hometown radio station that “he knows he’s on borrowed time.” At 32 years old, he’s eight years older than the average Olympian.
.@NickSymmonds says he's going to do everything he can to race on Friday. He has a torn ligament and stress fracture in his left ankle.
— KTIK 95.3 FM The Ticket (@KTIK_953FM) June 29, 2016
Olympic hopeful @NickSymmonds says at 32 he knows he's on borrowed time. He's 32. Average age of an Olympian is 24.
— KTIK 95.3 FM The Ticket (@KTIK_953FM) June 29, 2016
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