Although the United States won the women’s 4×400 relay in dominant fashion at the Olympics, American sprinter Kendall Ellis was blindsided by how she was treated by Team USA. The 28-year-old allegedly received word that she would not be running in the final just moments before the gun.
It created a rather significant riff between the two sides!
Ellis won the individual 400-meter event at the Olympic Trials. However, she was relegated to the repechage round in Paris and failed to reach the final with a fourth-place finish in the semifinal.
Although the individual result was a big letdown, Ellis was expected to redeem herself on the 4x400M relay team. She actually might be even better in that role, as a relay specialist.
Even though Ellis was considered a lock to run in the final, Team USA went with Gabby Thomas, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Alexis Holmes and Shamier Little instead.
Ellis claims that her coaches didn’t inform her of the decision until the last-possible moment after stringing her along all day.
United States relay coach Mechelle Freeman texted the 2020 gold medals on Saturday morning with concerns. She informed Kendall Ellis that she would not be running in the final.
The latter requested an in-person meeting with the former at a hotel near the Olympic Village.
Ellis met with Freeman not long thereafter. An athlete liaison was present.
Freeman expressed concerns with Ellis’ form, which led Ellis to pitch Freeman on why she should reconsider the decision to remove her from the relay team.
At the end of the conversation, [Freeman] said, “You seem ready. I’m going to put you on this relay in the third leg.” She told me to pick up my uniform for the finals. I said, “Okay” and got to the stadium at 6:15 under the impression I was running.
— Kendall Ellis
Ellis told ESPN that she started to warm-up for the race when a different United States coach walked by. He told her that he was “really sorry” to hear that she was not in the 4×400 relay lineup.
Ellis, dumbfounded by the news, had her personal coach go talk to Freeman. Freeman told him that Ellis was indeed out. That verdict was communicated approximately four minutes before the race.
As could be expected, it did not go over well with the left-out athlete.
We had a good conversation [this morning], a good meeting. I’m an incredible relay runner. It was disappointing to not be on the relay, but I’m angry about the way it was done. I don’t feel supported or valued as a member of the team or as a 400-meter runner, and I don’t feel respected.
— Kendall Ellis
Ellis expressed even greater concern with how Team USA handles these kinds of decisions.
I feel like so many athletes on the U.S. team have had this concern of there being a lack of transparency and communication regarding U.S. relays. This is not new. This is not shocking. There is a history of this on USA relays, and I am fed up and would like to bring awareness to it.
— Kendall Ellis
Team USA has yet to respond to the allegations.
Unfortunately, regardless of what actually happened Kendall Ellis’ frustration falls on somewhat deaf ears. The United States won the 4×400 at the Olympics in blowout fashion. A gold medal is a gold medal…