Donna Tells of her Disappointment in Osaka

Posted under Races and Results by

I am so disappointed and upset that I was not able to race in my heat of the 3000m Steeplechase yesterday (25/8).  I was feeling good on the start line and was confident of making the final, particularly as I was the third fastest of the 18 athletes on the start line. 

I had the 7th lane draw, and as the gun went off all the athletes to my right converged to the left in preparation for the first steeple.  Within 50 metres of the startline, someone landed on the side of my right foot, taking my shoe clean off.  I did not sustain any spiking injury to my foot, I just found myself in the middle of the pack of athletes with only one shoe. It had been tightly laced, but I can see three spike holes in my shoe now, which anchored it to the ground as I tried to run.

With literally less than a second to think, I considered going back to find my shoe, but I decided that it would take too long and I would not make the final if I took that option.  So I continued, taking the first jump with only my left shoe on.  It did not occur to me to pull out of the race at that stage. 

As I was running, I was considering ways to get through the race given my predicament…I took the first water jump, making sure I landed with my ‘shod’ foot on the barrier, because I was worried I would slip in bare feet (or get trodden on). 

I completed 600 metres, but as much as I wanted to continue, the pain in my foot as it burned on the track was unbearable.  When I looked down to see blood pouring from the sole of my bare foot onto the track, I had no option but to stop.  The air temperature was around 35 degrees and the track surface was obviously hotter.  I had even tried running on the white line of lane one for a bit of relief from the heat and friction of the track.

My first instinct was to persuade the Japanese officials to allow me to compete in the third heat of the steeple races, which would start in the next ten minutes.  I knew it was unlikely I’d be allowed, but I strangely kept pursuing this option despite not being able to walk to the medical area.  I did not realise the extent of the damage I caused by running barefoot, in terms of extreme blistering and broken skin on my feet.  The pain from the doctor trying to scrape pieces of the track from underneath broken blisters was incredible. I needed a local anaesthetic in my toes to finish the job.  

If given the chance to decide what to do again, I would go back for my shoe, but I really wanted to make that final and I wasn’t thinking about conserving my feet for the next race.  I managed to get through the many media interviews through quite a few tears. 

The Australian team management and medical staff have been very supportive and my team members have lifted my spirits (bringing me chocolate and icecream) and helping me get to the dining area.

Thank you to my family and friends, who continue to support me as I knew they would. I am very lucky to know that my value as a person does not depend on how I perform on the track.  It’s times like these when it’s important to put things into perspective.

My chance to race in these World Championships is gone, but I am still alive, I still have my family and I am loved.  It’s disappointing for me and a lot of other people as well, but it was just an unfortunate accident that I could not have prevented.   So I’ll get over it- it will be really hard watching the final in Osaka, but I’ll start looking ahead as soon as I can. 

-Donna

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2007 Osaka World Champs – Donna’s SBS Interview
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2007 Osaka World Champs – Donna’s SBS Interview