By Kim Ji-soo
At the starting lines of the 13th IAAF World Championships taking place in Daegu, athletes wear a variety of expressions ― from the comical and even buffonish to the determined ― as if to guise the unmistakable cocktail of will to win and anxiety over defeat. Then, after the 100, 200, 400 meters ― it goes up and up to the 42.195-kilometer marathon ― it’s hard to hide the flushed faces or stop the slouching of the bodies. They’ve given their all; they now wait. And spectators wait with them.
A straightforward drama of sweat and blood; that’s what prompts athletes to pursue excellence and the fans to come to the stadium or sit in front of the television to watch the stars.
So far at the ongoing World Athletics Championships taking place in Daegu in southern Korea, dramas of different sorts have been unfolding. Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, was disqualified for one false start on Sunday’s 100-meter final. Then Olympian Dayron Robles initially won the gold medal but later ceded it to Jason Richardson of the United States in the men’s 110-meter hurdles. Robles was disqualified for obstructing and making contact with Liu Xiang of China, the eventual silver medalist. In hindsight, Robles seemed have been too quick to hug his rival after crossing the finish line, while Liu looked away looking utterly cross. Was Robles being apologetic or a graceful winner?
Then Yelena Isinbayeva, who was supposed to shine as the supernova in Daegu, failed at the worlds again. She placed sixth in the women’s pole vault. Instead, Brazilian Fabiana Murer won the gold with a 4.85-meter jump. Kenya’s David Rudisha defended his name and title by winning in the men’s 800 meters, but LaShawn Merritt was beaten to the gold by a prodigy from Grenada.
Instead of a soaring “Chariots of Fire,” the Daegu meet has the feel of “Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons” in the literal sense. Perhaps the women’s star pole vaulter best put it when after failing in her final attempt: “The Olympic year is more important.” Worlds or the Olympics? Is it a dilemma for the tiger- and dragon-class, especially ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. But then again, every single event athletes compete in must be a dilemma before they can turn it into a drama of their dreams.
While the games are missing the fizzle and sizzle, there are complaints about how the organizers are running one of the top three sports event, and the fast-disappearing spectators once the star athlete exits.
The notable absence of Korean athletes in the finals is an excruciating reminder for Korea that remains a problem to be resolved.
It’s probably not the story that the organizers were looking for, as they are eager to make the athletics meet a success.
A proud host country of the 1988 Summer Olympics, the 2002 World Cup and the upcoming 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, the city and country has a need to prove that the world championships are a success.
But there are still big events left in the nine-day-long meet. Fans will have a chance to see Bolt race in the 200 meters Saturday and the 4x100-meter relay Sunday. His dismaying disqualification has naturally heightened anticipation for his upcoming performances. The showdown between the United States and the Jamaican teams ― a duel between the old and new forces in world sprinting ― is also coming up. The men’s marathon will also highlight the last day of the global meet.
And Korea is well-known for its speed and falling together in dire times. There are still several days left. Aside from how the athletes perform, organizers will find ways to improve on complaints gathered. Time surely is limited to turn any dilemmas in Daegu into the drama of one’s design. But exposure, experience and even erring in hosting and enjoying such large-scale world events will invariably teach lessons that will be worthy down the road.