Beijing fight on as Dwain Chambers runs fastest for 9yrs

By Richard Lewis 13/07/2008

Dwain Chambers last night roared to glory at the Olympic trials with a sensational run to complete the first part of his bid to race in Beijing.

The controversial  sprinter won a stunning final at the Aviva Olympic trials in Birmingham, and his 10.00 seconds was the quickest legal time by a British athlete for nine years.

But the rest is now out of his hands. On Wednesday, Chambers will aim to gain an injunction against the British Olympic Association’s by-law which prevents drugs cheats from competing for Team GB at any future Games.

Chambers could hardly believe it in a race where Simeon Williamson soared to a personal best of 10.03 in second and Craig Pickering was third in 10.19.

At the finish, Chambers lay flat on the ground and kissed the track in delight.

He said: “I am so glad it is over. I just had to believe in myself. I knew I was in good shape, I kept a clear mind and I did the best I could.

“I have done my part and hopefully it will be a future in Beijing. I just want to be treated fairly.”

Chambers was banned for the sport in 2003 after failing a drugs test for the anabolic steroid THG. He served a two-year ban and his return this year has seen him win silver in the world indoor championships but his main aim was to make the Beijing team. He said: “I have made my mistake and I have promised to go out and compete as a clean athlete.”

Greg Rutherford had to battle with his emotions as he leapt back to form to win a place at the Olympics in the Long Jump.

Rutherford’s triumph was for his grandfather James who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He said: “I have just had the worst week-and-a-half of my life.  And for this to happen to me is massive, massive.

“I found out last Thursday that my Grandad’s dying from  cancer, so to do this is amazing. I can’t believe it.

“I was thinking of him the whole time. He’s in Hemel Hempstead so I am going to dash down there now to see him and show him the medal. That was all for him today.

“I have not trained and I have not done a lot. I have spent all my time with him and my family and what you realise is the bigger picture and how important that your family is to you.

“They have always been so supportive of me. My dad said to go out there and make him proud and my grandad said to go out there and get it done. It was all for him.”

Rutherford, 21, is the European silver medallist but since he won that title in Gothenburg two years ago he has been rocked with injury. He needed 8.2m to secure the qualifying time for Beijing and he did that with his fifth round jump to win the event.