Fighting Adversity: Flo's World Championships Journal

Coach Flo sends his latest World Championships Journal entry to UKathletics.com as Team USA and one of the athletes he trains directly – Kendra Harrison – have experienced some unexpected adversity in Beijing these World Championships. Ever they optimist, Floréal is looking on the bright side of life.

Certainly there have been some superb efforts thus far from Team USA stars like Christian Taylor and Allison Felix to name a few, but for the most part this has been a very strange Championships for us.

I feel awful for the many athletes who like Keni have trained so hard and met adversity in Beijing.

I think there is solace to be found in this cool verse: “the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong … but time and chance happen to them all.”

That said, there are no words that can console the mind or ease the pain of the heart. We attempt to cleverly make sense of it all, but our efforts are ever so futile. 

Keni – like those before her – will have to find the strength to bounce back and build enough character to overcome this setback.

This morning I head to the track solely focused on the numerous medal opportunities left on Day 9 as a leader must posses the ability to dance in the rain! 

@TrackKentucky: The next Olympics are in Rio, Brazil @KeniUSATF pic.twitter.com/E8NBMz6yFJ

— Edrick Floreal (@TrackKentucky) August 29, 2015