Rhys Prescod claims he was told his reputation would suffer if he left the team. Credit: PA/Martin Rickett
Reece Prescod laid bare the chaos behind Britain's preparations for the 4x100m relay at the World Championships, comparing his treatment at the hands of UK athletics officials to emotional blackmail.
Prescod, who was part of the team that won bronze at last year's World Championships, claims he was told «you know your reputation will be ruined if you do this» after he pulled out of the team with a hip injury during the time of the workout that required the injection.
Remarkable despite that. having been the UK's fastest 100m runner in 2022, Prescod also revealed that he was told earlier this year that he was no longer part of their relay plans after seven years with the team.
He says it then took a last-minute twist when he was called back to the team last month after finishing second in the British 100m event and setting the third fastest time this year.
He said: “I came to practice, I injured my hip in the exchange [from the turn to the last straight]. Then I had to go to the doctor, get an injection, and it just ruined my preparation for this.
“Then I spent two or three weeks to get myself in order. Then I arrived at the detention camp. There was strong pressure from the federation. I think there is a little panic about the numbers. Then it turned out that “Rhys was gone.” I wouldn't want to let the country down. It's not that I didn't want to be part of the team. I love boys.
“But I didn't want to risk hurting myself. It was pretty hard to deal with all the press and all the negativity. To be honest, I felt pretty isolated in these championships. I felt rather distant from the team.”
Asked if there was hope for a change of heart before the relay starts on Friday, Prescod said: “I think, to be honest, the dust should settle. Because some of the conversations that I had… they weren't very pleasant. And I got a little upset. It just wasn't a very pleasant environment. From time to time I had several different meetings. And it was a bit like emotional blackmail.
«I said, 'I don't want to let the country down.' And they said, «You know your reputation will be ruined if you do this…and the media won't be a good place after that.»
«I was on the track and trying to get a really positive reputation, trying to be a bit of a role model and then get that kind of exit, I said 'let's go'.»
When asked if the comments were coming from from other athletes or from the «hierarchy», Prescod replied: «Hierarchy. Other athletes are very supportive of me. Hope we can just get through this. I tried to help. I talked to the boys. I apologized to them and said I never want to let you guys down. I don't want you to portray me as the bad guy.
“I just had to say, 'You know what, just go as far as you can in these championships and then sit down with [Stephen] Maguire [UK Athletics CTO].”
UK Athletics did not respond to the Prescod comments.
There was at least some positive news for the relay as a quartet of Lewis Davey, Laviai Nielsen, Rio Mitcham and Yemi Mary John won the first British championship medal — a silver — after Dutch superstar Femke Bol sensationally fell in the closing meters of the race. . A time of 3 minutes 11.06 seconds set a new British record.
There was drama in the women's 10,000m when London Marathon winner Sifan Hassan also fell during the gold medal sprint.
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Prescod overcame the stress of off-roading to reach the semi-finals of the men's 100m sprint with teammates Jarnel Hughes and Eugene Amu-Daji on Saturday.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson is in contention for a medal Sunday night after jumping from fifth to second in the women's heptathlon day one final event.
After a start delayed by torrential downpour, she ran a long way outside of his personal best in the 100m hurdles before recovering and making the best high jump of the competition. She faltered in the shot put but then prevailed with a resounding victory in the 200m and was 100 points clear of the leader Anna Hall.
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