21.08.2008 14:42

Olmedo, out of the final

Gustau Galvache

The FC Barcelona athlete Manuel Olmedo just missed going into the 800m final in the Peking Olympics. Only six hundredths of a second prevented him going into the final.

Manuel Olmedo took part in the third series of the Games’ 800m semi-finals. It was complicated qualifying for the final as only two athletes per series and the two best times went through. Despite fighting to the end, six hundredths of a second prevented Olmedo from qualifying.

A difficult test

Today the selective test for the 800 metres was a littler bit harder. The competition was strong as all the other athletes had better scores than the Barça man. The rain falling on the Olympic stadium also made it even more difficult to complete the test.

Despite this, Olmedo managed to fight to the end of the race and use his best weapon, the attack in the last few metres. On reaching the last 200m he changed his rhythm and almost achieved qualification for the final.

Six-hundredths away from the dream

This was the difference which kept Olmedo from the final. With a time of 1.45.91 the Barça athlete didn’t make second place, taken by the Canadian Gary Reed, with a time of 1.45.85 which put him through to the final.