Why Africa 100m silver medalist Maia McCoy parted ways with Liberia

Sport

Why Africa 100m silver medalist Maia McCoy parted ways with Liberia

Every athlete’s dream is to compete at the Olympics and earn the revered title of an Olympian.

Countries are always proud whenever their participants punch tickets to the Olympic Games, they do all they can to ensure their charges return home with medals to be kept for honours and posterity.

Unfortunately, this was not the case for Africa women’s 100m silver medalist Maia McCoy and her ‘adopted’ country Liberia in the run up to the Paris Olympics.

The relationship between the two became frosty. Liberia and McCoy no longer see eye to eye. But what’s the problem?

“I was ranked 33rd in the world in 100m last season and they (Liberia) decided not to take me to Paris (Olympics), I was hurt,” high-spirited McCoy narrated at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi when she jetted in on Tuesday night.

She will be taking part in the women’s 100m at the sixth edition of the Absa Kip Keino Classic set for Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on Saturday.

The 28-year-old American strained relationship with Liberia commenced last season in Douala, Cameroon in the height of the African Championship where she clinched silver in 100m and anchored Liberia to bronze in the 4×100 m relay.

Having nothing to do after completing her task in Douala, McCoy says she requested the Liberian officials to allow her to go back home (to USA) to rest and that’s where hell broke loose.

“They got mad about that. They had a problem with that. They felt I was uncomfortable in Africa,” she said.

“They felt I was negative influence on the team. So they didn’t take me to Paris, they don’t want me to represent them anymore.

“And yes, the feeling is mutual because it didn’t feel the same not running, because that’s my identity and at the end of the day, it just didn’t feel right anyway. I’ll be so happy to get fully switched back to the USA,” she said.

Granted another opportunity, McCoy firmly stated she would not represent Liberia again in any championship after the horrendous ordeal.

“No. No. Never again,” she said. “I have switched over. I’m happy in the country of my birth. I don’t want to be rude but they don’t want me to represent them any more and I don’t want to represent them too. So the feeling is mutual. I’m excited to switch back to the USA,” she said.

But the double African Games silver medalist claims the break up with Liberia has not affected her athletics prowess in any way and that she is rearing to blaze in her maiden appearance at the Kip Keino Classic on Saturday.

“Hopefully, you see gold on Saturday. The target at Ulinzi is gold, no less. I’m out to win. When I go out, I beat people!,” she declared.

“I have been hoping to clock 11.00. I have been chasing that for the longest time possible. I hope to finally get it in Nairobi.”

The women’s 100m category at Ulinzi will definitely be a showstopper; with Hemida Basanta of Egypt jostling to upgrade last year’s silver to gold. McCoy’s compatriot Shanon Ray, who bagged bronze last season, is aiming to strike gold too while Rani Rosius of Belgium, who was fourth, is working round the clock to smash the glass ceiling into the podium.

There is also Botswana’s latest property asset, Tsaone Sebele, who could just be the dark horse in the cutthroat duel.

“You know, one thing with me is that I don’t go through the start list. I don’t even know whom I’m competing with. I just focus on myself and my lane,” McCoy said ahead of the looming showdown.

McCoy believes Kip Keino Classic will be a good launch pad for her ultimate athletics dream which is to qualify for the World Championships in Japan in September and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

The famed track fashionista says she would have loved to explore a bit of Kenya’s tourism industry after the Kip Keino meet but unfortunately she will be boarding her flight on Saturday midnight flight to Italy where she will be having a couple of meets which will be iced with the Rome Diamond League on June 6.