āOn September 7 I managed to dip under 2 at the World Challenge meet in Rieti, Italy. I was feeling so ill that I donāt know how I managed a 1:58.92. The truth is at that point, I was running for Nike. They had remained loyal throughout the yearsānot taking away their support even when I was sidelined in 2009. I felt like I owed it to them to at least try.
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āFrom the moment I stepped on to the track for the final meet in Berlin on August 19, 2009, I have been vilified and persecuted. My accomplishments since have been celebrated, yes, but it is hard to think of another athlete at the elite level who has endured as much scrutiny and psychological abuse from sports governing bodies, other competitors, and the media as I have. It has affected me in ways I cannot describe, although I will try.
āI didnāt do well in the event. I came in fourth and to this day, I donāt know what happened except to say I couldnāt find the zone. I didnāt yet understand that racing wasnāt just about being fast, it was also about strategizing and quieting the mind. I was used to running alone, my only company at times just cows and sheep and goats. I was used to running in South Africa. I couldnāt yet control my nerves. I resolved to learn and never lose again.
āThis was the first time Iād ever been to a shopping mall, the first time Iād even seen or been in an athletics-wear store. The store manager was sponsoring the athletes who were heading to the World Junior Championships. Iād never owned anything close to brand-new sports attire. They gave us a pair of sneakers, a pair of new track spikes, and a white and blue track suit. I was on top of the world.
āāI told you I wasnāt going to make it this time, uncle. But Iām going to get you and the Nike people a gold medal at the Olympics next year.ā Masilo smiled. Heād become a great friend by this point, more like a member of my family than the executive responsible for my sponsorship at a global company. āYou do your thing, Caster. Rest now and you come back stronger next year. We are here for you. We believe in you.
āThe IAAF thought they could shame me off the track back in 2009, but things didnāt turn out the way they usually did. We may have lost the legal battles, but I won where it mattersāI still became a champion, and the IAAF exposed their true nature. This thing is no longer about secret conversations and secret surgeries and secret medication. Now the world knows more about what they have done and what they want to continue to do.