Olympics:Joanna Mills has expressed her disappointment at losing her Olympic place in the women's 4 x 400m relay team for the forthcoming London Games. Catriona Cuddihy won her appeal against her de-selection yesterday, leaving Mills high and dry with just three days to go before the Games begin.
Mills could still take her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but, given the timeframe involved, has indicated that she will look ahead to the Rio Games instead.
“I think the initial disappointment of now getting selected and then being told that you are going and then being told you’re not going has been draining,” Mills told reporters in Belfast today. “But it’s definitely something that has made me stronger and it’s something I have to see how everything pans out.
“I suppose it’s just the way the decision has been made. I would rather be running faster and not be going than be running faster just to get a place to go. It’s made me more determined.
“I’m only 19 so realistically I’m aiming for 2016 and beyond so I can’t let it stop me in my tracks. I’m going to keep my head down and it’s only made me more hungry to compete at an Olympic Games and hopefully next time it will be a lot more of a clear cut decision. ”
Cuddihy was initially named in a six-strong squad for the Games ahead of Mills, whose seasonal best was better than Cuddihy’s, leading to Mills successfully appealing the decision. But Cuddihy’s original selection was based on a number of different criteria, including experience at major championships, and her appeal against Mills’ inclusion at her expense was upheld by an Athletics Ireland Appeal Panel in Dublin.