Macrozonaris blasts Athletics Canada after men’s 100-metre victory

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This article was published 05/08/2006 (7301 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA (CP) – Nicolas Macrozonaris raced to gold in the men’s 100 metres at the Canadian track and field championships on Saturday. And then he ran off his mouth.

The sprinter from Laval, Que., won in a time of 10.31 seconds, then blasted Athletics Canada for cutting his national funding after last season.

“When I’m on top, everybody wants to tap my shoulder, but when things go down for me, everybody vanishes. Everybody including my own federation,” Macrozonaris said.

“It bothers me man, I’m not a Joe Schmoe who’s out here suddenly screaming at everybody and making an ass out of myself. It’s not good.”

Macrozonaris edged Pierre Browne of Toronto, who finished in 10.33. Anson Henry of Pickering, Ont., took the bronze in 10.34.

“I’m very satisfied,” said Macrozonaris. “I’ve been struggling as you all know, but I was able to bounce back despite all the things thrown my way.

“You know what, I’m Canadian champion today, and it’s probably the highlight of my career. I’m very satisfied, I mean it from the bottom of my heart, deep into my soul. This is something I’m very proud of.”

Macrozonaris lost his national carding – worth $1,500 a month – after a disappointing 2005 season. His fastest time of last year was 10.35, well off his best of 10.03 he ran in 2003 when he beat former world-record holder Tim Montgomery in Mexico City.

Macrozonaris, who turns 26 later this month, said he’d been injured and applied for an injury card, which allows athletes to keep their funding while they’re recovering. He was turned down, and his appeal is still to be determined.

Les Gramantik, the head coach of Athletics Canada, argued Macrozonaris failed to follow strict guidelines the federation has in place to avoid legal issues. He said athletes are required to notify the federation if an injury forces them to miss at least four months of training.

“We are forced to do things black and white,” said Gramantik. “Nic never notified us through the season that he was injured, he came to Helsinki (the world championships) and competed in Helsinki for us, he ran the 100 and ran the relay.”

Macrozonaris, not to hold back his feelings, disagreed.

“I was inactive all of 2005, and at the end of the day, I get a slap in the face,” said the sprinter. “I’m a positive guy, I don’t look at a rose that grows from concrete and say, ‘what ugly petals it has.’ I’m a positive person, but then when you have no support, it’s sad.”

Athletics Canada has 66 cards available, and usually about five of them go to injured athletes.

Henry, who is the top-ranked Canadian right now after running 10.12 earlier this season, is also not carded.

Gramantik said the decision against Macrozonaris was nothing personal.

“His argument is ‘I’m the most talented 100-metre runner in Canada,”‘ Gramantik said. “Perhaps. And I congratulate him (on his victory). He deserves it.

“Sometimes I feel the problem we’re facing though, is athletes think I, or Athletics Canada, would not like them to be successful. Contrary. I would like to see him running 9.7 and be the world champion. It is helping us and helping him.”