Torri Edwards

Torri Edwards (born Torrence Edwards January 31, 1977)cite web |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=163/bio/index.html|title=Athletes > Torri Edwards> Bio |author=MSN|accessdate=2008-09-15 |date=2008 |publisher=NBC Beijing Olympics 2008] is an American sprinter. She was a rising young star in 100 and 200 metres, winning an Olympic medal in 4×100 metres relay in 2000. In 2003 she won six medals in major international competitions, including one World Championship gold.

Early career

Edwards states that she began sprinting when she joined her school team in junior high.cite web |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=163/bio/index.html|title=Athletes > Torri Edwards> Bio |author=MSN|accessdate=2008-09-15 |date=2008 |publisher=NBC Beijing Olympics 2008] Edwards was an average sprinter in high school, with her best state meet finish ever coming her senior year when she was fourth in the 200m. Edwards would then attend the University of Southern California. [http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/usc/genrel/auto_pdf/uscolympians.pdf USC OLYMPIANS: 1904-2008] , USC Trojans Athletic Department, Accessed August 26, 2008.] That track season, she won the Pac-10 titles in both the 100m and 200m for USC.cite web |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=163/bio/index.html|title=Athletes > Torri Edwards> Bio |author=MSN|accessdate=2008-09-15 |date=2008 |publisher=NBC Beijing Olympics 2008] She states:

"Not until I got to college did I realize that I could be good," Edwards said. "Winning the Pac-10 titles gave me a big boost in confidence, and I found myself setting higher and higher goals."cite web |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=163/bio/index.html|title=Athletes > Torri Edwards> Bio |author=MSN|accessdate=2008-09-15 |date=2008 |publisher=NBC Beijing Olympics 2008]

Doping Accusations

It later turned out that she had used the banned substance nikethamide. She was banned for two years effective from July 18, 2004, missing the 2004 Summer Olympics. In August 2004, Edwards appealed the ban, and an arbitration panel acknowledged that Edwards "conducted herself with honesty, integrity and character ... she has not sought to gain any improper advantage or to 'cheat' in any way." [http://www.latimes.com/media/acrobat/2006-12/26797863.pdf] In November 2005, her two-year ban was shortened when the World Anti-Doping Agency downgraded nikethamide infractions to maximum one-year suspensions.cite web |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=163/bio/index.html|title=Athletes > Torri Edwards> Bio |author=MSN|accessdate=2008-09-15 |date=2008 |publisher=NBC Beijing Olympics 2008] The drug had come from pills she had taken at a meet in Martinique to combat a minor illness. Though arbitrators decided Edwards had taken the drug inadvertently, saying in their ruling that she had conducted herself with "honesty, integrity and character," they didn't overturn the suspension, because the glucose tablets given to her by her doctor contained a warning for athletes advising that the pills could cause a positive doping test.cite web |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=163/bio/index.html|title=Athletes > Torri Edwards> Bio |author=MSN|accessdate=2008-09-15 |date=2008 |publisher=NBC Beijing Olympics 2008] Therefore, Edwards did not take performance enhancement drugs to improve her performance. cite web |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=163/bio/index.html|title=Athletes > Torri Edwards> Bio |author=MSN|accessdate=2008-09-15 |date=2008 |publisher=NBC Beijing Olympics 2008] Unfortunately, since Edwards was a teammate of Marion Jones in the 2000 Olympic 4×100 meters relay, she was stripped of her medal following Jones's admission to using steroids during the games.

Personal bests

*100 meters - 10.78 (2008)
*200 meters - 22.28 (2003)

2008 Olympics

At the 2008 Olympic finals for the women's 100 meters, Edwards stated that she thought she had false started cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26258180/#storyContinued|title=Torri Edwards hesitates for false start call, finishes last in 100 sprint |author=Scott M. Reid|accessdate=2008-08-18 |date=2008 |publisher=NBC Beijing Olympics 2008] and apparently hesitated, believing that the officials were going to call a false start.cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26258180/#storyContinued|title=Torri Edwards hesitates for false start call, finishes last in 100 sprint |author=Scott M. Reid|accessdate=2008-08-18 |date=2008 |publisher=NBC Beijing Olympics 2008]

Edwards eventually finished 8th place with a time of 11.20, an under-par performance for the American sprinter whom has a best time of 10.78. cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26258180/#storyContinued|title=Torri Edwards hesitates for false start call, finishes last in 100 sprint |author=Scott M. Reid|accessdate=2008-08-18 |date=2008 |publisher=NBC Beijing Olympics 2008] Edwards states:

“I thought I moved before the gun,” Edwards said. “I kind of hesitated because I expected to hear a second gun. It threw me off a lot. It’s pretty tough.cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26258180/#storyContinued|title=Torri Edwards hesitates for false start call, finishes last in 100 sprint |author=Scott M. Reid|accessdate=2008-08-18 |date=2008 |publisher=NBC Beijing Olympics 2008] ”

However, Edwards actually had a reaction time of 0.179 seconds, which was not the fastest or the slowest of the eight runners. [ [http://www.iaaf.org/oly08/results/eventCode=3659/racedate=08-17-2008/sex=W/discCode=100/combCode=hash/roundCode=f/results.html#det 100 Metres - Women's Final] . "IAAF". 17 August 2008. Retrieved August 24 2008 ] It is possible, therefore, that Edwards had not applied enough pressure on the blocks to trigger a false start warning, however she twitched her upper body, but possibly left her feet solid." [ [http://in.reuters.com/article/worldOfSport/idINIndia-35053220080818?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 When is a false start not a false start?] . "Reuters India". August 18, 2008. Retrieved August 24. 2008]

Another disappointment came in the 4x100m relay when the American team dropped the baton in the semi-final due to a misunderstanding between Edwards, on the top bend, and Lauryn Williams on the anchor leg. Williams picked up the baton to finish the race in last place, but the USA was disqualified because she had had to run out of her lane in order to retrieve the baton.

Achievements

ee also

*Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 meters
*List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

External links

*iaaf name|id=136060|name=Torri Edwards
* [http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_1353.htm Torri Edwards' U.S. Olympic Team bio]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEMfTZUxtxc Torri Edwards wins Nike Prefontaine Classic, in Eugene, Oregon]