• London Olympics 2012

Chambers relying on selectors for Olympic dream

ESPN staff
June 25, 2012
Dwain Chambers' (left) participation at the London Olympics will be decided by the selectors © PA Photos
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Dwain Chambers has not been selected to run the 100 metres at the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki, leaving his place at London 2012 in the hands of the selectors.

The 34-year-old boosted his chances of realising his Olympic dream by winning the 100m at the trials in Birmingham at the weekend, although the Olympic 'A' qualifying mark of 10.18 seconds eluded him.

Having not achieved the qualifying standard, the veteran sprinter was expected to line up in the individual 100m in Helsinki this week to try and attain the target before Sunday's deadline.

However, UK Athletics only named him in the 4x100m relay team, meaning he now faces an agonising wait to find out whether he has been picked to compete at this summer's Games.

Adam Gemili is the only sprinter guaranteed a place in the Team GB squad for the Olympics (having already secured the qualifying time he then claimed a top-two place at the Aviva Trials). James Dasaolu, who finished third at the trials, is likely to win one of the two places on offer - he is the only other athlete to have run the 'A' standard, while Chambers looks the favourite to land the other spot.

With Chambers omitted, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Mark Lewis-Francis will represent Great Britain in the men's 100m, while world champion Mo Farah will feature in the 5,000m. Jenny Meadows, who won bronze in the 800m at the 2009 World Championships, is included having missed the trials on account of injury.

Jo Pavey runs in the 10,000m, Abi Oyepitan goes in the 200m, and high-jumper Robbie Grabarz, who impressed at the Diamond League meeting in Rome last month, is also selected.

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