Get your tinfoil hats ready and be prepared to get pissed off at me.
Legal disclaimer- this is all conjecture and I have no proof of claims.
Some conspiracies on why Allyson took 4th and Nike does what it wants to.
#1- The photo finish-
The superimposed grid shows that the black line used to indicate finish is not parallel with the red line used as a time reference (it is the video marker for the 11 second barrier). While the grid is not 100% lined up, it still shows that the lines are not parallel. If both athletes are marked at the torso (which they are) this line would be perfectly parallel to the 11 second line (which they aren’t). It is roughly a 3-4 pixel difference between the bottom and top of the image, which would give Felix the advantage.
Here is the original image, without the grid.
Here is the image now being shown on USATF, sans the red line leaving nothing left to compare the black line to.
#2- The avoidance of the predetermined rules of a tie.
RUNNING EVENT TIES
1. …
Whether by time or finishing place, if it is determined that there has been a tie,
the tying competitors shall be placed in the next round if it is practical to do so.
If that is not practical, lots shall be drawn to determine who shall be placed in
the next round.
2. In case of a tie for any place in any final, including first place, the tie shall remain.
The USATF already had rules in place for a tie (draw lots), however they were able to skirt this by saying they didn’t have any in place for this specific event- ie Olympic qualification. While this was a final, ergo rule #2 would be used, it is also a qualifier for the next round (the Olympics). This ambiguity allowed there to be something other than chance that determined who went to the Olympics. It also put into the public’s mind that an athlete might simply drop out and choose not to compete (who in their right mind would train for their entire life for a shot at the Olympics, be SO close and choose that? Unless…)
#3- Both are sponsored by Nike.
Let’s be honest. Who had every heard of Tarmoh before this whole debacle? Maybe a couple hardcore female sprint fans? Who, on the other hand, hasn’t heard of Allyson Felix? When it comes down to sponsor money, and who Nike stands to make more money off of due to marketing and marketability, this is a no brainer. Felix is a goldmine for Nike. Is it too unreasonable to think that Nike simply slid Tarmoh some extra money in order to drop out? That brings me to the reason why it took Tarmoh until today to drop out. If I were here there would be no way in hell I would give up my spot. My conspiratorial assumption is that she held firm to the run off and Nike got scared and threw her even more cash today. It’s hard not to sway when a company throws money your way. Potentially lots of money. I wonder how much it costs to buy an Olympic spot… Maybe I should start a kickstarter for myself…
Now I’ll sit back and watch everyone say I have too much time on my hands.
