British 16-year-old sprinter speaks out after bizarrely slowing down and letting three rivals overtake him
Jake Odey-Jordan ended up finishing fourth
EUROPEANATHLETICS
British teenage sprinter Jake Odey-Jordan has spoken out after his bizarre error in the men's 200m race at the European Athletics U18 Championships.
The 16-year-old has been making waves Stateside and is seen as one of the most talented young sprinters in world athletics.
He shattered the all-time Under-20 British 200m record earlier this week, finishing with a time of 20.55 at the New Balance Nationals.
Odey-Jordan was back in action at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Slovakia where he looked on course to qualify from his heat comfortably.
Jake Odey-Jordan ended up finishing fourth
EUROPEANATHLETICS
The teenager came round the bend in the 200m race streets ahead of his competitors before looking back to see where everybody else was.
He then decided to significantly slow his pace far ahead of the finish line, which allowed the chasing pack to close up with some even overtaking him.
Odey-Jordan eventually crossed the line fourth, eliminating him from the competition.
Despite the bizarre error, Odey-Jordan remained optimistic after the sprint race.
"It is all right. I mean, it is my fault, so I cannot be sad about anything but myself," he said.
"It is what it is. It felt good. It was not the fastest run, but it felt good.
"For sure, it could have been sub-21. But it is all good though.
"I am just out here, it is my first race on this meet.
Jake Odey-Jordan was in full control of the race
EUROPEANATHLETICS
"I just tried to get on my legs, nothing hurts me or nothing like that."
Fellow British star Aron Tugwell progressed to the semi-final stage, but he was eliminated in his heat before the final.
Italian Diego Nappi won the final with a time of 20.81 ahead of Sweden's Ivano Bevanda and Joe Burke.
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Jake Odey-Jordan then slowed up long before the finish line
EUROPEANATHLETICS
The Paris Olympics officially get underway next week with the London Athletics Meet being the final chance for athletes to build up some momentum.
British duo Keely Hodgkinson and Matthew Hudson-Smith did just that on Saturday.
Hudson-Smith smashed his own European record to win the men's 400m race while Hodgkinson broke her own British record in the women's 800m.