U.S. sprinter Kendall Ellis said she was “caught off guard” on Saturday night when she was dropped from the 4×400-meter relay at the Paris Olympics.
Ellis was the reigning U.S. 400-meter champion, but she wasn’t part of the team that dominated on the track. Instead, Shamire Little, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas and Alexis Holmes dominated en route to the gold medal.
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American athlete Kendall Ellis prepares to compete in the women’s 400m semifinal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
Ellis He told ESPN She had four minutes to spare before being told she couldn’t compete in the medal race.
“I’m very proud of the team that competed and I think they ran great,” she said. “But at the same time I’m disappointed, I feel lied to and I’m embarrassed. I feel kind of blindsided because I thought for hours that I was going to be in the final when I was told something this morning. It seems like everyone knows but me.”
Ellis said she was woken up to a text message from Mechelle Freeman informing her that she would not be able to compete in the 4×400-meter relay. Ellis said she wanted to express her feelings to her in person, which she did, and Freeman told her to prepare as if she were competing in the relay.
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American athlete Kendall Ellis competes in the women’s 400 metres repechage at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 6, 2024. (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
But before the race, another American coach approached Ellis and said he was sorry he couldn’t compete. Ellis passed on what he had heard to his personal coach, Quincy Watts. Watts told Freeman about the decision, and Ellis overheard Freeman say he wouldn’t be competing.
“It was four minutes before the start of the race,” Ellis told ESPN.
“We had a good conversation [this morning]”It was a good meeting. I’m a great relay runner. It was disappointing that I wasn’t able to take part in the relay, but I’m angry about the way it was handled. I don’t feel supported or valued or respected as a team member or as a 400m runner.”
Ellis said he’s not sure what he’ll do now that the Olympics are over.
Team USA’s Kendall Ellis watches during the women’s 400 meters repechage on day 11 of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on August 6, 2024 in Paris, France. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
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USATF did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Ellis won gold in the 4x400m relay and bronze in the mixed 4x400m relay at Tokyo 2021.
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