Sharon Firisua, a marathon runner from the Solomon Islands, will compete in the 100-meter race at the Paris Olympics.
After finishing 72nd in the marathon at the Tokyo Games, she hoped to qualify for another marathon at the Paris Olympics. However, when she did not qualify, the country’s Olympic officials gave her a wild-card spot, usually reserved for athletes from small countries who don’t meet the qualifying standards.
When the Solomon Islands received the opportunity, they were told only the 100-meter race had space. This race includes some of the world’s fastest sprinters, such as Sha’Carri Richardson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
The decision to put Firisua in this sprint event has sparked controversy. Jovita Arunia, the country’s best sprinter, is unhappy because she was not selected for the event despite being a sprinter. “We’re the actual sprinters … I don’t know what went wrong, it’s unbelievable,” Arunia said.
Arunia is upset enough that she is thinking about quitting the sport entirely. “I will not compete any more because of what they did,” she said.
For Firisua, the Olympics in Paris will be an unusual experience. The preliminary heat on Friday will be her first and probably last 100-meter race. This unexpected change means she will be sprinting instead of running the long distances she is used to.
