Parchment not feeling the pressure

Paris, France:

REIGNING OLYMPIC 110-metre hurdles champion Hansle Parchment is not worried about any pressure, perceived or otherwise, that should come with defending his Olympic title.

His only focus is to ensure that he executes the best race he can when the moment requires. That moment will come this afternoon at 12:05 when he, along with Orlando Bennett, and Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Broadbell continue their bid for history, an unprecedented hat-trick of Olympic titles for Jamaica in the event.

Parchment had a nervous wait in his first-round heat, when he was fifth in 13.43 seconds but advanced as a non-automatic qualifier to avoid going into the repechage round. However, Parchment said that had the outcome occurred, it would not have been disappointing since it would help him get more race fit.

“The next round will tell. I would not have been mad if I had to do the repechage round because it would have given me an extra opportunity to run into form,” Parchment said.

Jamaica have won the last two titles, thanks to Parchment in Tokyo three years ago and former world and Olympic champion Omar McLeod in Rio in 2016.

Parchment insists that he does not feel the pressure of a title defence and is only focused on being able to perfect his own race.

“I don’t understand why there should be any added pressure. Pressure is not necessary. My focus is to try and execute my best race at crunch time,” Parchment said. “So I don’t want to spend my time thinking about pressure and what is there. It is not on my mind.”

Parchment will have the added honour of racing 24 hours after it was announced that he will receive the Order of Distinction later this October during the Heroes’ weekend.

“I feel fine. But we know when it comes to athletics, there are always some kind of things that you are trying to manage as best as possible. So I have been trying to manage things, so that I am well for the next round,” Parchment said.

Daniel Wheeler