DAEGU, South Korea (AP) — Blistered and scarred, American sprinter Justin Gatlin has arrived at the world championships with frostbite on both feet.
The 2004 Olympic champion, who last year made his return to competition after serving a four-year doping ban, says he got frostbite about two weeks ago after going into a cryogenic chamber with wet socks. He didn’t lose any toes, but his wounds are still not completely healed.
Gatlin says “before I even came here it was like walking on fiery pins and needles.”
The injury won’t keep him from trying to beat world-record holder Usain Bolt in the 100-meter final.
