Brooks issues statement in support of Nick Symmonds...

Nick Symmonds of the Brooks Beasts
(photo courtesy Brooks Running)

In response to the possibility that reigning USA 800m champion Nick Symmonds of the Seattle based Brooks Beasts may not compete in the upcoming IAAF world track & field championships in Beijing later this month, Brooks Running late Thursday issued a statement in support of Symmonds:

“Supporting professional athletes on and off the run is central to our purpose of inspiring everyone to run and be active, which includes backing elites like Nick Symmonds through the highest levels of the sport. The conversation on athletes’ rights is worth having, as it has significant impact on their ability to pursue their dreams. Nick has carried that baton for years, and our support of him will continue regardless of his competition at the IAAF World Championships. We wish him and fellow Brooks Beast Cas Loxsom the best of luck as they round out their track seasons.”

News about Symmonds' plight has now gone to the national media, as the New York Times' Jere Longman wrote an article about Nick's dilemma Friday morning.

On his Instagram account, Symmonds posted a photo of his silver medal from the Moscow world championships with the caption, "This is my silver medal from #Moscow2013. Since earning this, I have spent the past two years making countless sacrifices and training my ass off. I did this so that I could return to the IAAF World Championships this year and win another medal for my country. Unfortunately,@USATF is threatening to leave me off the team that I qualified for. #Beijing2015"

Symmonds and Loxsom are scheduled to compete in Saturday’s Flotrack Throwdown in Portland before heading to the world championships.