London 2012 Olympics: Kim Collins quits St Kitts in row over sleeping with wife

Raging 100m star Collins quits St Kitts team in row over sleeping with his WIFE

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UPDATED:

15:39 GMT, 4 August 2012

Kim Collins was on his way home today after the St Kitts and Nevis Olympic federation pulled their greatest athlete out of the London 2012 Games as punishment for visiting his wife at a hotel.

The 36-year-old, who won the World Championship 100 metres title in 2003, was notable only by his absence from the seventh heat of the short sprint this lunchtime.

A furious Collins said he would never again run for his country, a small Caribbean nation, and complained he had been shown a lack of respect.

The empty lane where Saint Kitts and Nevis' Kim Collins was due to compete in the men's 100 meters this morning

The empty lane where Saint Kitts and Nevis' Kim Collins was due to compete in the men's 100 metres this morning

'I could be wrong but I don't see why
it should be such a problem,' Collins said. 'I would have better luck
if I went out with some chick and came back and there wouldn't be a bit
of a problem.

'I honestly don't see what is the big deal.

'I'm a grown man with kids, about to have grandkids.'

Collins will not be hanging around in
London for the 200m and sprint relay, having had the chance to race in
the 100m wrenched away from him.

Kim Collins in happier times, celebrating winning the Men's 100m Final at the World Championships in Paris in 2003

Kim Collins in happier times, celebrating winning the Men's 100m Final at the World Championships in Paris in 2003

'I'm about to go and change my flight
and go home,” he told BBC Radio Five Live, 'and see my kids who I
haven't seen for a while.

'For me it's a done deal. I've been disrespected for too long for too many years.'

The opening ceremony flag-bearer for
his country was apparently expected by his national federation not to
leave the Olympic Village.

Such is his standing on the world athletics stage that Kim Collins was the flagbearer for the country during last week's opening ceremony

Such is his standing on the world athletics stage that Kim Collins was the flagbearer for the country during last week's opening ceremony

'I can't stay here,' he added. 'I did not come to London to watch the 100m final on TV.

'I've got to go home. What am I supposed to do here Act like a tourist No.

'Do you know how many mornings I wake
up, I could be in bed with my wife but I'm off training and winning,
whenever, wherever, for this

'I earned my right to be here.

Kim Collins seem to suggest he was retiring from international competition because of the row

Kim Collins seem to suggest he was retiring from international competition because of the row

Collins then let his fans know the row meant he wouldn't be competing in the 100 metres at London 2012 today

Collins then let his fans know the row meant he wouldn't be competing in the 100 metres at London 2012 today

Angry at the decision, Collins then snapped at what he saw was punishment for seeing his wife

Angry at the decision, Collins then snapped at being punished just for seeing his wife

'They're asking me to abandon my wife for my team. It's not going to happen.'

Collins revealed he could not even access the Olympic Village.

'I'm not walking away. When I came to the Village I could not get into the Village,' he said.
'My pass, my accreditation, was cancelled

'I'm not walking away, I've been pushed out.'

London 2012 Olympics: Kim Collins believes eight sprinters could run the 100m in under 10 seconds

Quick as a Bolt: Collins promises historic 100m final at London Games

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UPDATED:

13:34 GMT, 30 May 2012

Former world champion Kim Collins believes this year could see the first race in history with eight men running 100 metres in under 10 seconds.

Eight different men have broken the 10 second barrier already this season, with three of them doing so in the same race in Doha earlier in May.

Stiff Stiff competition: Kim Collins (right) says eight people could run the 100m in under 10 seconds to catch Usain Bolt (centre): Kim Collins (right) says eight people could run the 100m in under 10 seconds

Stiff competition: Kim Collins (right) says eight people could run the 100m in under 10 seconds to catch Usain Bolt (centre)

The 2008 Olympic final saw six men run under 10 seconds, including Usain Bolt setting the then world record of 9.69secs, while the same feat was achieved in the 1991 World Championship final and at the 2011 Prefontaine Classic in Oregon.

And although the veteran Collins concedes he is not capable of keeping pace with the likes of Bolt if the Jamaican gets near his current world record of 9.58s, the 36-year-old feels the rising standards in an Olympic year mean history could be made.

'I think this is going to be the year where we see eight men under 10 seconds in the same race, so keep watching,' said Collins, who won the world 100m title for St Kitts and Nevis in Paris in 2003.

Quick as a Bolt: Asafa Powell believes he is capable of beating Usain Bolt

Quick as a Bolt: Asafa Powell believes he is capable of beating Usain Bolt

'For me it's no surprise that five guys have already run under 9.9s this year. It's an Olympic year and everyone wants to be in the best shape possible.'

Collins finished second to Bolt in Ostrava last Friday and will take on the triple Olympic champion again in Rome's Diamond League meeting tomorrow, with former world record holder Asafa Powell also in the field.

Powell said: 'I'm not here to compete against Bolt, I'm here to run very fast.

'The finish line is my target, not Bolt or anyone else.'

And asked how he would beat Bolt, Powell added: 'It's simple. If you want to beat Bolt and he runs 9.79, you run 9.78. If he runs 10 seconds flat, you run 9.9. That's it.'