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Godina looking for golden lining after late call-up
SYDNEY, Sept 12 (AFP) - They say that every cloud has a silver lining, though for American thrower John Godina, he will be hoping it will be golden, after he was drafted in on Monday to replace CJ Hunter in the shot at the Olympic Games. Hunter, the husband of sprint star Marion Jones, was forced to withdraw from the Games because his knee, injured last month, had failed to recover speedily enough after key-hole surgery seven days earlier. Godina, Hunter's predecessor as world champion, was already included in the United States team in the discus, and was immediately named as the replacement in the shot. Four years ago, at the Atlanta Olympics, Godina led the shot competition after five of the six rounds, only for Randy Barnes to win the gold medal with his final throw. Godina's shot put form this year has not been outstanding. But as the chief athletics coach for the US team, John Chaplin, said, having the two-time world champion as reserve "is better than chopped liver". It was a familiar tale for 28-year-old Godina of having success snatched away from him at the US Olympic Trials in Sacramento in July. In third place and with his place on the team for Sydney seemingly secure after five rounds, Godina ended up finishing fourth when Andy Bloom out-threw him in the last round. Matched against tough team mates such as the new American champion, Adam Nelson, Godina will be keen to put the competition out of all his rivals' reach before the last round in Sydney.
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