Trackster Perec Leaves Sydney
S Y D N E Y, Australia, Sept. 21 -- Marie-Jose Perec, a three-time Olympicchampion so reclusive and mysterious she’s been dubbed the “GretaGarbo of athletics,” fled the Sydney Games and a chance at historyto fulfill her wish of being left alone.
She could run, but she couldn’t hide.
Perec, two-time defending champion in the 400-meter track eventand a rival to favorite Cathy Freeman in the 400, flew to Singapore afterclaiming that a man forced his way into her room and threatenedher. She left one day before Friday’s first-round heats in herevent.
In Singapore, Perec and her companion were questioned by policefollowing a scuffle with a television cameraman awaiting theirarrival.
This much was clear: Only Perec knows for sure what her plansare.
Was She Harrassed?
“She hasn’t been officially excluded from the team,” saidMichel Vial, head of the French Olympic delegation. “The teamstill hopes she can come to compete in Sydney. At this point, beingin Singapore, it is very improbable that she will compete. But sheis still officially entered. Things are possible with planes.”
Denise Kaigler, spokeswoman for Perec’s chief sponsor, Reebok,said earlier that Perec would not compete in the games. She latersaid it was possible Perec would compete.
Kaigler said Perec left the country after being accosted inSydney.
“Marie-Jose has been under a great deal of pressure, andyesterday afternoon she was harassed in her hotel room by anunidentified man who forced his way into her room and threatenedher,” Kaigler said.
Police and a hotel official said they had no knowledge of suchan incident.
Airport Altercation
The bizarre tale became stranger as Perec, who in 1996 becamethe second woman to sweep the 200 and 400 gold medals in anOlympics, left the country.
Perec’s companion, former American 400-meter runner AnthuanMaybank, got into an altercation at Singapore’s airport that sentTV cameraman Kyme Hallion — a freelancer working for Sydney’sChannel Nine — to a hospital.
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