British teenage sprinter Jake Odey-Jordan has only himself to blame for a completely baffling finish to his 200m heat at the under-18 European Athletics Championships in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia.
The 16-year-old was the raging favourite for his heat, and proved exactly why within the first three quarters of the race.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: British athlete embarrasses himself in 200m brain fade.
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Odey-Jordan burst out to a seemingly unassailable lead as he gapped the entire field by around 15 metres.
The race was as good as over with 50 metres to go — except it wasn’t.
Aware that he was way out in front after looking over both shoulders, the youngster took his foot off the pedal completely.
Thinking he had the win in the bag, Odey-Jordan slowed to essentially a jog, but was left with egg on his face after realising he backed off way too early.
The rest of the field quickly caught up to the runaway leader, who was passed by four others runners within a matter of seconds.
He finished fifth with a time of 22.12 seconds, well short of his 20.55 personal best, meaning he did not progress past the heats.
Speaking after the race, Odey-Jordan admitted he made a massive mistake.
“It is all right. I mean, it is my fault, so I cannot be sad about anything but myself,” he said.
“It is what it is. It felt good. It was not the fastest run, but it felt good.
“For sure, it could have been sub-21. But it is all good though.
“I am just out here, it is my first race on this meet. I just tried to get on my legs, nothing hurts me or nothing like that.”
His sudden brain fade left the commentators floored.
“Odey-Jordan already lusting his way around the bend,” Phil Minshull said on commentary.
“Persson putting up a good challenge on the outside, but there’s no doubt about it — what a display of sprinting from the young Britain.
“This is absolutely phenomenal… and he’s… what? He’s just easing up! What’s happened here?
“What has gone on there?”
Rob Walker added: “That was an absolute disaster.
“He has eased up far, far, far too early, and half the field swept past him before the finish line.
“This is going to be a lesson learnt the very hard way, after what was, for 150 metres, a masterful display of sprinting.”
It was a hardly believable moment that went viral online, even transcending athletics itself, with even respected tennis journalist Jose Morgado weighing in.
“Omg what did I just watch?” he said.
But athletics reporter Tim Adams said it could be a blessing in disguise.
“The first point here is that he will never forget this and it could be a blessing in disguise in the long-term,” he wrote.
“The second is that he is one of the UK’s most talented young sprinters with incredible potential. At 16, he has already run 20.55 over 200m.”
