Top American sprinter English Gardner is seeking “sweet redemption” in the women’s Olympic 4x100 relay after bombing in the 100m — as long as Baby Beast doesn’t have the night off again.
Gardner touched down in Rio after taking off in the US Olympic trials, her personal best time of 10.74 in that exam in Eugene lifting her to top of the class.
Once in Brazil she eased through her heat and semi-final to line up last Saturday with a great shot at gold.
Her life story resembles a Himalayan skyline of peaks and troughs. And running a sedate 10.94s to trail in seventh behind Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson in the final was a definite low.
“I was in a great position to medal coming into these Games but like normal everything kind of went wrong,” the charismatic 24-year-old told AFP.
“In this sport you can be on top of the world one second and then ten seconds later be at the bottom.”
Gardner, a two-time 4x100 relay world silver medallist, is now focusing on a salvage mission in tomorrow’s relay.
“I’m definitely gearing up to try and and do something really special with the girls in this relay,” she said. “It will be a sweet redemption if we do it.”
When she enters the Olympic Stadium she will be accompanied by her coach, her parents, and, all being well, with Baby Beast.
That is what Gardner calls her alter ego, the force that spurs her to extraordinary heights on the track.
Baby Beast went AWOL though for the 100m final, Gardner said, with dire consequences.
“Baby Beast definitely took the night off in the 100m, I wish she wouldn’t have.”
Alter egos in sport are nothing new.
Former South African fast bowler Andre Nel, quiet and unassuming, would transform into a fiery character playing cricket — when he was taken over by ‘Gunther’.
Gardner’s version of Gunther generally rocks up the morning of a big race.
“I can feel Baby Beast coming along when I’m brushing my teeth, or chatting to my family,” she revealed.
“I normally know when she’s coming because my Dad starts to get on my nerves.
“I know she’s arrived when my coach steps back a little, he gives me space.
“She starts in the morning and progressively gets more aggressive as the race comes.”
For reasons known only to herself, the force was a no-show for the 100m final.
“When I wasn’t as aggressive and nervous last Saturday I was worried. She’ll absolutely be back for Friday!”
The Philadelphia-born athlete was always destined to leave her imprint on this world — her mother Monica knew that.
“My mum wanted to name me something that was spectacular, that stuck in people’s heads, that they couldn’t forget, and that would sound awesome over the intercom.

Roller-coaster
“She named me after this doctor she knew, called English.
“My name sets the room up for me before I walk in.
“That’s what I love about it the most. People just want to know who is this girl, she has this name but what’s she about and then when I follow it up with just being me and my performances....it’s an amazing thing.”
Gardner’s back story is a compelling one.
It is a tale of family love and devotion, of a mother dealing with cancer, of a period of homelessness, of a daughter battling depression, mum feeding her spoonfuls of ice cream to offset alarming weight loss.
The fickle ebb and flow of fortune has left Gardner a stronger person, she said.
“Adversity has always been my motivation. If everything goes perfect I wouldn’t run good.
“At the end of the day life is about change and evolution and innovation, and so I have to be better than I was before.”
Her mother, as ever, was there to pick her up after the 100m.
“Mum said to me ‘as a little girl you had a dream, that dream was to be an Olympian, and you’ve accomplished that dream — a lot of people don’t accomplish their childhood dreams but you did’.”
As Gardner talks she plays with a ring on her wedding finger.
“Everyone always asks me if I’m married,” she smiled.
“My dad gave me this ring when I was sixteen, and asked me to be his daughter forever.
“I wear it on this finger just to keep the dogs at bay!”
An Olympic title would only swell the size of the pursuing pack. A beast could be needed.