TOKYO — American karateka Tom Scott spent 12 minutes competing at the Olympics here on Friday, and his medal hopes hinged on a few split seconds. On the jab of a hand. On the speed of a kick. On a video review.
Scott led a pivotal third bout of pool rounds 1-0 with less than a minute to go. He lost it 2-1 with just 3.6 seconds remaining. He walked off center stage here at the Nippon Budokan with hands on hips, and with dreams of glory surely dashed.
Dashed for now, and forever.
This was, at 31, Scott’s first Olympic opportunity, and he’d cherished every bit of it.