London Anniversary Games: Aries Merritt to light up capital after kidney transplant ends Rio hopes

Brave: Merritt had surgery last September
(Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

While Usain Bolt will be the star attraction at the Anniversary Games, the appearance by Aries Merritt is perhaps the most impressive.

Merritt has missed out on a place in the American team for Rio so, unlike Bolt, will not be able to defend his 110metres hurdles title.

But Rio’s loss has proved London’s gain with Merritt adding the Anniversary Games to his schedule as a result.

That he is running anywhere is astonishing, his kidney function reduced to just 15 per cent at one stage before he underwent a transplant last September. Despite the Olympics setback, the 30-year-old is determined to make his mark against a host of Rio-bound athletes tomorrow.

His is a perpetually positive outlook. “People should know that no matter what you’re going through in life, if you keep your mind focused on something you want to accomplish anything is possible,” he said.

When Merritt was diagnosed, he assumed his running days were over but, with the Olympic ambition now gone, he has set his sights on next year’s World Championships in London. “When I was diagnosed it was really, really bad,” he said. “When the doctor told me that my career was pretty much over, it was really hard to come to grips with not being able to run again.

“Obviously, I went through multiple stages of denial and I just couldn’t believe that I wouldn’t be able to compete.”

Merritt may not win in London — although just one man in the field, France’s Dimitri Bascou, has gone quicker than him this season — but just being on the start list is a triumph in itself.

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