Talking Sport: Merlin Diamond

　　Hi I'm Natalie and welcome to Talking Sport.

　　Today we're hearing about a Namibian sprinter¹ and learning the word 'frustration²'.

　　The road to the Olympics isn't always easy.

　　Some athletes train for years and still don't make it to the Games.

　　Today Matthew Pinsent has been catching³ up with Merlin Diamond.

　　Merlin is a sprinter from Namibia.

　　So how has her training been going?

　　Listen for the word 'frustration'.

　　Clip

　　Merlin Diamond's road to London has not been easy. The 20-year-old runner spent much of 2011 at a training camp in Mauritius organised by the IOC. But injured with a pulled hamstring and homesick, Merlin found her preparations for London ground to a halt in the Indian Ocean. Back home in Namibia Merlin is feeling the frustration only stalled athletes seem to know. She's not running as fast as she used to or needs to, to qualify.

　　Presenter⁴

　　Listen again for the word 'frustration'.

　　Clip

　　Merlin Diamond's road to London has not been easy. The 20-year-old runner spent much of 2011 at a training camp in Mauritius organised by the IOC. But injured with a pulled hamstring and homesick, Merlin found her preparations for London ground to a halt in the Indian Ocean. Back home in Namibia Merlin is feeling the frustration only stalled athletes seem to know. She's not running as fast as she used to or needs to, to qualify.

　　Presenter

　　So we heard Merlin's training programme was affected⁵ by her injury and she hasn't run as fast since.

　　Did you hear the word 'frustration'?

　　frustration is a noun that refers to the annoyed and upset feelings you have when you can't achieve your goal.

　　back home in Namibia Merlin is feeling the frustration

　　Well we have heard that Merlin has had difficulties training for this year's Olympics and we have learnt the noun frustration. Now let's hear from some people in London using the adjective form of this word 'frustrated⁶'.

　　Vox pops

　　I get frustrated when I can't afford expensive clothes.

　　I get frustrated when I don't get a seat on the train.

　　I get frustrated with traffic jams on the road.

　　On screen

　　I get frustrated when I can't afford expensive clothes.

　　I get frustrated when I don't get a seat on the train.

　　I get frustrated with traffic jams on the road.

　　Presenter

　　I'm Natalie and that's all from Talking Sport.

　　See you next time.

1 sprinter   

n.短跑运动员，短距离全速奔跑者

参考例句：

• He is more a sprinter than a swimmer. 他是短跑健将，而不是游泳选手。 来自辞典例句
• The sprinter himself thinks he can run the race at 9.4 seconds. 这位短跑运动员自认为可以用9.4秒跑完比赛。 来自互联网

2 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

3 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

4 presenter   

n.（电视、广播的）主持人，赠与者

参考例句：

• Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
• The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》