American Runner Gets Trapped In Porta-Potty Before Qualifying For Olympics

I don't know what your list of "worst case scenarios" on one of the biggest days of your life consists of, but getting trapped inside a porta-potty has to be near the top of the list. That's the exact nightmare one runner experienced at this past weekend's Olympic Track and Field trials, but she didn't let that stop her from punching her ticket to Paris.

Now, that's the kind of gumption we like to see out of our Olympians. Say it with me: USA! USA! USA!

According to the Associated Press, Kendall Ellis was gearing up for a 400-meter semifinal when about an hour before the starting gun, she decided to hit the bathroom. Makes sense. Making sure you're on "EMPTY" should be good for a 0.1 or 0.2, right?

Here's what she didn't account for: the door locking.

There's never a good time to be locked in a porta-potty, but having a shot at the Olympics hanging in the balance while you pound on the at flimsy plastic door for help would be a nightmare.

Unfortunately for Ellis, she lived it.

Kendall Ellis overcame a scary, porta-potty-related incident to make the Olympics. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Thankfully, her pounding from inside the porta-lav prison caught someone's attention and they helped her out, which meant that she could compete.

And compete she did. Ellis set a personal best in the race and went on to earn a spot on the Olympic roster, so she'll be in Paris where porta-potties are hopefully less prevalent (probably because people are always itching to rip deuces in the Seine).

"Crazy things happen right before something great is about to occur, so maybe I needed that to get all the nerves and adrenaline out," she said.

That makes sense to me. Throwing down one lap around a track doesn't sound so bad when an hour earlier you were afraid you might have to live out the rest of your days in a porta-potty.

That's how you perform under pressure. You love to see it.

Best of luck in Paris, Kendall. After that performance in the face of adversity, I know we're all rooting for you!