Matthew Kitchen, NBC Olympics

Great Britain has had its fair share of controversy where omitted athletes are concerned this summer, including the world’s top taekwondo fighter, Aaron Cook, and the face of English soccer, David Beckham, both missing out on the Games.

But they’re not the only ones who feel left out in the bitter English cold. When the British team was announced Tuesday, 11 athletes filed appeals with UK Athletics pushing for a spot on the team. Only one person won the fight: 800m runner Gareth Warburton, the scariest man now in the Olympics.

“This is an incredible opportunity for me and I intend to make the most of it,” Warburton told a Telegraph reporter who was likely shaking with fear. “I am joining a fantastic team of athletes and we’re all focused on doing Britain proud this summer.”

This Bond villain turned track star missed out on his second required ‘A’ standard time by only two-tenths of a second at the European championships in Helsinki last week. The panel, whose children probably weren’t being held hostage, decided Warburton’s one ‘A’ standard time coupled with his ‘B’ standard and a fourth place at Trials, was enough to punch him a ticket to the Games.

So congratulations to a very deserving world-class athlete who has the opportunity to represent his nation at a hometown Olympics. And to everyone else, keep your children close in London.

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.