Olympian Kendall Ellis gets a not-so-stinky surprise after her infamous portable Porta Potty mishap
PARIS, FRANCE: Olympian Kendall Ellis grabbed a sponsorship with toilet paper company Charmin after her infamous portable Porta Potty mishap which almost caused her to miss an Olympics qualifying race in June 2024.
The 400-meter runner was stuck in a porta-potty in June, knocking on the door and yelling for someone to let her out less than an hour before her semifinal at the US track trials.
Kendall Ellis grabs sponsorship with toilet paper company Charmin
After getting the sponsorship, Ellis said, "It’s nice that I have Charmin supporting me backside to trackside, making sure all aspects are covered in the bathroom and outside."
Talking about the mishap, Ellis told FanSided’s Adam Weinrib, "I’m in there panicking, and I’m banging on the door, trying to get help. Thankfully a worker hears me, comes over and lets me out after 10 minutes. We managed to jimmy the lock and get me out."
Ellis went on to secure a berth on her second Olympic squad by winning both the semifinal and the final in 49.46 seconds, a personal best. She participated in the women's 4x400-meter relay and the mixed relay teams in 2021, winning two medals.
During an interview with Today, Ellis said, "My anxiety has different levels. The base level is jittery and on edge. Let’s just say I’m not the kindest person on race day. I can be touchy, sensitive and don’t like to talk much. When my anxiety gets worse and takes on a life of its own, it feels uncontrollable."
She added, "My heart rate increases, I struggle to keep food down or even eat, or hyperventilate. When my anxiety manifests itself physically, that’s when I know I’ve got to reel it back in and use my coping mechanisms."
She further said, "As a person of faith, I often turn to scripture, read my Bible and listen to podcasts and YouTube videos that bring me back to a calm sense of self. I turn to 2 Timothy 1:7, which says, 'For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and self-discipline.'"
Ellis Kendall's Olympic records
Ellis secured gold in the 4x400 m relay and bronze in the Mixed 4x400 meters during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She secured 4th spot in the 400 m at the 2020 US Olympic Trials with a time of 50.10 seconds.
Ellis’ competition in Paris is scheduled for August 5. During an interview with NBC Los Angeles, Ellis said, "I’m going in more confident, a lot more assured of myself, having the experience I had in Tokyo with success and carrying that over now to Paris."
She added that she is grateful for the support from the USC and Los Angeles communities. She said, "It’s so nice to be out at the practice, having people recognize you and wish you well, wishing you good luck. I'm definitely carrying that with me all the way to Paris."
