US Olympic track star Kendall Ellis says she was scratched 4 minutes before 4x400M relay, left 'blindsided'

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American sprinter Kendall Ellis said she was "blindsided" when she was removed from the 4x400-meter relay at the Paris Olympics on Saturday night.

Ellis was the reigning U.S. 400-meter champion. But she was not a part of the team that blew out its opponents on the track. Instead, Shamier Little, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas and Alexis Holmes dominated on their road to a gold medal.

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US' Kendall Ellis prepares to compete in the women's 400m semi-final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)

Ellis told ESPN she had four minutes to spare before she was told she was a no go for the medal race.

"I feel very proud of the team that was put out there. I think they ran incredible," she said. "I also feel disappointed and lied to and embarrassed. I feel like I was blindsided because I was told one thing this morning and, for hours, thought I was running in the final. It seems everyone know besides me."

Ellis said she woke up to a text message from Mechelle Freeman, saying that she wouldn’t be in the 4x400-meter relay. Ellis said she wanted to make her point in person and when she did, she said Freeman told her to prepare as if she will be competing in the relay after all.

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US' Kendall Ellis competes in the women's 400m repechage round of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 6, 2024. (JEWEL