This is surely the year of Usain Bolt. Usain Bolt not only the world records in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 meters (set in Bejing China) but now the was awarded the International Athletic Foundation Award for 'Athlete of the Year Award' yesterday in Monte Carlo.
"You have Einstein. You have Isaac Newton. You have Beethoven. You have Usain Bolt. It's not explainable how and what they do," said Jamaican athletics coach Stephen Francis in Beijing as the world struggled for superlatives on the 22-year-old.
I hope someone listens to them. Yesterday the island honored Usain Bolt who collected gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m in Beijing, Veronica Campbell-Brown 200m gold medalist, 100m medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser, 400m hurdle winner Melanie Walker and all of the rest of the team on the 4x100m relay.
All the athletes accepted the kudos from the island but they also implored the people to "Stop the Violence." We have so many people who would like to return to Jamaica to retire, but it is hard when there is so much fear. Bolt noted that despite his accomplishments the violence seems to have dominated the news.
The rain didn't stop Usain Bolt's return "back a yawd." People lined the road from Norman Manley Airport all the way to the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. There were housewives, grandmothers, pregnant women, professionals, schoolchildren, men, boys and girls stood in the pouring rain, singing Bolt's praises.
They faced the slanting rain, waded in water which was at times ankle-deep, and many of them trekked all the way from the Palisadoes road to the Pegasus. This was the way it was reported from the Jamaican Observer.
Fans grabbed onto the sides and jumped onto the hood, trying to get Bolt's attention. Although his car was a convertible, he had to satisfy himself with just an open window since it was pouring.
Usain Bolt is a hero to so many Jamaican people. Sports has long since been important in Jamaica, but to have someone so dominate the track and field events is just unbelievable.
"I'm just happy to be home. I just glad," Bolt told journalists from 17 media houses, including news crews from BBC TV, London Times, French TV1 and Le Quippe (newspaper) also out of France, who were accredited to witness his long awaited return to the island Not only did Usain let every person in Beijing an World Wide know our National Anthem, he did it with pride. With the crime situation dominating not only Jamaica's local news but world wide it is good to have something to be proud of again.
Triple Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt, former world record holder Asafa Powell and current triple world champion Tyson Gay are set to clash over 100 metres at the Van Damme Memorial golden league meet in Brussels on Friday.
Just fresh off his Olympic wins, Usain is set to rock the lightening bolt again.
The Van Damme Memorial meet will be shown live on TVJ starting at 1pm on Friday. I think Bolt pretty much has this locked down but you never know. Surprises do happen.
Well, unless you were under a rock you would not know that Usain Bolt won the finals yesterday with a world record of 9.69
The Jamaican Observer had this very telling comic strip:
Here are some of the comments being made:
"It is electrifying," said Letna Allen-Rowe, of Jamaican origin. "Usain Bolt is a household name in our neighbourhood."
In the B & B Restaurant, three men were raising toasts in Bolt's honour.
"Jamaica is a factory of great runners, and Bolt is the newest addition to a long, long list," said 63-year-old Clement Clarke of Scarborough, who came from Jamaica to Canada about 40 years ago.
"Bolt was representing Jamaica, while other runners often run for other countries like the United States and Canada."
In The Barbers of Eglinton barbershop, a Jamaican flag was on display. The eight chairs were all occupied, the talk all Olympics.
With Tyson Gay out of the semi finals , it really just came down to ( in my opinion) Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt . Not to take anything away from Michael Frater but Usain just seemed to have more power and stride.
During the race when Bolt looked around and realized that his country man (Powell) was not close by he pretty much "shut it down.' It was a clear 30 meter sailing. He easily coasted to the finish. Many wonder if he did not slow down what the "real" record would be.
Bolt, who became only the second Caribbean athlete to win the 100m gold after Trinidad & Tobago's Hasely Crawford in 1972, said he was proud to better the silver medals of Jamaican icons Herb McKenley (1952), Lennox Miller (1968) and Donald Quarrie (1976).
Congrats "Bolt Man" you are like lightening feh true iyah!!
Well, it seems the folks at Quarry, Clarendon will have to do a lot of "hearsay" to find out who won the track and field meet. Although their village is named after "Quarry" it doesn't seem to have any influence in having them get electricity.
There is no electricity which has approximately 150 houses and is located close to eight miles from Frankfield (northwest, Clarendon). So they have to take a hike to their neighbors 4 miles down the road to see television.
David Mundle states, "We are interested in the games but we have to walk. He further stated that the alternative to walking is paying $150.00 taxi fare to go to Frankfield or staying home and listening to the event on a battery powered radio.
This is not the only place in Jamaica where there is no electricity. Several other districts face the same dilemma.
I hope they will have electricity by the time the track and field meets, however things don't look too good for Quarry, Clarendon.
Jamaica first participated at the Olympic Games in 1948 in London and it has sent representatives to every summer Games since. Only in 1960 did the nation not compete as Jamaica, at that edition they joined up with the other British West Indies islands to represent the West Indies Federation team.
Jamaica has won 42 medals in their Olympic history. All medals, except a bronze won in cycling in 1980, have come from track and field events. The islanders are especially successful in sprint and relay events.
Jamaica had one of its most successful Olympic Games ever in 1952 in Helsinki, Finland. George Rhoden [gold - 400m], Herb McKenley [silver - 400m] and Arthur Wint [silver - 800m] all won individual medals at the Games before teaming up with Leslie Laing to set a world record on the way to winning gold in the 4x400m relay. Many prominent sprinters have followed on from them to win medals, including Olympic champions Don Quarrie and Deon Hemmings.
Expectations are again high this year in the 2008 Olympic Games kick off in Beijing. . The man of course to watch is Usain Bolt with his specialty for the 200 meter race. He has added a 100 meter to his roster after last year he shattered that record in New York City. His time of 9.72 seconds has even surpassed his countryman Asafa Powell.
This is indeed going to be a phenomenol match up. Making the Jamaican team more spectacular is 2004 hurdler Danny McFarlane. McFarlane clocked the 5th fastest time this year.
Veronica Campbell-Brown is also expected to do well. in 2004 she achieved a gold medal in the 200 meter race (she was also a part of the 4X100 Relay Team). Her teammates Kerron Stewart, Shelly-Ann Fraser, and Sherone Simpson clocked three of the fastest 100-meter times this year.
Another athlete aiming for a first is Jamaican Maurice Smith, who`s hoping to nab the region`s first Olympic decathlon medal.
