- 23 Aug 08, 03:52 PM
Great Britain might have owned the Laoshan Velodrome and Michael Phelps the Water Cube, but down here at the Bird's Nest, it's been Jamaica all the way.
The sprint events at these Olympics were billed as a straight battle between the USA (population 303m) and the Caribbean island (2.8m).
Battle? It ended up as an almighty spanking. At the close of play, the scoreline read USA nil, Jamaica five.
Jamaica cleaned up. Usain took care of the men's 100m and 200m. Shelly-Ann Fraser led home a 1-2-3 in the 100m and Veronica Campbell-Brown won the 200m in the fastest time by a woman in ten years. Usain and Asafa smashed the world record in the 4x100m, and if Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart hadn't stuffed up their changeover, the women would have made it six gold medals from six.
For the first time since they boycotted the 1980 Olympics, the US went home without a single sprint gold.
So what's the secret behind Jamaica's success?
According to the country's sports minister Olivia Grange, Jamaica gets a jump on its rivals right from the start.
"I always talk about the triple T - tradition, talent and training," she says.
"We have an extremely good school system. In our primary schools, physical education is mandatory, and we actually start competing from early childhood. We have our prep school championships, primary school championships, our secondary school championships."
Even before that, the gene pool in Jamaica is predisposed to producing powerful, explosive athletes.
"There are a lot of fast-twitch fibres in Jamaica," says BBC commentator Steve Cram.
"If the talent pool is of high standard, then you don't necessarily need huge numbers of people involved.
"If you then have a competitive environment in which to develop that talent, and you can keep the most promising kids running track and not lose them to other sports, like football, cricket or basketball, then you're in a good position.
"Contrast that with the situation in Britain, where we struggle to keep kids with pace, strength and power involved in athletics."
Jamaica also has a sporting culture dominated by athletics. Bolt, Powell and Campbell-Brown were already the biggest sporting stars on the island, even before their deeds in Beijing.
"Like the USA is noted for basketball, we are noted with track and field," says Grange.
"For this Olympics, we've put up big screens in the towns and heavily-populated areas so everyone can watch. Everybody has just stopped working to watch the races. It's a great moment in time for us."
Jamaica's sprint heritage stretches back way before these Olympics, through names like Merlene Ottey, Ray Stewart, Don Quarrie and Herb McKenley.
Two former 100m champions were born on the island too, before emigrating overseas as children - Linford Christie (St Andrew) and Donovan Bailey (Manchester). If you include Ben Johnson (Falmouth), Jamaican-born sprinters have crossed the line first in four of the last six 100m Olympic finals.
Mike Fennell, president of the Jamaican Olympic Association, says: "Jamaica is a small island, and we'll always see emigration as a major activity - but these days the majority of our top athletes are home-grown and home-trained and home-developed.
"We're also getting better prepared, both in terms of individual coaches and how we put the team together and create our Olympic camp.
"This year, we moulded them together as a team. The team management have been excellent, helping everyone to bond success."
In Beijing, Jamaica's cause has undoubtedly been helped by the poor performances of the US team, particularly by the two sprint relay teams dropping their baton.
The one-off genius of Bolt has also made a huge difference.
Beyond that, the sprinters have benefited from training together at home, pushing each other on and working under the same professional coaches.
Powell and Sherone Simpson, for example, both train under Stephen Francis's MVP club, a group that also includes 400m silver medallist Sherika Williams.
"There's a comparison to be drawn with Kenya and its distance runners," says Cram.
"Great athletes tend to develop around other great athletes. It's very rare to find someone develop into a world-class performer on their own."
There have been concerns in some quarters, not least from UK Sport's anti-doping team about the level of drug-testing Jamaican athletes are exposed to at home.
The country has only just set up its own national anti-doping agency, despite promising to do so in 2005, and decided to opt out of the Wada-approved Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation.
Fennell decries such rumours as "ill-informed".
"We have had an anti-doping programme for a very long time, we were one of the earliest signatures to the Wada convention. We've had a little delay in terms of our national anti-doping programme, but that has in no way affected the programme we have in place for our elite athletes.
"There has always been a strong programme for high-performance athletes, and that will continue.
"Without naming names, some of our athletes here have been tested three times in four days. To my mind that's ridiculous. That's not an anti-doping programme - that's harassment."
Fennell is also confident that Jamaica can repeat the success of their Beijing performances in London in four years time, even if the US team manages to raise its game.
"Obviously what the competition does has an impact on our success, but you have to remember that we've had three world records in all of this," he says.
"Let them come - it will excite the crowd a little more."
For new 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser, however, there's another key factor in the team's success - one that no other country is likely to be able to replicate.
"Jamaican food," she said after her win. "A lot of yam, banana and dumplings produce top three."
BBC Sport The Olympic Broadcaster
React to comment, analysis and opinion from BBC Sport experts at Beijing's Olympics and Paralympics.
Interactive Beijing map
Meet Monkey
Latest Photos
Clicking on any of these photos will take you to an external site.
Recent Comments
- SimonTheKid on Taekwondo needs to move with the times
- MariaFalouri on The odd couple unveil new shoes
- Ranga2522 on Hunt is on for Paralympic talent
- The-Shed-Bar on London confidential
- fionnualadooley on Which sports would you add to the Games?
Topics
Podcast
Download or subscribe to this programme's podcast
Fun and Games
Olympic standard
Do you have what it takes to excel at Denise Lewis' heptathlon?
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
CommentsSign in
You need to sign in to contribute to this page. If you're new to BBC Blogs, creating your membership is quick and easy.
Jerk Chicken!
Complain about this comment
What do you mean by owning the veladrome and Water cube?
Complain about this comment
Like everyone else with a pulse, regardless of race or nationality, I have been staggered by the feats of Usain 'Lightning' Bolt. also, in this regrettably suspicious age, I feel confident he is clean: What we in the athletics fraternity call a 'natural.'
Cheats have a certain way of reacting to success that is completely absent in Bolt. His reaction, although full of street symbolism and mischief, is not arrogant and aloof. However, part of his behaviour is a problem in itself: he shows no respect for the athletes he has just defeated. Look back through your recordings, you won't find a single handshake - not even on the medal rostrum.
This is unacceptable, even for someone of his comparatively tender years, as he has been involved in high profile competition since his early teens.
Jamaicans are very mannerly folk, who show great consideration for others. You don't have to go too far back to recall one of Bolt's fellow Jamaicans, Don Quarry, who was renowned not just as a great athlete, but as a gentleman and one of the finest sportsmen of all time.
Quarry's feats have already been far outstripped by Bolt, but he has a long way to go if he is to emulate the great man as a sportsman. I hope he makes the effort, because the mighty cheers which rightly greet every crossbow pose could quickly turn to boos - and these are the reactions which will cause the big sponsors, who are stampeding in his direction, to double back even quicker than the might man himself.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
People have been asking a lot this week why are they so good in Jamaca? However everyone talks around an enormous elephant in the room.
Namely slavery.
The population of that country were passed through a massive genetic filter.
Seemingly to compete in top sprinting you need to have originated in some way from West Africa. To then select from that population those who are best suited for for and can survive the rigours of a life of slavery and then base a population on them, you are going to get some atheletes.
It has been a joy to see them perform. Legendary stuff.
Complain about this comment
For all of the expected claims of fast-twitch fibres and predisposed gene pools, the logic and science once again fails those who purport this as the tipping factor for success.
We've been here before with the "Kenyan secret." Yet upon examination of the training and actually training with the Kenyans, other world class runners found that they had never put in the volume or relative intensity of training that the Kenyans regularly did. Nor did the group training structure fit what they were used to.
So, this is not to say that you may not be right about fast-twitches and gene pools, but simply to say that that opinion is light years from any type of longitudinal validation that also equalizes for training methods, equipment, and coaching. In that light, it could well be that fast-twitch fibres could be necessary but not remotely sufficient for multiple gold medals. If we want to claim this science, we can't do so in a fashion that take a holistic scientific approach versus pulling anecdotal, even true factors and raising them up to causality.
Complain about this comment
I know I'm being fussy but the 400metres is normally regarded as a sprint as well, so it isn't quite USA nil.
Complain about this comment
re Beijing bull's comment; you need to understand that don quarrie is a product of the jamaica that was a british colony, where we were taught to be seen but not heard. usain bolt is of the new independent jamaica, where we go out and express ourselves freely, whether it is via music or sports.
Complain about this comment
The one thing that might have assured all of the genuine nature of Bolt's celebration was the reaction of his competitors. Even the American crew smiled and gave it up for Bolt. If you know American sprinters, you'll know that that behaviour is not in the blood, except as it comes down to the most appropriate American expression... "Game Recognize Game" They wouldn't shake hands with a cheat.
Complain about this comment
The BBC article reads: "Despite repeated promises over the last five years, Jamaica still has not set up a fully operational anti-doping agency of its own. It has also opted out of the Caribbean regional anti-doping organisation which has been set up and championed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. " - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/athletics/7529519.stm
All things considered too Mate!
Complain about this comment
On TV today Steve Cram said we just dont have the depth of talent to do well overall in athletics. From personal experience we are not looking hard enough for it. Living in the south west is a particularly stupid thing to do if you are a budding althlete. 10 years ago my son was the county 100m champion for his age group- he didnt have a proper coach, the only nearby althletics club was a road runners club with little interest in sprinting and he trained on a concrete path. He was picked to go to the nationals in Bitmingham - and Ok he didnt do that well but it was the first time he had ever used blocks and he had never trained on a proper track. he did go on to represent the county - that was complete shambles - very poorly run - the relay team was picked just before the race with no training on passing the baton. Althletics at school has long been the poor relation- just an annual sports day where novelty races are given more support.
If we want to better In London 2012 the powers that be in athletics need to get across the whole country and raise the porfile at school level and get some of these usless dinosaurs away from local clubs. Both my sons were good althetes but gave up because of lack of local and school support - they took up football and rugby instead. One of them was also a keen tenni splayer but gave up because of the circus that is local tennis and no interest or support from the school.
Complain about this comment
what do you mean by "What do you mean by owning the veladrome and Water cube?" ???
been watching the olympics recently ?
the VelOdrome is the place where those weird devices with wheels front and back go round and round and round !
and the Water cube is NOT the place u get fresh water when u are thirsty.
Complain about this comment
What's new? That's the question which doesn't appear to be addressed in your article.
They've obviously been producing decent sprinters for a while, but they haven't been dominating like this.
Any genetic advantage would have been present for a long time, and tradition is by definition not new.
Perhaps their training methods have changed, but I haven't heard of anything revolutionary.
One obvious part of the explanation is the removal of some dirty US sprinters from the mix, but the Jamaicans aren't just winning, they're setting incredible times too.
Complain about this comment
about the subject itself:
i really believe Bolt is not taking steroids, or that they aren't working.
first reason:
just compare him to Campbell, Michael Johnson, Ben Johnson, he is far less muscular than them.
(of course i'm not accusing the first 2 of doping)
second reason:
he was extremely fast at a young age, he ran under 20 seconds when just 16 years old.
i don't believe that such young kids (he should have started at 13/14) have the means to pay for those drugs.
third reason:
there are so many other ways to explain why he is so fast
he is huge, but harmoniously built.
he has a fabulous natural technique.
his arms and legs are even longer than most people of the same height.
fourth reason:
he is SO far ahead, it seems that he would win without drugs, if he is taking any.
this guy can win the 100m while dancing.
in the 4*100m he could have finished ahead of some teams, despite being the third runner !
Complain about this comment
Completely agree that the gene pool is only part of it. But it is a big part.
Complain about this comment
In response to the Beijing bull, your comments with regards to the professionalism of Usain Bolt are unfounded. He is as "professional" an athlete as the world has seen in decades. Take a look at the replay of the 100m final again. You will realize that he is no way taunting his competitors. The action of his arms before the finish line a common gesticulation in Caribbean cultures, in this instance simply to express that "I'm here and I am the champion"!!!! Stop trying to tear down the accomplishments of a young man from a small island. Jamaica has been a sprint factory for years and now that the rest of the field is "clean" those who have truly worked hard and are truly the best can shine. Anyone that knows anything about sprinting knows this. Why not comment on the other two American medallist Crawford and Dix not shaking his hand on the 200 m podium or Dix not shaking his hand on the 100 m podium? Bolt and Richard Thompson celebrated together after the 100 m victory. They are friends and nothing can be inferred by them not shaking hands on the podium! He will be the first man in history to hold the 100, 200 and 400m world records not only in a career but simultaneously!! The best is yet to come!! Cheers.
Complain about this comment
You miss the point,Mobaystretch, I'm not talking about forelock tugging or knee bending, I'm talking about common courtesy and consideration for others less fortunate or gifted. These are virtues which are inherent in all peoples of the Caribbean.
I am speaking as a white Briton and I recognise these virtues in others because I'm not so used to finding them in my own people any more.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I agree with Jaded Eagle, the 400m is a sprint event and so the actual sprint score should be Jamaica 5, USA 3. Not quite the whitewash presented in this article. It seems like the reporter is trying to spin the story in favour of Jamaica.
Complain about this comment
One reason why the records have come is that the track is a fast one. Usain said it himself. This was the right track to break the 200m record because it was a 'fast' track. Athletic tracks aren't equal. Just like swimming pools aren't equal. Look at how many records went in the swimming and by 3/4 seconds in some cases. That's because it was a 'fast' pool.
So a combination of good training by the Jamaicans, talented individuals and a 'fast track' saw 3 sprint world records obliterated.
Complain about this comment
Why oh why does everything has to be
analysed to death. Well done Usain, we
know how hard you train and how hard you
work. We as Jamaicans are natural
performers and naturally exuberant
especially when the odds are against us. If
you
cant sing and dance when you win, when
can you? Jamaica gets a lot of bad press
due to crime and violence so when there is
a positive vibration we rejoice. Well done
Jamaica!!
Complain about this comment
Dear Sirs,
One secret of outstanding Jamaican sprint athletes at the Olympics 2008 you have mentioned already: "a little delay in terms of our national anti-doping programme". The second secret is: basically non-existing controls by the WADA on all Caribbean islands. The third secret is not the gene pool, which should be much better in West Africa (from where no gold medal winner of the 100 m sprint originated up to now): It is the wrong idea that any black athlete must be a better sprinter than any white one. Therefore, white atheletes do not tend to compete in such sports, because they have been brainwashed with the idea that they are inferior to blacks in this specific sport. Similar brainwashing seems to apply to swimming which is a domain of white athletes in the US and nearly everywhere else. However, there are no extra muscle fibres that would favour caucasians over afroamericans in the water whatsoever.
Regards,
Peter Goettig
Complain about this comment
I always have a good old chuckle about how Jamaica has supposedly achieved their sprint success, and especially how most people in Jamaica seem to have this mystical 'fast' gene. This conveniently paints over that when it comes to chances and the gene pool, the rest of the world has Jamaica beat every time. This is possibly the silliest argument of the lot.
The second reason is that, supposedly, this is a fast track. Hmmmmm. None of the men apart from Kim Collins got into the 9.8s, and Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell (the only Jamaican who didn't perform) got nowhere near and the women got nowhere near the 10.7s that Shelly Ann-Fraser and the rest of the Jamaicans had started running. There weren't records set anywhere else.
Thirdly, people point out that Usain Bolt and some of the other Jamaicans have been good since junior level. Well, most athletes at the top have, and Marion Jones's 200 metres junior record still stands. However, to get from here to there at the top level to breaking records requires something else. Shelly Ann-Fraser didn't have such a heritage at all, and her best time before this year in the 100 metres was 11.31. That's an improvement of half a second in one year.
Contrast this with someone like Michael Johnson, who was always a good runner but had to go through an elaborate training regime for years, develop his unusual efficient running style and still had to wait until he was at a physical peak of 29 before he broke records.
After Ben Johnson, I promised never to get suckered into this again, and it has all the same hallmarks, albeit, more subtle. Everyone seems to want to try and get out there and give a credible explanation for how this has happened, but no one wants to discuss the elephant in the room.
Complain about this comment
Yes, the elephant in the room - precisely. Let's not live with our heads in the sand. While there are multi-million pound global-brand contracts to be won and massive pressure from governments and the media to find winners, athletes, coaches and yes, perhaps even governing bodies will be tempted to turn a blind eye to a supplement.
Complain about this comment
"http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/athletics/7529519.stm
All things considered too Mate!"
Wow. A Jamaican runner tests positive in June, which is about the only time that the IAAF collects out-of-competition tests for Caribbean runners - when the track season has already started.
However, the state of testing between about October to January until the season starts is non-existent due to there being no doping controls in place then. This is when the intensive physical training programmes are put into effect and where drug use will be most effective, and after January is when many runners have started producing dramatic and startling improvements in their times. Drug use in-competition is actually pretty useless.
Even in-competition though, I am sorry to say that I am suspicious of Bolt over any athlete I have yet seen. He displays some slightly autistic tendencies, doesn't seem to warm up for very long before races, doesn't seem to sweat very much, displays a lack of physical expenditure, ease of competition with him managing to keep on running after the 100 metres and is as relaxed as it is possible to be when compared with other athletes.
Complain about this comment
It is very simple. 400m can never be a sprint race; if the main ingredient to win a 400m race strength and endurance rather than just shear speed. I would love to see any man run under 40sec in a 400m race, now that would be a sprint.
You should ask yourself, why is Herb Mckenly the Olympian to get medal in the 400m and 100m in the same Olympics? Think very careful about this.
Complain about this comment
Conventional wisdom says this is a sprint race. It has always been recognised as a sprint race from since when I can remember. It is listed in wikipedia (the fountain of truth) as a sprint. All races require a balance between speed and endurance and it is the athletes that have the most of both that succeed. This is as true at 60m as it is at 10000m. That's why the ethiopian that won the 10000m gold ran 60s in his penutlimate lap.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
If by trying to downplay achievement of JA in the ONE area where we do have a tradition, an interest, a success going back long time, if we want to try that with argument, don't stop there.
Why did Adlington, Ainslie, Phleps, show-jumpers get so good so soon?
Did anyopne cast aspersions on one man getting 8 golds in swimmming forward, backward, sideways/buuterfly/half fly etc etc etc
O. His gene for quickly ridding his body of lactic acid? his physique? Bolt is tall and has long strides but if that's no good enough, then what of Phelps and his odd physique - does that not have to act against the water?no? Is there anything like Michelle Smith? Is is the US after all?
In cycling - are they have the juice a la Tour de France?
Horses - that Irish episode?
Rifle Bore - beta blockers?
Boxing - any number o potions...
If people going to have a silly season on Jamaica, don't stop with track,...all the UK success then could just as easily be down to more than the usual...when did this place ever get so successful...
Hope 2012 goes well, isn't over budget, Rogge doesn't seem happy with UK idea of scaling back on the Village (anyhow, he seems to be not happy with anything or anyone)...all the medai finding something to diss the Chinese about...wait till UK has it...see the excuses then...hope no embarassment to having to say "sorry, we can't do it, have it back".
Complain about this comment
Your list of great Jamaican sprinters does not include that great gentleman, Sir Arthur Wint
Complain about this comment
If a guy runs 20s at 15-16 yo, do you expect improvement by time he's 21 yo? Would that offend you?
If that isn't too upsetting, that idea, then - from now - look at the times of Yohan Blake, Dexter Lee now. Can they improve in 4 years time? Would that cause any widespread consternation in this great land?
JA sends mostly track athletes to Olympics. No cyclists (David Weller. swimmer Phillips, etc are a few exceptions)...JUST athletes ( a few field events, high hurdlers, ok)...we've not got a lot of taxpayers money to waste...can't remember lottery funding but things may have changed since my time...we don't like "I placed 6th, I did my best, it's summer but it's too hot" and bawling tears on TV about losing...we've always had success in track at Olympics and at World Athletics - the latter went recently and should have been an indicator to many people supposedly in the know...
Anyhow, with the lack of interest in the UK or lack of willingness to get a finger out, not surprised at the lack of success in this area...
Here, they might soon start dissing Brasilains on why they're so good at football...
Here it's all negativity - here they say americans don't understand irony ("Frasier" amongst others shows that's not so, it was almost british and yet it was funny)...but they confuse parody with comdey - or as being the only comedy...perhaps, it's the negativity in the national psyche
Complain about this comment
Well done Team Jamaica. Hard work has paid off. There will always be speculations and critics. In this world where everything is made easy by the press of a button, it is very natural for hard work to be criticized. As for the coment, "Not the way we percieve being a champion". History has shown pictures and statures of the Greatest and the most evil men...... dead or alive. History is yet to highlight a critic, that tells that they do not matter. As the saying goes........No problem man. We are what we are and thats the way it was ment to be.
Complain about this comment
the high level of performance by jamaicans in the sprints did not just come overnight, or suddenly. in the 100m finals of the 1988 olympics, six of the eight finalists were jamaicans (notwithstanding ben johnson).
the 1992 olympic "british" champion christie is jamaican, the 1996 olympic "canadian" champion bailey is also jamaican. my source tells me that in the ncaa championships in the U.S.A the female sprints have been dominated by jamaicans for the past three years. names like kerron stewart, simone facey ane sherri-ann brooks, to name a few.
every track and field enthusiast should have seen this coming from a long time ago.
Complain about this comment
london 2012 here we come again!
go jamaica go!!
Complain about this comment
cilurnum and pwgoettig your ignorance really amazes me. In 2008 to discover there are still such small minded individuals in our midst is quite a revelation and just goes to show that actually we haven't really progressed as a people as far as many would like to claim that we have. |The fact that you even dare to comment about and describe 'autistic tendancies' is ridiculous and it you would show much more awareness if you simply said that you have never seen an athlete who performs as Bolt does instead of trying to turn his positive relaxed attitude (which obvously works for him) towards his sprints, into a disability which you are making seem negative. you need to educate yourself a little before you make such accusations as I am sure you are actully just as impressed and amazed by Bolt as the rest of us but perhaps to admit it is just proving too difficult.
pwgoettig you remember what you choose from that article and have conveniently forgotten: "Without naming names, some of our athletes here have been tested three times in four days. To my mind that's ridiculous. That's not an anti-doping programme - that's harassment." it seems the jamaicans have had to prove themselves above and beyond anyone else which they have so guess what... accept it. Jamaica is still a developing country and we do not have the same resources as other major medal contenders like the USA and Great Britain. They have only recently began training their athletes on the Island as opposed to in America which was done before and what they have achieved is incredible so dont try to take that away from us.
Can anybody tell me why is it that when the Brits do well we salute them congratulate them and revel in the glory and live in the celebrations, with no questions asked. Yet when a Jamaican achieves anything beyond the failure that has been expected of us for generations, the rest of the world had to find reasons, debate over analyse, question and expose us to scrutiny which we have to explain, fight off accusations and prove ourselves in a ridiculous and unreasonble fashion?
Guess what... certain nations have certain strengths and abilities which come naturally as evolution causes our bodies to adapt to our evironments and experiences. Dont try to steal our glory. I am a proud Jamaican right now, our athletes have proved that a tiny little Island can out perform the Largest countries who we dont compare to in size. Thats something money can't buy and you dont like that do you? You ca't buy talent and nor can u take it away from us. But it's tough as we'll have the last laugh, we will keep sprintin our way through the history books you just try and catch us!!!!
Complain about this comment
If under conventional circumstances one cannot differentiate that there is a big difference between running 60m and 10000m then there is no point discussing this any further.
Sprint - running FULL speed over over a short distance. Since no one can run full speed over 400m not even nearly. I do not see what is so hard to understand.
Complain about this comment
Just to clarify - suspicion from these quarters is not aimed only at one country. I'm sorry to say i'm suspicious of anyone smashing a previous personal best or a world record, simply because i don't believe such an increase in performance can really be explained by the competition buzz, or a 'fast' pool or track. One of the GB cyclists went 9 seconds better than his previous personal best during one of the qualifying rounds. Maybe he's not competed for a while or something but that just sounds ridiculous to me.
Complain about this comment
7. At 6:57pm on 23 Aug 2008, Jaded Eagle wrote:
I know I'm being fussy but the 400metres is normally regarded as a sprint as well, so it isn't quite USA nil.
--------------------------------------------------------
have you ever tried sprinting for 400m jaded eagle?
if not, do so, let me know how far you get
Complain about this comment
Cilurnum really have the nerve to talk about Jamaican runners. Please go and do your research properly. Who was Justin Gatlin, Shawn Crawford before Athens? Who was kelli White before world championship in Paris? Who was Tim Montgomery before he broke the world record? These are just few of recent times.
Before I forget they were nobody in Athletics. They ran no sub 10 times or sub 11 times no sub 20 times.
Just Take a chill pill. Jamaica beat America in sprints you have to live with it. Its life
By the way where is Tim Montgomery, Kelli White and Justin Gatlin now?
Complain about this comment
well said emperormacc
Complain about this comment
Maybe the Brits need to train in JA.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/20/olympics2008.olympicsathletics2
Proper hard work, less of sfety net of lottery funding, etc
Good coaches like at MVP, U-Tech.
:-)
Wonder what the sceptic would say to the times od a 15 yo Bolt? Or the others coming through?
Check out Champs on youtube.
look up World Juniors and World Youth, Penn Relays, GC Foster College...
What age the sceptics thing we start taking the juice? Out the womb? How they explain the times at such young age?
Anybody notice the cdecline of the US? And the probs they had (Gatlin, Jones, Montgomery, Mitchell, Pettigrew, 3 of the quarter mile relay quartet - Johnson returned his medal)...coincidence that we who finished second to people later found to be...uh...juiced...now finish first when the juice is being detected...
If we were on something, wouldn't the US/UK/others be even further ahead of us in being on something?
Either way, we dashed bloomin' good, yes siree bob...booyakabooyaka
LOL
Complain about this comment
Of course there's a difference between running 60m and 10000m, but it's simply a difference of strategy. Michael Johnson's record over 400m was 43.18 that's 10.795s per 100m... that's sprinting speed by any standard and would have beaten many of the 100m heat runners in this olympics. I would wager that Usain would also run a world record time for the 400m given the preperation and hence would also run it faster than many of the heat runners at this years olympics. So why is the 400m not sprinting?
Complain about this comment
TruJamaican you know these people just love talk badmind things about everybody else but themselves.
The biggest stupidity that you will find as well is; people are saying that Jamaica does not have a proper Doping agency set up for out of competition testing Like USA and others. But yet still USA athletes are still being tested positive for drugs by international and competition doping agencies. So I laugh every time I see people 'crying' about our JAAA not putting in place a doping agency to test Jamaican athletes out of competition.
Complain about this comment
You jus prove my point that if Michael was to run 100m he definitely would not run 10.7sec. On the corner alone of the 200m he ran 10.1sec when he set the world record. The only way Michael Johnson would run 10 .7secs in a 100m is if he was a woman or if was about 15 yrs old.
The average professional male athlete has to run atleast 10.3 sec to be considered competitive in a global standard.
Lets make this even simpler Bolt ran 9.69sec in the 100m (in which did not ran start through) and then ran 19.30sec which theoretically says that he ran 9.65sec for each 100m. As you can see this makes a lot of sense. If were to even look at Michael Johnson previous world record you would be in much more trouble with your argument because that would simply mean that Michael johnson can actually run about 9.66sec per 100m he runs. Do know how much slower that is than 10.795sec?
Complain about this comment
So your definition of a sprint distance is the distance at which your speed starts to decrease? Some people will run the 100m and their speed will decrease because they can't maintain the energy output over the distance... does that mean that 100m is not a sprint also? Of course not. It's a sprint because its defined that way by the athletics organisations, which simply means 400m is a slower sprint than 100m because you cannot maintain the same level of energy expenditure per metre. Maybe you'd like it reclassified as middle distance?
Complain about this comment
Of course the 400 is a sprint.
Bolt's finishing time, and new world record in the 200 at this games was 19.30.
The last place finisher, Kim Collins, finished at 20.59, for a 1st to last differential of 1.29 seconds. Kim Collins wasn't slow, this was the final.
If you take the 200 times and multiply by 2, you get an implied 400 with a last place finishing time of 41.18.
The 400 World Record set by Michael Johnson is 43.18. So the differential here between the implied 400 at full 200 sprint speed and the real 400 at 'non-sprint speed' is 2 seconds. Multiply the 200 differential by 2 for the implied 400 result and you get almost 3 seconds. In short, there is less difference in speed between the best alleged non-sprinter in the 400 and the worst final time in a vaunted sprint than between the worst time in the 200 sprint and the best time.
Either Kim Collins wasn't sprinting or the 400 is a sprint.
Complain about this comment
I find it fairly humorous that these blogs can't seem to praise a country's achievements without comparing it to a perceived failing of the U.S. (as if 107 medals and counting is somehow a failure).
e.g. (Insert your favorite nation or individual) is performing so much better than the U.S.
What's wrong with simply crediting China and Jamaica, or (gasp, shock) even U.S. athletes not named Michael Phelps, with a good showing? Consider, especially, that the U.S. was realistically only competing with China in gymnastics, and with Jamaica only in a few sprints.
I'm half expecting a BBC blogger to review the closing ceremonies by saying "God Save The Queen" sounds so much better in Beijing than it did in Los Angeles."
So what's the deal? Are you guys still upset over that Boston tea party thing, or are you just trying to tweak us Yanks in order to ensure we return to these blogs regularly to see what the next silly statement will be? If its the latter, I have to admit its worked, though I'm starting to question the integrity of the BBC, to be honest.
Perhaps its Bush you're angry at? If that's the case, I have to admit I'm with you there.
Complain about this comment
Well, all in all it was a pretty poor performance from the Americans. They are are not going to be happy with this performance.
I'm sure their 35-36 golds and 109 total medals won't provide much solace.
Complain about this comment
Also, you may get the same average time over 100m as 200m but remember the 100m includes the start which is the slowest part of the race. If Usain was able to accelerate to the maximum speed he achieved from his 100m and maintain it throughout the whole 200m you would see a faster time than 19.3 because you don't get the time penalty for the acceleration to maximum speed in the second half of the race. Emporermacc, would that mean that the 200m is no longer to be considered a sprint also?
Complain about this comment
Iouatp you are explaining what I have been saying. Which is the main reason why a 400m can not be considered as a sprint. Simply because there comes a distance that a human can run at full speed. No man cannot run a 400m at full speed; it is not practical as Michael Johnson and other 200m and 400m runners have demonstrated for you. Your body won't allow it.
Rosooki; I really don't know what you are getting at, the only reason the world record times were used was just because Michael Johnson ran both 200m and 400m in world record times. The world record times suggest that he was running as fast as he could in both disciplines. Therefore the point is that there was a considerable drop in time in running 200m to 400m; hence he's running much faster 200m than in the 400m. Michael Johnson never ran the 100m so we used Bolt times to compare 100m to the 200m which proves that he runs with basically the same speed in the 100m and 200m. Which without a doubt in your mind that the 100m and 200m are sprint races which everyone agreed on i the first place.
Complain about this comment
digirrrrrr, i think jamaica have outclassed the world in the sprints (whether you consider the 400m a sprint or not). They are a population of 2.8m compared to a population of a quarter of a billion for the usa. Even at 5 golds to 3 that's ridiculously impressive. Especially when you consider that they broke the mens 100m, mens 200m and mens 4*100m relay world records. I just want fair representation in the discussion. As for what their secret is... a combination of luck (as in the random chance that you get a set of genes that predisposes you to running from your parents. a proper scientific study on the jamaican gene pool would need to be done to see if it was predisposed to sprinting in general. i notice that none of the other carribean islands were heavily featured), historical inspiration, good athletics infrastructure and a great team spirit.
Complain about this comment
JerkDickinson,
What makes those white swimmers and javelin throwers so good? Some would say black Africans are supposed to be better spear throwers, Why resort to unscientific stereotyping nonsense to explain the athleticism of blacks and not do the same of whites?
Complain about this comment
emperormacc, your arguments are arbitrary. Comparing absolute speed over relative distances is meaningless. From the point of view of 50m, the 100 is not a sprint. From the point of view of the 100, the 200 is not either.
What I'm 'getting at' is that there is less time difference between the fastest 400 runner and the slowest finalist in the 200 than between the slowest 200 finalist and the fastest 200 finalist. What that means is that there is more drop-of in speed within a sprint than between a sprint and a so called non-sprint.
If you say that the 400 is a not a sprint, how a non-sprinter can be closer in time to a sprinter than two sprinters can be to each other would require some explaining on your part.
The 400 is obviously a sprint.
Complain about this comment
emperormacc, i mentioned that the 200m cannot be run at the same maximum speed over the whole distance that you achieve over the 100m otherwise you would get faster times. so again, by your definition the 200m is not a sprint because no man can run the 200m at the highest speed at any point in time they are capable of? But 200m is a sprint because the athletics organisations designate it so, as they do with the 400m. In addition the amount of distance each person is capable of running at maxium speed for is different. What measurement would you recommend for determining the distance for sprints on that basis? Maybe some sort of average distance for the whole of the human population over which each person maintains their maximum speed for as long as possible. It gets ridiculous. The athletics bodies determine what is a sprint and they all say that the 400m is. Final score Jamaica 5 - USA 3. That's still incredible.
Complain about this comment
An individual maybe predisposed to success in sprinting (or any other sport) by virtue of the luck of getting a good set of genes from their parents. Whether their parents were more likely to give them that set of genes because they belong to a relatively isolated gene pool that has a high probability of imparting those genes to their offspring requires scientific study. No such study has happened for any group for any sport as far as I know and as such citing genetics as a cause of success is without foundation and mere speculation.
Complain about this comment
If we have JADCO, the world still gonna run dem mouth!
:-)
The US has a body but that never stopped them ignoring things. Better a body outside the country - that has more credibility!
So far, so good for Jamaica.
Perhaps, because US didn't perform, it highlights us more. As to why they didn't perform? People can make their own inferences.
-----------------
I spoke to him about what has since become known as the dirtiest race in history as Carl Lewis, who was promoted to gold, had failed three drugs tests at the 1988 US Olympic trials, while Britain's silver medallist Linford Christie also failed a drugs test later in his career.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/07/the_dirtiest_race_in_history.html
------------------------
Sprints end with final score Jamaica 4, US 0
·Caribbean flyers say level playing field on drugs lets true talent come through
--------
Warren Blake, a Jamaican team doctor and one of the heads of their anti-doping programme, was blunter.
He said "The playing field is more level these days. The push by the World Anti-Doping Agency and other anti-doping agencies to eradicate drugs - we feel that has helped Jamaica."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/22/olympics2008.olympicsathletics2
They are roughly classified as events in which top runners will not have to "pace themselves", but can run as fast as possible for the entire distance.
----------
While this event is a sprint (according to some), there is more scope to use tactics in the race; the fact that 400 m times are considerably more than four times a typical 100 m time demonstrates this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_(race)
Complain about this comment
Not sure if you're saying 400m is a sprint or not, but since you quoted wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/400_metres states "400 m is a common track running event. It is the longest common sprint distance."
Complain about this comment
Be interesting to get your opinion on Borzof the Russian who won both 100 and 200 sprints in 1972 where the the Jamaican finished 3rd
The Russian also got silver in relay
He did not look very physically impressive by todays standards
Their may be some who discount the use of human growth hormone which cannot be detected but when I look at the amount of lean muscle and the lack of breast tissue in female athletes I am suspicious.
Ben Johnson was the fastest man off the blocks that I have ever seen and I doubt drugs would help that as Carl Lewis had a greater finish second half of sprint but I will always believe Ben was the greatest sprinter in his era drugs or no drugs plus he was the scapegoat when so many others were using.
Jamaicans are not immune from drug use as the record shows but defining reasons for superiority in any sport will always be an interesting topic.
Common sense though would show that the genetic pool of carribean decendents of slavery were chosen because of their physical superiority and this becomes obvios when one visits Africa and compares the physiques of the Carribean countries or US blacks to see the difference.
Having competed against the Carribean athletes particularly Jamaicans I have knowledge of them for past 40 years and they have always been very good at sports inc speed and strength too.
Louis Martin was world champ at weigtlifting breaking world records for Britain but was born in Jamaica.
Complain about this comment
iouatp, I think alanskillcole is pointing out that Wikipedia does hint to the controversy as to whether the 400m race is a sprint event or not
From Wikipedia:
?While this event is a sprint (according to some), there is more scope to use tactics in the race; the fact that 400 m times are considerably more than four times a typical 100 m time demonstrates this.?
please note the phrase in parenthesis.
Complain about this comment
McNeil's vision of Bolt dominating world sprinting had started early. In front of a home crowd at the world junior championships in 2002 in Kingston, Jamaica, the 15-year-old Bolt became the youngest ever winner of a world title, taking the 200m crown in 20.61 seconds.
Already 196cm tall, Bolt's performance shattered the pre-conceived notions in the sport of the ideal shape for a sprinter. Michael Johnson, whose world 200m record of 19.32 in Atlanta in 1996 remained in place until Wednesday night, had not run a time like Bolt's junior record until he was 20.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/beijing_olympics/athleteprofile/0,27316,24219012-5016798,00.html
Complain about this comment
Yet the foundations for this fast show were laid as long ago as 1910, when Champs, an event designed to discover and develop the best school sprinters, was launched. Now it is the island's flagship sporting occasion and attracts crowds upwards of 30,000. Children as young as five start sprinting and all Jamaica's fastest athletes have been through this system.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/sprinting-in-the-blood-of-jamaicas-champions-903966.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/athlete-of-the-games-bolt-bowls-up-to-talk-flintoff-being-clean-and-michael-phillips-907127.html
However, in the boys' Class One 200m, the race of the championships, which piped three World Youth medallists and one World Junior medallist, St. Jago's Ashmeade prevailed. Ashmeade, who finished third behind McKenzie in Ostrava, turned the table this time around with a hard-fought 21.04 seconds victory against a negative 2.1 head wind.
In the final, which was witnessed by a cheering crowd of over 20,000, McKenzie was second in 21.05 while World Junior 100m bronze medallist Yohan Blake of St. Jago, the world fastest junior at 10.11 seconds, was third in 21.31.
http://www.iaaf.org/WJC08/news/kind=100/newsid=44062.html
Complain about this comment
There just may be a few new faces in 2012!
:-)
So, doing your reading from now so people don't begin to say "such-such time, where'd he /she spring from?"...if the times are this good already, expect them to get better in 4 years time.
If the times are expected to stay the same, then either the athlete has the Brit expectation level "it's the taking part that counts blah-blah" or needs to give up the day job!
:-)
Complain about this comment
Well done, Jamdown.
Nuh Linga
LOL
"He is not as strong as he should be," said Mills, referring to Bolt's less than muscular upper body physique. "If he gets stronger, his stride frequency will improve and when we achieve that in perhaps the next two years, he is going to run even faster."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/beijing_olympics/athleteprofile/0,27316,24219012-5016798,00.html
Complain about this comment
I just think calling Usain autistic is not called for
Complain about this comment
don't worry - the person who called him that probably doesn't even know what it means...
or he thinks we all need to adopt some weird twang to fit in...
There's still a class thing in this green and pleasant land - probably expect "chariots of fire" stuff.
At least our athlete doesn't go around dousing official with their water bottle.
Tis more than a plummy accent to indicate class...nuh?
All the interviews with the Jamaican athletes, they were so natural and themselves - no adopting any pseudo-american accents...just real
Grieve for likes of Grace Jackson, Merlene Ottey and on how they missed on in the days when things we suspected now confirmed...
BTW, sprint relay - doesn't refer to 4x100?
mile relay - to 4x400?
The papers (even local ones) refer to 4-0 for sprints, so referring to both 100s, 200s...
Complain about this comment
Alishia forgot the "d" - drugs. Simple as that. I'd be astonished if none of tyhem were taking drugs. You can't perform that much better than other athletes without chemical assistance. Look at Marion Jones - soo far ahead of everyon else yet she continually denied that she'd been taking drugs. Shame.
Complain about this comment
What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Maybe there's an argument for better testing (random blood tests) but until then, innocent.
Complain about this comment
So sprint score is 4 - 0 now? So mens 100m relay doesn't count now either? This is silly. I've shown how a 200m can't be a flat out run like the 100m which would mean that it would not be considered a sprint by your definition and told you that the athletics bodies consider the 400m a sprint. News papers will output stories and headlines to suit their purposes (namely selling newspapers), so sensational headlines like Jamaica 5 - USA 0 are the order of the day.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
"If a guy runs 20s at 15-16 yo, do you expect improvement by time he's 21 yo? Would that offend you?"
You don't understand. Getting from there to the low 19s takes a huge amount of effort. Something about the 80/20 rule. Marion Jones was great as a junior. We all know what she needed to compete.
Complain about this comment
""cilurnum and pwgoettig your ignorance really amazes me. In 2008 to discover there are still such small minded individuals in our midst"
Unfortunately, that doesn't address a single thing I've actually written from out-of-competition testing to the signs and what to look for.
"The fact that you even dare to comment about and describe 'autistic tendancies' is ridiculous and it you would show much more awareness"
Anybody who has been around athletes pushing themselves to the limit knows the signs to look out for, and the kind of behaviour I describe is very indicative of doping. It's no guarantee, but it is indicative. Ease of competition, lack of sweating, the ability to keep going even after the event, no nerves whatsoever and huge improvements in a short time. It's probably why some of the 200 metre runners shook their heads after the race.
Complain about this comment
"Grieve for likes of Grace Jackson, Merlene Ottey and on how they missed on in the days when things we suspected now confirmed..."
Merlene Ottey tested positive for doping in 1999.
Also, the era of Grace Jackson and Merlene Ottey in the 1980s was a very suspicious time, with Flo-Jo in particular. Jamaicans, the Americans they're all under suspicion. I'm of the opinion that Flo-Jo's records should be wiped and we should start again.
Complain about this comment
"He said "The playing field is more level these days. The push by the World Anti-Doping Agency and other anti-doping agencies to eradicate drugs - we feel that has helped Jamaica.""
This was addressed above by me. The out-of-competition testing only happens from May to September around the competitions themselves, and in the Caribbean there is no testing whatsoever, as admitted by the IAAF, between October and January.
Guess after which month we saw the times tumble?
Complain about this comment
From the early days of Dianobol thru Clenbuterol and on to the drug of choice Human Growth Hormone now synthetic, while former two are dectectable the latter HGH is not so pray tell how athletes are tested for that ?
Please do not pee down my back and tell me its raining.
We can not determine who is or is not cheating with substances so while opinions can be true the truth is NOT an opinion.
Complain about this comment
Cilurnum and SFEWox keep bringing up drugs as a reason for Bolts times, he must have been taking them from very early!!! His times as a 15 year old and even some subsequent have been phenomenal.
2001 age 15 200m 22.04
2002 age 16 200m 20.61 400m 47.12
2003 age 17 200m 20.25 400m 45.30
2004 age 18 200m 19.93
Times done without drugs and with very little commitment on his part, as he has always been one who likes to enjoy himself.
His present times are a result of him realising that without heavy training on his part the others were not much better than him, so if he took it serious he would be a dominant figure (in more ways than one). Anyway check
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usain_Bolt
Complain about this comment
"Cilurnum and SFEWox keep bringing up drugs as a reason for Bolts times, he must have been taking them from very early!!! His times as a 15 year old and even some subsequent have been phenomenal."
Reading quite clearly isn't your strongest point. This has been discussed above.
Many athletes who have gone on to compete at the top have had been good as juniors, as Marion Jones was. Her 200 metres record still stands. Getting from the 20s to the low 19s in the 200, and getting to world record times, takes the biggest effort of all. Some run 20s in their teens and just stay there.
However, that still does not preclude steroid and drug use as a junior, so your counter arguments are null and void and have proven to be by many athletes.
Complain about this comment
@38
I used to run the 400m (in high-school and college, so I'm not trying to compare myself to anyone at the olympics) and yes I know that it's a lung-bursting punishing event. Still, every single athletics event I competed at had it down as a sprint, and the 4x400m was always classed as a sprint-relay. Even running the 200m required a certain amount of tactics because running the bend requires modifications to both your speed and stride-pattern (especially if you're on an inside lane). So yes I accept that sprints are supposedly races where you go flat out for the entire distance, but in actuality your speed fluctuates even if you disregard the start.
Complain about this comment
O wind , why do you never rest,
Wandering, whistling to and fro,
Bring rain out of the west,
From the dim north bringing snow?
~by wow powerleveling
THE CUCKOO
In April,
Come he will,
In May,
Sing all day,
In June,
Change his tune,
In July,
Prepare to fly,
In August,
Go he must!
~by maple story accounts
Complain about this comment
They say seeing is believing. The world has seen, apparently some still cannot believe that a small developing country like Jamaica could trounce the first world countries and dominate the sprint olympics. But then, the world could not believe that our ancestors the Maroons (who were run away slaves) , could have trounced our Colonial Masters, the British ( who had guns and ammunitions) in Jamaica to the point where the British had to initiate a Peace Treaty.
I am missing your point about the Caribbean's anti-doping because these athletes perform in at least two or three international meets every year where they are tested for drugs. Indeed, one might say that for the Olympics in Bejiing they were targeted for drug testing. The superpower US has all the drug testing facilities and still it has athletes who have
confessed that they took drugs and were able to escape detection with these high-tech facilities. Should we therefore assume that Michael Phelps is on drugs? I think not.
Further, I do believe that Rogge and all the other naysayers, who speak so much about respect should practice what they preach. Had they RESPECTED the Jamaican Culture, they would have been able to appreciate that though not in keeping with British and American tradition, this is traditionally how Jamaicans celebrate victory (perhaps a legacy from the Maroons who were forcibly uprooted from their native homes and shipped to Jamaica) to build the British empire? You might be interested to know that the people in Jamaica were celebrating in much the same way as Usain only in addition, to dancing, they were singing and clanging pot covers!
Complain about this comment
You might be interested to know that Sanya Richards who ran the 4x400m relays for the US is also Jamaican. She left Jamaica after completing prep school.
Complain about this comment
For all those doubters out there, it is very easy to see how Usain Bolt can run so fast.
Forget about the hype about Jamaicans being so gifted because of a specific gene, its all down to the training and wanting to succeed.
I think that if a scientific analysis was taken you would find that all top sprinters have a very closely related cadence time ie leg turnover and foot contact times. The only major difference being stride length.
It just so happens that with Usain each foot contact produces a greater stride length than his competitors and hence a quicker time for the 100m and 200m.
It doesn't matter how strong you are, only how much power you can generate in the shortest amount of time possible. Sprinting is a very simple equation of weight times distance divided by time, this creates the necessary forces needed to be able to produce the greatest amount of distance covered in each stride - ground coverage. Its all about ground coverage.
Yes, I know that we'd all like to believe that its nature over nurture, as this makes things very simple to understand - but I really do think that nurture really is the deciding factor in this equation.
Its very easy to say that one athlete is more genetically gifted than another - one has a greater proportion of fast twitch muscle fibres. But I think far more research needs to be done in this area before we reside our selves to this conclusion actually being factual.
Complain about this comment
How does Arthur Wint fit the profile for Jamican runners ? he was very tall and muscular and I think was 800 and 400 plus maybe miler ?
What I do recall was that he was very respected in my school by our sports master
I also recall a little guy about 5'5" not much over a hundred 120 lbs with glasses and very baggy shorts beating all the top runners which at the time I thougt was a joke as he looked like Harold LLoyd comedian of that era
Arthur Wint was big with a long stride and possibly ahead of his time winning first ever gold medal for Jamaica, at olympics maybe 1948 ??
He was sortof a legend to us school kids and for sure no drugs there
Complain about this comment
You know - he who's convinced against his will and all that...if you been burnt by Ben Johnson thing, that's one thing...
If you think that there's a problem with Jamaica...so be it.
Reference to Grace Jackson is that she lost out to Flo Jo.
And not to tar Grace with the same brush. To dismiss everyone with the same brush is odd.
To take it to the reductio ad absurdum level - which athlete would one feel is clean? Go back to "Chariots of Fire" time? Or forward to Roger Black? Or bit back to Valery Borzov?
Ottey ran all these years behind certain americans and Katerina Krabbe...what she's doing now (Slovenia/wherever) is another matter. She's been as clear re drugs as much as the GB 400m runner who missed the 3 tests.
Look for AShmeade, Yohan Blake, Lee, etc
Bottom line: I don't really care if anyone thinks we have/haven't taken stuff. If ppl think we have, we can't say otherwise and they'd believe us,. If JADCO works, they'd say it's Jamaican and they can't trust it. If JADCO isn't there and the foreigners test our ppl, it's still not enough.
If you RELIGIOSLY. without proof believe that of Bolt - but not of Phelps or the GB cyclists or take-your-pick - it's your thing.
Where's Adlington spring from? Or Hoy? Or Ainslie? Are the dressage ppl/horses ok?
If we Jamaicans are doing what the US/UK/Germans etc have been then; BIG UP Jamaica..we win , we beating them and our juice is stronger/less detectable than their juice.
:-)))))))))))))
Either way, we run tings, tings nuh run we.
Funny, seeing Bolt and his nuh linga dance. Rogge wouldn't understand.
To prove to ppl, that there's no drugs in athletics, all times ppl do at 15 yo - they have to be doing the same times at 20 yo. Or else, it must seem dodgy, nuh?
LOL
Blood tests, urine tests, etc don't show anything but it's not the traditional yank, so it isn't kosher? Best get back to the Alan Wells time warp for clean running?
Anyhow, why are the brits so concerned - Team GB won only a few medals - the silver medal high jumper trains with MVP and was doing it for JA before "defecting", so in terms of UKA - "where's the beef?"
Don't worry 'bout JA, the americans can take care of themselves (surprised the 100m women wasn't overturned when they appealed so strong is their clout), GB take care of their own...try and win as we do by any means necessary.
Even if you need someone like Linford Christie.
Complain about this comment
Remember there were other successes too - like Veronica Campbell-Brown...look at the others coming through...
We don't know anything of cycling/swimming/dressage/gymnastics/rifle bore shooting/kayak, canoeing, sailing, (little boxing), synchronised swimming/hockey, we only send track (and a few field) athletes to Olympics...Phllips (swimming), Weller (cycling) are a few exceptions...
http://www.sportsjamaica.com/read_article.php?id=6970
so those thinking of Bolt in long jump - that's unlikely..more the 400m
Here's the Future - please DO test
:-)
http://www.iaaf.org/WJC08/news/kind=100/newsid=44062.html
BTW, as Jamaica (and much of Brit WI except Trinidad) still has Queen as Head of State, we could have a "rise, Sir Bolt"!
:-)
Complain about this comment
If it's american, it's ok...
Once it was gold as the top count, now it's total medals won.
If it was 100m as the blue ribbon event, when Bailey won - it became "let's have a 150m race between Bailey and M. Johnson".
If Greene/Montgomery won it was "wow". If it's not an american - "is he clean"?
Forget about us or USA, UKA need to sort themselves out.
Whether we're all taking stuff or no...whether we don't sweat enough when we win, there are too many of us winning for the likes of the Big Boys (and the not so big like Team GB)...get back to winning by hook or by crook...the winning mentality not tis british it's the taking part that counts...Crouch did a Maradona but no one cares as England won the match against Trinidad...get over this amateur mindset...be more german/aussie/even american in that respect...but not fawn and take the case for US when they look after no.1
Complain about this comment
Critics say - looks like we shouldn't expect much change in times between junior level and senior level.
If a 15yo Bolt was doing better times than a 20yo M. Johnson, then, on a graph of improved times over age, it's possible that a 21yo Bolt could have less of a sudden spike than in improvement than M. Johson!
How did M. Johnson get so good?
So, should we be MORE surprised that M. Johnson got so good so quick? No. He's american. The level of suspicion isn't level. We, Jamaicans, have more of a burden than the US.
But our stew is good..unlike Greece, US, UK
:-)
Complain about this comment
avoid Hastings?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4608276.ece
Complain about this comment
I really, really wish those totally devoid of track and field knowledge would refrain from posting.
Whilst some may like to think that the 400m is a sprint it is not and never has been. It is a middle distance event. There are officially six sprints in the Olympics:
100m, 200m and 4 x 100m relay men's and women's.
That's it.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS