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Quarrie won an Olympic medal of every colour in an international career spanning three decades.

The highlight of his career came at the 1976 Games in Montreal when he won the 200m after losing the gold in the 100m to his great rival Trinidadian Hasely Crawford.

In an interview with the BBC Quarrie spoke about his Olympic career which began in Mexico City in 1968 and ended in Los Angeles 16 years later.

"It’s an achievement that came about without my knowing, I was so much involved in athletics that I kept on running, running and fortunately at an early age, at 17, I made my first Olympic games," Quarrie said.

Despite being injured before the heats in Mexico experiencing the Olympic arena was invaluable. By the time he arrived in Germany four years later Quarrie had become one of the fastest men in the world.

"Munich was a challenge for me because I had done so well in 1970 winning the 100 and 200 at the Commonwealth Games, some my 1972 the outlook was quite bright. It was an opportunity for me to win an Olympic medal unfortunately due to injury in the semi-final that never came to pass."

In 1976 the year Quarrie is most famously remembered for, the 100 metres was a close race.

"I remember at 60 metres figuring that I just might win this thing. I glanced to the left and I saw Hasely and you could say I made a determined effort to go at him again. But he held on and he ran a very good race that day and after the 100 I decided, well, I just have to win the 200."

"I deliberately said don’t push it. Run just to win and that’s what I did."

"My victory was also a victory for Jamaica and immediately I said we must be celebrating now."

Quarrie’s preparations for the 1980 Moscow Games were severely affected by a car crash the year before. After being knocked out in the semi-finals of the 100 he was understandably apprehensive going into the 200 metre final.

"I saw three guys who had won very well and I said well there are three of them and one of me and there are only three medals and I said well I might have to get one of those medals."

Quarrie took the bronze.

His 16 year Olympic career came to an end in Los Angeles where at the age of 33 he completed his sweep of medals with the silver in the men’s 4 x 100m relay.

Twenty years later Quarrie says his enthusiasm for athletics remains as strong as ever.

Quarrie is still actively involved in athletics in his native Jamaica where his contribution to the sport has been recognised by the national athletics association when he was presented with a special award at the Jamaican International meet.

"Our Minister of Sports is very enthusiastic not just about track and field but about all sports and most importantly the development of our youth. The future of Jamaica must be put in the hands of the young generation who will carry on the tradition in every possible way," Quarrie said.