Sport - Olympic Games

Camaraderie abounds amongst Jamaican sprinters

BEIJING: Usain Bolt is a phenomenon. Three gold medals with three world records in the Olympics — it cannot get any better. It will take some effort to match that performance in the years to come in any global championships.

Bolt himself was quite pleased for his teammate Asafa Powell on Friday night when Jamaica ran a world record in the 4x100m relay.

“I am happy that Powell got his Olympic gold,” said Bolt.

He was understandably thrilled as he followed through behind Powell after the third leg of the 4x100m relay on Friday, and jumped for joy, when he saw the giant screen showing the world record.

Such camaraderie is what brings such records.

“It is a great group, and Asafa just told me ‘don’t worry, we got this,’” said Bolt, as he recalled the conversation before the final.

“I asked the guys to give it to me and they came through,” recalled Powell, as he talked about Nesta Carter and Michael Frater doing their job well in the first two legs.

“I am grateful. I asked the guys before and they said, “we are going out there and going to do it,”’ said Bolt, as he announced that the Jamaican sprinters were taking over forever.

Powell was equally vocal about Jamaica’s supremacy in the sprints. “Jamaica is the sprint capital of the world,” said Powell.

He was, understandably proud about the accomplishment. “It is something that I am used to, you know! But, being with a team is different. This year, I broke one world record, broke another world record. What more can I ask for?” he queried.

Bolt had set his first senior world record in the 100m in New York in May, with a time of 9.72 seconds.

He improved that to 9.69 here and then ran the 200 in a world record 19.30s before joining his teammates on Friday evening for a relay record of 37.10s.

“I think it is going to take something special to break this record. But, I think, next, we will break it. Next time, 36 seconds,” said Frater.

If that was speed at its best, Bryan Clay had the luxury of finishing anywhere in the 1500m and still winning the decathlon gold.

The American had done his work in the earlier nine events.

“The 1500 is a tough race, even mentally. But, it was a great feeling, knowing that if you just finish the race you are going to win the gold,” said Clay.

Five events each on two successive days can take a heavy toll on your physical and mental reserves. “This has been an amazing journey. This was something we have been working on for eight years. We were saying that 2008 was when it would happen,” remarked Clay as he looked back at the years of hard preparation that helped him take over from Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic.

“I don’t think I took the throne from Roman. I think it was more of him passing it to me,” was Clay’s humble remark.

One had to also take note of the Australian, Steve Hooker, who won the first athletics gold for his country since Cathy Freeman took the women’s 400m at the Sydney Games.

“The whole competition was mentally and physically the hardest thing I have done in my life. It was more like boxing than pole vault,” said Hooker, who set an Olympic record with a 5.96.

The Australian team spirit was overwhelming.

“There might be, like 100 Aussies here, but it sounds like there are 20,000,” said Hooker, as he acknowledged the support with gratitude.

“The biggest thing for me was having the Australian team out here, supporting me. I am too tired to be excited,” said Hooker.

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