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GOODBYE TO A SUPERHUMAN

Aug 11, 2017 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Almost a century ago, the world recognized Jamaica because of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, a black nationalist whose Pan-Africanism philosophy known as Garveyism was meant to inspire a global movement and economic empowerment of blacks in Africa. Forty-five years ago, the world fell in love with Jamaica for the reggae music of Robert Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley. Today, Usain St. Leo Bolt has not only firmly placed Jamaica on the map, but he has made it the Mecca of sprinters.
Beginning in 1948, Jamaica produced a number of great sprinters including Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley, Don Quarrie, Merlene Ottley, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly Ann Fraser, Asafa Powell, among a host of others, but none has come close to matching Usain Bolt’s mind-boggling achievements, much less his worldwide appeal.
Bolt is the most universally respected Jamaican sprinter ever. His status as the greatest track and field sports personality is assured. He is a legend who will be immortalized.
Even though he placed third in the current world track and field championships in England, the superhuman of track and field still in essence holds the title of fastest human in the world, by virtue of his world record set in Berlin almost seven years ago.
Bolt has achieved many breathtaking feats as a sprinter. He is the first person in the history of track and field to hold both the 100 meters and 200 meters world records. He is also part of the world record for the 4 × 100 meters relay quartet and is the reigning Olympic champion in these events. Because of his unprecedented dominance and achievements in track and field, Bolt is widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time.
A nine-time Olympic gold medalist, the Jamaican superstar has won the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4 × 100 meters relay at three consecutive Summer Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, London in 2012 and in Rio in 2016. However, he subsequently lost one of the gold medals (as well as the world record set therein) nine years after, due to his teammate Nesta Carter’s disqualification for doping offences. He gained worldwide popularity for his double sprint victory at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in world record times. Bolt is the only sprinter to win the Olympics 100 meters and 200 meters titles at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012 and 2016), which is referred to as the “triple double.”
We are careful not to make comparisons, but we would be remiss not to acknowledge that at every stadium the Jamaica sprinter competes, be it at the world track and field games or at the Olympics, he has received the loudest cheers of all. However, known as the “Lightning Bolt” insignia to his fans after each race, the Jamaican sprint Phenom crested Legend status when he successfully defended his 100 meters crown in his third Olympic 100 meters at the Rio Olympics games in 2016. In so doing, the Jamaican superstar became the first man ever to win three consecutive 100 meters Olympic gold medals known the “triple-triple.” It was an epic moment.
After winning the 200 meters and the 4 × 100 meters relay, a large section of the stadium was converted into a sea of yellow and green and the Jamaican flag held aloft by men, women and children who painted their faces in the colours of the Jamaican flag. Many cheered and waved the Jamaican flag and some were in tears, but together, they proclaimed the superstar as the greatest sprinter of all time.
Bolt, who has never failed a drug test, was hailed as the saviour of track and field at a time when the sport was severely troubled by doping scandals. He has dominated the sports world, and has done so with a grace and humour that is vanishingly rare in the world of professional athletics. We will surely miss this superhuman of track and field.

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