As Jamaica celebrates its 52nd year of independence, it seems only a short while since our athletes made their entrance on the world stage. The rest of the world will always cherish the sportsmanship they have seen in our athletes over the years and will remember their record breaking achievements in the face of many obstacles. Truly, our Jamaican athletes have given the country a high and honorable podium on which to stand.
The fastest man on earth
Usain Bolt shocked the world when he won the 100m race in style, held in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics. His colourful win of 9.69 seconds in the 100m race, made him the new world record holder and earned him the right to be called the fastest man on earth. At that same meet, Bolt also won the 200m race, clocking in at 19.30 seconds – a world’s best, above American sprinter Michael Johnson’s previous world record.
Over the years, Jamaican greats such as Dr. Arthur Wint, Herb McKenly, George Rhoden, Leslie Laing and Donald Quarrie, have made Jamaica known to the world through their exploits on the track. Our women are not to be outdone either, with female runners such as Juliet Cuthbert, Deon Hemmings, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Queen Merlene Ottey. With their unwavering and outstanding performances over the years in track, the world came to respect Jamaica as the sprint capital of the world.
Now, Jamaica is shifting to the waters and we imagine to the air in time.
Alia Atkinson in water
As Jamaican men and women continued to make tremendous inputs on land, Alia Atkinson made bold strokes through water and into the world’s fine sporting legacy of competitive swimming. She represented Jamaica a number of times during Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics.
However, it was not until after she defeated Olympic champion, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte in a classic finish at the world short-course championships in Doha, that the many started taking the 25 years old swimmer seriously. She snatched first place in an unforgettable record time of 1 minute and 2.3 seconds, thus making her the world titleholder. This magnificent win made Alia Atkinson the first black female to achieve such a feat, securing the first gold medal for Jamaica in a world swimming championship and was named the RJR Sports Foundation’s National Sportswoman of the Year for 2014.
To continue reading , purchase Vol. 7 #8 2015 issue