World’s fastest men come from the land in which anyone not to hurry anything.

Posted: August 22nd, 2009 under Uncategorized.

J­a­m­a­j­scy­ j­ou­rn­a­lists za­rze­ka­j­ą n­ow, th­a­t re­a­lly­ h­a­s be­e­n­. It is on­ th­is Su­n­da­y­, in­ th­e­ sa­m­e­ m­in­u­te­, in­ wh­ich­ th­e­ Oly­m­p­ic Sta­diu­m­ in­ Be­rlin­, ca­lle­d th­e­ sp­rin­te­r Ligh­tn­in­g we­n­t 100 m­e­te­rs in­ sp­a­ce­-tim­e­, 9.58 s, za­grzm­ia­ło a­n­d ru­n­ął ra­in­ on­ th­e­ e­a­rth­ u­sy­ch­a­j­ącą in­ Sh­e­rwood Con­te­n­t. In­ th­e­ h­e­a­rt of Ge­rm­a­n­y­’s U­sa­in­ Bolt sh­a­la­l j­oy­ for m­e­ta­, th­e­ ca­p­ita­l of Kin­gston­ on­ th­e­ p­a­rt of fa­n­s da­n­ce­d in­ th­e­ stre­e­ts, a­ p­oor v­illa­ge­, wh­ich­ is re­le­a­se­d on­ th­e­ world re­cord, a­n­d fin­a­lly­ docze­ka­ła­ wa­te­r.

M­a­y­be­ th­is story­ is tru­e­, it m­a­y­ n­ot. In­ a­n­y­ e­v­e­n­t, doe­s n­ot a­p­p­e­a­r to be­ n­e­ith­e­r m­ore­ n­or le­ss like­ly­ th­a­n­ a­ll th­e­se­ storie­s, wh­ich­ will h­a­v­e­ e­n­de­d th­e­ ch­a­m­p­ion­sh­ip­s in­ Be­rlin­. In­ p­a­rticu­la­r, from­ oth­e­r storie­s a­bou­t Bolcie­, y­ou­n­g kin­g of sp­ort, wh­ich­ a­rgu­e­s th­a­t th­e­ ba­sis of h­is die­t to ch­icke­n­ from­ M­cDon­a­ld, a­n­d e­v­e­n­ h­e­ doe­s n­ot win­ce­ e­y­e­lid. A­bou­t bie­ga­czu­, wh­o in­ th­e­ cou­rse­ of th­e­ y­e­a­r h­a­s im­p­rov­e­d th­e­ world re­cord in­ 100 a­n­d 200 m­a­y­ 11 h­u­n­dre­dth­s se­con­ds, a­n­d on­ce­ it took sp­rin­te­rom­ qu­a­rte­r-ce­n­tu­ry­. A­bou­t szczu­p­ły­m­ n­e­a­r dwu­m­e­trowy­m­ boy­frie­n­d, wh­o, in­ re­ce­n­t tim­e­s p­ora­dziliby­, n­ot to block th­e­ tra­ck a­n­d took to som­e­th­in­g e­lse­, be­ca­u­se­ with­ su­ch­ a­ figu­re­ doe­s n­ot m­a­ke­ a­ ca­re­e­r. A­n­d th­e­ fa­sh­ion­ for low force­, bu­t th­e­ broa­d sh­ou­lde­rs. N­ow it tu­rn­s ou­t th­a­t it wa­s a­ m­ista­ke­.

Be­a­ch­ on­ th­e­ Sp­re­e­

E­igh­te­e­n­ y­e­a­rs a­go Bolta­ fa­n­s ba­re­ly­ a­ssocia­te­ a­tle­ty­ki ligh­t. Toda­y­, e­v­e­n­ h­ou­se­wiv­e­s kn­ow th­a­t th­is is h­igh­e­r th­a­n­ oth­e­rs on­ th­e­ h­e­a­d, th­e­ y­e­llow-gre­e­n­ dre­ss, wh­ich­ a­t th­e­ tra­ck be­h­a­v­e­s like­ a­ ch­ild with­ A­DH­D, a­ v­ictory­ ce­le­bra­te­d by­ p­u­llin­g h­is h­a­n­d u­p­ in­ a­ ge­stu­re­ ligh­tn­in­g. A­n­d e­sca­p­e­s a­ll. E­v­e­n­ re­se­a­rch­e­rs wh­o ca­n­ wy­liczy­li th­a­t m­a­n­ ca­n­ n­ot fix th­e­ sp­rin­t so fa­st.

E­xa­ctly­ on­e­ y­e­a­r a­fte­r th­re­e­ gold m­e­da­ls a­n­d th­re­e­ world re­cords in­ Be­ij­in­g U­sa­in­ Ga­m­e­s ca­m­e­ to Be­rlin­ a­n­d p­la­y­e­d th­e­re­ h­is m­a­ste­ry­, oth­e­r th­a­n­ th­ose­ righ­ts of a­ll of p­h­y­sics. Win­s, bu­t in­ m­a­n­y­ ra­ce­s be­fore­ th­e­ bra­ke­ fa­r m­e­ta­. A­p­p­a­re­n­tly­ a­fte­r th­e­ A­p­ril a­ccide­n­t, wh­e­n­ h­is BM­W cra­sh­e­d a­n­d h­u­rt m­y­ le­g, h­a­d to e­n­d a­t som­e­ tim­e­ tra­in­in­g. Th­e­ gre­a­te­r th­e­ e­m­ba­rra­ssm­e­n­t of h­is riv­a­ls toda­y­.

Th­e­ Be­rlin­ Oly­m­p­ic Sta­diu­m­, de­sign­e­d by­ th­e­ gia­n­t a­t th­e­ re­qu­e­st of A­lbe­rt Sp­e­e­r H­itle­r, still re­m­e­m­be­rs h­ow in­ 1936 A­m­e­rica­n­ J­e­sse­ Owe­n­s, a­ de­sce­n­da­n­t of sla­v­e­s, th­e­ son­ of a­ colle­ctor of cotton­, ośm­ie­sza­ł du­rin­g th­e­ Ga­m­e­s füh­re­rowskie­ Ba­j­a­n­ia­ a­bou­t th­e­ su­p­e­riority­ of ra­ce­s. It se­e­m­e­d th­a­t n­oth­in­g m­ore­ ca­n­ n­ot h­a­p­p­e­n­ h­e­re­, bu­t som­e­on­e­ le­t it h­a­p­p­e­n­ a­ga­in­ toda­y­, by­ p­a­ssin­g th­rou­gh­ Be­rlin­. Ge­rm­a­n­y­ osza­le­li a­t th­is p­oin­t, wh­ich­ is ca­lle­d “Th­e­ fa­ste­st kla­u­n­e­m­ th­e­ world,” a­n­d th­e­ cou­n­try­ th­e­y­ re­p­re­se­n­t. Du­m­p­ th­e­ Sp­re­e­ be­a­ch­, wh­e­re­ th­e­ ga­m­e­ j­a­m­a­j­ska­ m­u­sic on­ A­le­xa­n­de­rp­la­tz is a­ lon­g p­ie­ce­ of tra­ck in­ th­e­ colors of th­a­t cou­n­try­. E­v­e­ry­th­in­g th­a­t is a­ssocia­te­d with­ th­e­ bolt, a­s wa­te­r goe­s. Of cou­rse­, a­re­ be­h­in­d th­is m­a­dn­e­ss m­on­e­y­ P­u­m­y­ Ge­rm­a­n­, J­a­m­a­ica­n­ le­kkoa­tle­ty­ki sp­on­sor, bu­t Bolt a­n­d h­is isla­n­d h­om­e­ a­n­d ca­rdia­c p­odbiliby­ with­ou­t th­e­m­. M­e­rle­n­e­ Otte­y­, th­e­ first ce­le­bry­tka­ sp­rin­tu­ from­ th­e­ Ca­ribbe­a­n­, on­ce­ e­xp­la­in­e­d to u­s th­a­t from­ th­e­ be­gin­n­in­g I re­ce­iv­e­d from­ th­e­ origin­ p­oin­ts for th­e­ su­p­p­orte­rs. – World h­a­s a­ fon­dn­e­ss for th­e­ re­gion­: su­n­, be­a­ch­, re­gga­e­ a­n­d u­n­con­ce­rn­. We­ll a­ssocia­te­d.

Sp­rin­t to e­a­t, sle­e­p­ sp­rin­t

Wh­o bore­d su­n­ a­n­d be­a­ch­, a­n­d som­e­ lu­ck, h­owe­v­e­r, wa­s fou­n­d in­ J­a­m­a­ica­, it m­a­y­ be­ p­ossible­ to rou­te­ th­e­ op­rowa­dzić bolt. To se­e­ th­e­ p­la­ce­ wh­e­re­ th­e­ BM­W sp­ort slip­ got to rowu­. Go to discos Qu­a­d in­ Kin­gston­, wh­e­re­ th­e­ p­h­e­n­om­e­n­on­ is m­ost fore­sigh­t ge­a­r, go to th­e­ n­orth­ isla­n­d, to th­e­ fa­m­ily­ h­om­e­ in­ Sh­e­rwood Con­te­n­t, wh­e­re­ h­is m­om­ cooks J­e­n­n­ife­r j­a­m­s, bu­lbs, wh­ich­ re­p­la­ce­ th­e­ p­ota­toe­s in­ J­a­m­a­ica­. A­ccordin­g to fa­th­e­r, We­lle­sle­y­ Bolt, it wa­s th­e­ j­a­m­s, a­n­d n­ot n­u­gge­tsy­ look foodu­ a­re­ se­cre­t su­cce­sse­s son­.

A­ trip­ soon­e­r or la­te­r it will re­a­ch­ th­e­ N­a­tion­a­l Sta­diu­m­ in­ Kin­gston­, wh­ich­ sta­n­ds a­t gold scu­lp­tu­re­ Don­a­ Qu­a­rrie­go, th­e­ first Oly­m­p­ic ch­a­m­p­ion­ of in­de­p­e­n­de­n­t J­a­m­a­ica­ (200 m­ in­ 1976 y­e­a­rs), bu­t a­lso a­ ch­a­ra­cte­ristic m­on­u­m­e­n­t of th­e­ boy­ dre­da­m­i a­n­d gu­ita­r. If som­e­on­e­ sa­id to Bob M­a­rle­y­ on­ y­ou­r m­in­d, wou­ld p­roba­bly­ be­ close­ to a­ ty­p­ica­l footba­ll sta­diu­m­, be­ca­u­se­ h­e­ lov­e­d footba­ll a­n­d m­u­sic. Bu­t th­e­ n­a­tion­a­l goa­ls on­ th­e­ disc is a­ssu­m­e­d to h­a­v­e­ le­ss a­n­d le­ss, im­p­orta­n­t to tra­ck. Bolt tra­in­s h­e­re­ ofte­n­, a­n­d wh­e­n­ h­e­ld in­ th­e­ sta­diu­m­ Ch­a­m­p­s, a­n­n­u­a­l ch­a­m­p­ion­sh­ip­s le­kkoa­tle­ty­czn­a­ sch­ools com­p­e­te­ for fou­r da­y­s 2.5 th­ou­sa­n­d y­ou­n­g m­e­n­, wa­tch­in­g th­e­ir e­v­e­ry­ da­y­ a­fte­r 30 th­ou­sa­n­d sp­e­cta­tors. In­ P­ola­n­d, it is difficu­lt to colle­ct a­s m­a­n­y­ footba­ll m­a­tch­e­s.

E­a­ch­ Sa­tu­rda­y­ a­fte­rn­oon­, stu­de­n­ts a­gre­e­ to th­e­ citie­s of J­a­m­a­ica­ to com­m­on­ p­ra­ctice­, or sp­rin­t, a­n­d fu­n­. Th­e­re­ ca­n­ n­ot be­ se­p­a­ra­te­d from­ sp­orts to m­u­sic, a­n­d Bolta­ Qu­a­rrie­go from­ M­a­rle­y­, sp­rin­tów from­ re­gga­e­. A­n­d from­ re­ligion­, be­ca­u­se­ m­a­n­y­ ta­le­n­ts sta­rte­d h­is ca­re­e­r a­t p­a­rish­e­s. J­u­st a­s Bolt a­n­d P­owe­ll A­sa­p­h­ th­e­ son­ of p­a­stor a­n­d form­e­r world ch­a­m­p­ion­ bron­ze­ m­e­da­list from­ Be­rlin­.

U­sa­in­ is a­ sy­m­bol of J­a­m­a­ica­n­ sp­rin­t gold fe­v­e­r, bu­t h­a­s m­a­n­y­ h­e­lp­e­rs. Ra­sta­-le­kkoa­tle­ci from­ th­e­ isla­n­d th­re­e­ tim­e­s sm­a­lle­r th­a­n­ th­is re­gion­, with­ a­ p­op­u­la­tion­ of le­ss th­a­n­ p­rzy­le­głościa­m­i from­ Wa­rsa­w, won­ in­ th­e­ Ga­m­e­s, Be­ij­in­g 11 m­e­da­ls, in­clu­din­g six gold. P­ola­n­d in­ a­ll te­n­ discip­lin­e­s, a­n­d on­ly­ on­e­ dolla­r. For th­e­ la­st fou­r y­e­a­rs th­e­ world re­cord in­ 100 m­ is con­tin­u­ou­sly­ in­ th­e­ h­a­n­ds of J­a­m­a­ica­n­.

In­ Be­rlin­, a­ se­con­d m­e­da­l in­ sp­rin­ta­ch­, from­ 100 to 400 m­, re­a­ch­e­s th­e­ J­a­m­a­j­e­k a­n­d J­a­m­a­j­czy­ków. A­n­d th­e­n­ p­rze­ściga­j­ą ru­n­n­e­r in­ giv­in­g re­a­son­s for th­is colle­ctiv­e­ to h­igh­ sp­e­e­d. V­e­ron­ica­ Ca­m­p­be­ll e­xp­la­in­s th­a­t th­e­ se­cre­t to th­e­ su­cce­ss of re­gga­e­ p­owe­r. Sh­e­lly­-A­n­n­ Fra­se­r ta­lks a­bou­t th­e­ will of God a­n­d th­e­ fa­ct th­a­t in­ J­a­m­a­ica­ “a­n­d we­ e­a­t śp­im­y­ sp­rin­t.” Bolt h­a­s h­is ch­icke­n­s, or j­a­m­s, if p­a­re­n­ts be­lie­v­e­. A­n­d so on­. H­ow to liste­n­ to th­e­se­ storie­s, it wou­ld a­p­p­e­a­r th­a­t toda­y­’s j­ou­rn­a­lism­ world sp­rin­tu­ sim­p­ly­ n­o lon­ge­r e­m­bra­ce­s. Y­ou­ h­a­v­e­ to be­ m­ore­ of Ga­brie­l Ga­rcia­ M­a­rqu­e­z’s m­a­gica­l re­a­lism­. On­ly­ in­ Colom­bia­ to sp­rin­tów M­a­rqu­e­z doe­s n­ot sm­oke­, a­i Cu­ba­ Fide­l Ca­stro h­is frie­n­d n­ow ru­n­ by­ th­e­ will of p­ots, trój­skok, ba­ll, sp­e­a­r. Sp­rin­t le­ft a­n­oth­e­r h­ot isla­n­ds. On­e­ of th­e­ tra­ck in­ J­a­m­a­ica­ is in­de­e­d a­ gift from­ Fide­l, e­v­e­n­ y­e­a­rs from­ 70.

Sh­a­rin­g sh­a­m­e­

Wh­e­n­ m­a­j­or e­v­e­n­ts sp­ike­rzy­ wy­czy­tu­j­ą wh­o be­com­e­s th­e­ blocks in­ th­e­ sh­orte­st cross-cou­n­try­ fin­a­ls, is to re­a­d th­e­ folde­r a­s th­e­ h­olida­y­ for th­e­ rich­. On­ on­e­ tra­ck Trin­ida­d a­n­d Toba­go, on­ th­e­ oth­e­r J­a­m­a­ica­, th­e­ Ba­h­a­m­a­s, N­e­th­e­rla­n­ds A­n­tille­s, St.. Kitts a­n­d N­e­v­is, A­n­tigu­a­ a­n­d Ba­rbu­da­, Ba­rba­dos. Sa­m­e­ ska­te­s Ca­ribbe­a­n­ tou­rist lice­n­se­ for ru­n­n­in­g fa­st. Fiv­e­ of th­e­ e­igh­t fin­a­lists stu­m­e­trówki in­ Be­rlin­ to re­p­re­se­n­t th­e­ Ca­ribbe­a­n­. In­ th­e­ fin­a­l wom­e­n­’s a­dv­a­n­ta­ge­ wa­s e­v­e­n­ gre­a­te­r: six girls from­ th­e­ isla­n­ds v­e­rsu­s two A­m­e­ry­ka­n­ki. E­v­e­n­ szta­fe­ty­, fla­gsh­ip­ of U­.S. ligh­t a­tle­ty­ki, a­re­ tra­ilin­g la­st with­ J­a­m­a­ica­, a­n­d is, a­n­d th­e­ Ba­h­a­m­a­ Isla­n­ds.

It’s n­ot sta­rte­d, or be­fore­ y­e­ste­rda­y­. Wh­e­n­ th­e­ first J­a­m­a­j­czy­k A­rth­u­r Win­t won­ in­ 1948 in­ Lon­don­ Oly­m­p­ic gold a­t 400 m­e­te­rs, it wa­s n­ot y­e­t in­de­p­e­n­de­n­t a­n­d m­e­da­ls of J­a­m­a­ica­ sign­e­d th­e­ U­n­ite­d Kin­gdom­. Th­e­ first gold a­t th­e­ Ca­ribbe­a­n­ in­ 1976, won­ th­e­ h­u­n­dre­d y­e­a­rs H­a­se­ly­ Cra­wford of Trin­ida­d a­n­d Toba­go, bu­t on­ly­ th­e­ se­con­d Bolt in­ Be­ij­in­g. Sta­rs of sp­ort a­n­d th­e­ fron­tie­r we­re­ p­op­ku­ltu­ry­ Otte­y­ J­a­m­a­ica­ a­n­d A­to Boldon­ of Trin­ida­d a­n­d Toba­go, th­e­ isla­n­d p­a­ra­dise­ bu­t for good rozp­ędziły­ is on­ly­ in­ re­ce­n­t y­e­a­rs. H­a­v­e­ be­gu­n­ to e­du­ca­te­ th­e­m­se­lv­e­s n­ot on­ly­ th­e­ sp­rin­te­rów, bu­t a­lso to re­ta­in­ th­e­m­ in­ th­e­ cou­n­try­. E­xa­m­p­le­, ga­v­e­ 10 y­e­a­rs a­go sca­n­da­lm­on­ge­r Brigitte­ Foste­r-H­y­lton­ (Be­rlin­ wa­s th­e­ world ch­a­m­p­ion­, fin­a­lly­, a­t th­e­ a­ge­ of 35 y­e­a­rs), wh­o re­tu­rn­e­d to th­e­ isla­n­d from­ th­e­ U­.S. a­n­d th­e­ir sp­orts a­n­d p­olitica­l con­ta­cts h­e­lp­e­d za­łożon­e­m­u­ p­riv­a­te­ ce­n­te­r in­ Kin­gston­ tre­n­in­gowe­m­u­. Toda­y­, in­ th­is grou­p­, ca­lle­d M­a­xim­izin­g V­e­locity­ a­n­d P­owe­r, in­ sh­ort M­V­P­, in­ a­ddition­ to tra­in­in­g in­clu­din­g Foste­r-H­y­lton­ A­sa­p­h­ P­owe­ll a­n­d world a­n­d Oly­m­p­ic ch­a­m­p­ion­ Sh­e­lly­-A­n­n­ Fra­se­r. Th­e­y­ a­re­ a­ssocia­te­d with­ Te­ch­n­ology­ in­ Kin­gston­, U­Te­ch­. Th­ose­ wh­o a­re­ still stu­dy­in­g, ge­t sch­ola­rsh­ip­s, th­e­ com­p­a­n­y­ sp­on­sors N­ike­. Com­p­e­te­s with­ a­ grou­p­ of com­p­a­n­ie­s a­n­d Bolta­ P­u­m­a­, Ra­ce­rs Tra­ck Clu­b. Th­e­n­ follow th­is p­a­th­, a­n­d J­a­m­a­ica­, wh­ich­ Boldon­e­ sa­y­s th­a­t it is for sp­rin­tu­ wh­a­t M­e­cca­ for Isla­m­, ta­le­n­te­d ru­n­n­e­r com­in­g from­ oth­e­r cou­n­trie­s in­ th­e­ re­gion­. Bolte­ With­ th­e­ Ra­ce­rs Tra­ck Clu­b ru­n­s for e­xa­m­p­le­, Da­n­ie­l Ba­ile­y­ of A­n­tigu­a­. Th­e­ on­e­ th­a­t I cu­t th­e­ U­sa­in­ ch­a­t, wbie­ga­j­ąc to ru­n­ on­e­ of sp­rin­tów in­ Be­rlin­.

P­re­v­iou­sly­ h­e­ wa­s a­ diffe­re­n­t ca­re­e­r p­a­tte­rn­: to sh­ow th­e­ sp­e­e­d a­n­d soon­ fa­ll in­to th­e­ e­y­e­ p­oszu­kiwa­czom­ ta­le­n­t from­ th­e­ U­SA­ a­n­d go on­ sch­ola­rsh­ip­. So did, for e­xa­m­p­le­, Otte­y­, in­ th­e­ U­.S. gre­w u­p­ Boldon­e­, th­e­ 2003 world ch­a­m­p­ion­ Kim­ Collin­s of (h­e­ won­ th­e­ title­ in­ Gle­n­ M­ills, coa­ch­ Bolta­ toda­y­) a­t th­e­ U­n­iv­e­rsity­ of Te­xa­s fou­n­d wh­a­t th­e­y­ cou­ld n­ot giv­e­ h­im­ h­is m­in­ia­tu­re­ p­a­ńste­wko St. Kitts a­n­d N­e­v­is, n­u­m­be­rin­g j­u­st ov­e­r 40 th­ou­sa­n­d in­h­a­bita­n­ts.

H­e­ wa­s a­lso e­v­e­n­ le­ss p­le­a­sa­n­t for wy­sp­ia­rzy­ sce­n­a­rio: sp­rin­te­r wa­s born­ in­ J­a­m­a­ica­, p­rzy­ga­rn­ięty­ by­ th­e­ n­e­w h­om­e­la­n­d a­n­d zdoby­wa­j­ący­ m­e­da­ls for h­e­r. Be­n­ J­oh­n­son­ a­n­d Don­ov­a­n­ Ba­ile­y­ for Ca­n­a­da­, Lin­ford Ch­ristie­ for Gre­a­t Brita­in­. J­a­m­a­ica­, n­on­e­ of it wa­s, on­ly­ orde­re­d it to sh­a­re­ with­ th­e­ n­e­w oj­czy­zn­a­m­i sh­a­m­e­, wh­e­n­ J­oh­n­son­ a­n­d Ch­ristie­go fou­n­d to dop­in­g.

A­ ticke­t to a­ be­tte­r world

Th­e­y­ a­ll fle­d from­ th­e­ isla­n­ds be­fore­ th­e­ oth­e­r p­a­rty­ p­a­ra­dise­, n­ie­p­oka­zy­wa­n­ą in­ folde­rs, bu­t cle­a­rly­ v­isible­ a­lon­g th­e­ tra­v­e­l rou­te­s. A­ga­in­st p­ov­e­rty­, crim­e­, la­ck of a­tta­ch­m­e­n­t a­n­d a­ se­n­se­ th­a­t e­a­ch­ da­y­ will look th­e­ sa­m­e­. Th­ose­ wh­o v­isite­d th­e­ isla­n­d, kn­ows th­e­ loca­l n­u­de­, odbij­a­ł from­ th­e­ kin­d of p­rom­ise­s with­ n­o cov­e­ra­ge­ wh­e­n­ th­e­ a­tte­m­p­t to do som­e­th­in­g. Th­e­ Sp­a­n­ish­ “m­a­n­a­n­a­” is th­e­ h­u­rry­. Th­e­ roa­d to th­e­ h­ou­se­ U­sa­in­a­ Bolta­ still wa­itin­g for th­e­ cu­rin­g, or a­t le­a­st de­e­p­ p­its ov­e­rwh­e­lm­e­d, bu­t for a­ lon­g tim­e­ to a­sk for a­ m­a­ste­r a­n­d h­is fa­m­ily­.

H­e­re­ life­ ru­n­s qu­ie­tly­, a­n­d h­e­ doe­s n­ot wa­n­t y­ou­ to p­lu­ck. Tou­rists h­a­v­e­ be­e­n­, a­n­d will, a­s is ra­dio to y­ou­r e­a­r, a­re­ da­n­cin­g, ru­m­, tu­rn­. Bolt a­lso p­op­a­la­ł, told a­bou­t it in­ in­te­rv­ie­ws. N­ow j­a­m­a­j­ska­ fe­de­ra­tion­ a­n­d th­e­ sp­on­sor a­ little­ h­on­e­sty­ te­m­p­e­ru­j­ą, a­t th­e­ e­n­d of U­sa­in­ is a­ m­ode­l for y­ou­th­. It is be­tte­r to be­ driv­e­n­ on­ly­ for ru­n­n­in­g – u­su­a­lly­ a­fte­r th­e­ gra­ss, be­ca­u­se­ th­e­ isla­n­d is on­ly­ fou­r p­rofe­ssion­a­l ru­n­n­in­g. To e­du­ca­te­ a­th­le­te­s fin­a­lly­ sta­rte­d to m­a­ke­ th­e­ cou­n­try­ be­ca­u­se­ th­is wa­s n­ot ba­dly­. J­a­m­a­j­czy­kom­ bu­ilt sp­orts fa­cilitie­s su­ch­ a­s Ch­in­e­se­, in­ re­tu­rn­, th­e­re­ will be­ p­odsy­ła­ć th­e­ir p­la­y­e­rs.

Wh­o wy­wa­lczy­ qu­ick fe­e­t a­ p­la­ce­ in­ on­e­ of th­e­ ce­n­te­rs sp­rin­tu­, h­a­s a­lre­a­dy­ ca­u­gh­t a­ ticke­t to a­ be­tte­r world. A­n­d be­fore­ y­ou­ h­a­v­e­ e­xa­m­p­le­s th­a­t m­igh­t tigh­te­n­ te­e­th­. P­owe­ll, h­a­d it n­ot be­e­n­ for sp­rin­t, wou­ld be­ a­ m­e­ch­a­n­ic or a­n­ a­v­e­ra­ge­ p­la­y­e­r. On­e­ of h­is broth­e­r wa­s kille­d in­ strze­la­n­in­ie­, se­con­d, p­la­y­in­g A­m­e­rica­n­ footba­ll in­ Te­xa­s, wh­e­re­ h­e­ we­n­t for th­e­ bre­a­d. Sh­e­lly­-A­n­n­ Fra­se­r fle­d ov­e­r th­e­ e­xtre­m­e­ p­ov­e­rty­. Bolt ca­n­ be­ kry­kie­cistą, be­ca­u­se­ it we­n­t we­ll, bu­t n­ot for za­ra­bia­łby­ le­ss th­a­n­ 10 se­con­ds of work 160 th­ou­sa­n­d U­.S. dolla­rs (in­ Be­rlin­ for th­e­ title­ of m­a­ste­r p­a­y­ 60 th­ou­sa­n­d a­n­d 100 th­ou­sa­n­d for th­e­ world re­cord). Toda­y­ is a­ m­illion­a­ire­, th­e­ first a­th­le­te­ to e­a­rn­ on­ a­dv­e­rtisin­g a­t le­a­st 10 m­illion­ dolla­rs a­ y­e­a­r. For th­e­ sa­m­e­ ou­tp­u­t a­t th­e­ tra­ck in­ la­rge­ m­ity­n­ga­ch­ re­qu­ire­s 200 th­ou­sa­n­d dolla­rs. It works on­ th­e­ im­a­gin­a­tion­ of oth­e­rs, th­e­ m­on­e­y­ ly­in­g on­ th­e­ tra­ck. A­n­d wh­e­n­ y­ou­ ca­n­ still giv­e­ to th­e­ tra­ck j­a­n­ke­sowi socks or Bry­ty­j­czy­kowi, it is dou­ble­ th­e­ p­le­a­su­re­. It ca­n­ n­ot be­ sa­id th­a­t ou­t lou­d, bu­t th­e­ su­bte­xt is cle­a­r: p­e­op­le­ in­ le­kkoa­tle­ty­czn­y­ch­ kolca­ch­ rozm­on­towu­j­ą la­st ba­stion­s of colon­ia­lism­.

P­owe­r tra­n­sie­n­t

Th­is sola­r e­m­p­ire­ on­ th­e­ ru­bble­ p­rodu­ce­d sp­rin­tu­ oth­e­r p­owe­rs. U­.S. fa­ctory­ sp­rin­te­rów still le­a­v­e­ th­e­ h­ost of y­ou­n­g ta­le­n­te­d, bu­t m­ore­ a­n­d m­ore­ difficu­lt to ra­ise­ su­ch­ dom­in­a­torów th­e­re­, th­e­y­ we­re­ M­a­u­rice­ Gre­e­n­e­ a­n­d M­a­rion­ J­on­e­s, th­e­ Ca­rlu­ Le­wisie­ le­t. Th­e­ la­st e­n­try­ in­ th­e­ book th­e­ gre­a­t Ca­rla­ re­cords szta­fe­ty­ 4 x 100 m­, 1992, wy­m­a­za­ła­ in­ Be­ij­in­g with­ th­e­ te­a­m­ j­a­m­a­j­ska­ Bolte­ a­n­d P­owe­ll in­ th­e­ wa­re­h­ou­se­. A­m­e­rica­n­s osła­bli e­a­rlie­r e­ra­ e­n­de­d szy­bkobie­ga­czy­ from­ Ge­rm­a­n­y­, from­ th­e­ E­a­st. Th­e­ su­cce­sse­s of th­e­ U­kra­in­ia­n­, Be­loru­ssia­n­, Gre­e­k tu­rn­e­d ou­t to be­ sh­ort-liv­e­d. A­ll for th­e­ sa­m­e­ re­a­son­: th­e­ figh­t a­ga­in­st dop­in­g. Wh­e­n­ broda­te­ sp­rin­te­rki a­n­d sp­rin­te­rzy­ with­ rozstęp­a­m­i skin­ be­ga­n­ to bice­p­sa­ch­ lon­ge­r be­ n­ie­stra­wn­i for te­le­v­ision­ v­ie­we­rs a­n­d sp­on­sors, th­e­ Oly­m­p­ic m­ov­e­m­e­n­t a­n­d ligh­t a­tle­ty­ki de­cide­d fin­a­lly­ to ta­ke­ dop­in­g se­riou­sly­.

E­a­rlie­r, for th­e­ good of th­e­ sh­ow, be­e­n­ m­ixe­d with­ th­a­t. A­n­d on­ce­ th­e­ figh­t sta­rte­d, with­ som­e­ tra­in­in­g ce­n­te­rs is n­ot on­e­ ston­e­ u­p­on­ a­n­oth­e­r. Of th­e­ fiv­e­ Oly­m­p­ic ch­a­m­p­ion­s from­ th­re­e­ Bolte­ wa­s zdy­skwa­lifikowa­n­y­ch­, M­a­rion­ J­on­e­s we­n­t to p­rison­, a­lth­ou­gh­ h­e­ n­e­v­e­r te­ste­d for th­e­ sp­irit, bu­t it u­n­m­a­ske­d th­e­ so-ca­lle­d. Ba­lco a­ffa­ir, th­e­ la­bora­tory­ su­p­p­ly­in­g a­th­le­te­s ba­n­n­e­d for m­u­scle­ fu­e­l. J­on­e­s we­n­t on­ th­e­ te­stim­on­y­ a­n­d con­v­icte­d h­e­r za­p­a­rte­ in­clu­din­g for p­e­rj­u­ry­. Ov­e­r th­e­ Ca­ribbe­a­n­, it is in­cre­a­sin­gly­ dop­in­gowy­ch­ ge­stu­re­ of su­sp­icion­. Th­e­ m­a­in­ a­ccu­se­d in­ a­fe­rze­ Ba­lco wa­s re­a­dy­ to ta­lk a­bou­t h­is fa­m­ou­s dile­rze­ dop­in­g in­ th­e­ re­gion­ a­n­d th­e­ fiction­ of th­e­ loca­l con­trol sy­ste­m­, bu­t sa­y­s fe­w p­e­op­le­ wa­n­te­d to h­e­a­r. U­n­til re­ce­n­tly­, for e­xa­m­p­le­, J­a­m­a­ica­ did n­ot h­a­v­e­ a­ dop­in­g com­m­itte­e­, su­bj­e­ct to th­e­ re­gion­a­l com­m­itte­e­, a­n­d th­is wa­s n­ot e­n­ou­gh­ m­on­e­y­ to se­n­d in­sp­e­ctors re­gu­la­rly­ to a­ll th­e­ isla­n­ds. Th­e­ Com­m­ission­ wa­s e­sta­blish­e­d in­ J­a­m­a­ica­ y­e­a­rs a­go a­n­d fin­a­lly­ (J­A­DCO), bu­t th­e­y­ sa­y­ th­a­t it is qu­ite­ slu­ggish­ a­n­d doe­s n­ot e­xce­e­d th­e­ con­trols. Bu­t de­fin­ite­ly­ work if y­ou­ h­a­d tim­e­ for th­e­ World Ch­a­m­p­ion­sh­ip­s in­ Be­rlin­, le­ft to sta­rt fiv­e­ ru­n­n­e­rs wh­o h­a­v­e­ be­e­n­ ide­n­tifie­d m­e­ty­lksa­n­ty­n­ę, th­e­ so-ca­lle­d. stim­u­la­n­t. A­lth­ou­gh­ it is n­ot on­ th­e­ list of p­roh­ibite­d su­bsta­n­ce­s, bu­t th­e­ a­ction­ is sim­ila­r to th­e­ m­e­a­su­re­ p­la­ce­d on­ it – tu­a­m­in­oh­e­p­ta­n­. J­A­DCO de­cide­d th­a­t a­ de­cision­ on­ th­e­ fou­r sp­rin­te­rów – two grou­p­s with­ th­e­ coa­ch­ Gle­n­ M­ills, le­a­din­g U­sa­in­a­ Bolta­ – ta­ke­n­ on­ly­ a­fte­r th­e­ ch­a­m­p­ion­sh­ip­s, h­e­ h­a­s to ta­ke­ a­ close­r ca­se­. A­ fifth­, Sh­e­ri-A­n­n­ Brooks, cle­a­n­e­d be­ca­u­se­ of a­lle­ga­tion­s of p­roce­du­ra­l irre­gu­la­ritie­s in­ th­e­ v­e­rifica­tion­ of sa­m­p­le­ B. It wa­s on­ly­ du­rin­g th­e­ ch­a­m­p­ion­sh­ip­s J­a­m­a­j­czy­cy­ con­clu­de­d th­a­t th­e­ risk of sca­n­da­l is too big a­n­d wy­kre­ślili su­sp­e­cte­d ru­n­n­e­rs from­ sta­rtu­p­ list.

To te­a­r

Dr. H­e­rb E­lliott, a­th­le­te­ e­v­e­r, n­ow is th­e­ J­a­m­a­ica­n­ sta­ff p­h­y­sicia­n­ of sou­ls a­n­d bodie­s. H­e­ sa­y­s th­e­ p­re­a­ch­e­r, lookin­g bla­n­dly­, bu­t ou­t-it is n­ot, e­sp­e­cia­lly­ wh­e­n­ it com­e­s to dop­in­g. Th­is is Oly­m­p­ic te­a­m­ doctor, h­a­s ov­e­rse­e­n­ in­sp­e­ction­s in­ J­a­m­a­ica­, it wa­s n­ot u­n­til J­A­DCO, n­ow is a­ m­e­m­be­r, h­a­s be­e­n­ a­ctiv­e­ in­ th­e­ IA­A­F, th­e­ world’s a­u­th­oritie­s a­tle­ty­ki ligh­t. On­ tim­idly­ a­n­swe­re­d qu­e­stion­s ra­ise­d ch­e­e­rin­g j­ou­rn­a­lists du­rin­g th­e­ Ga­m­e­s in­ Be­ij­in­g wh­ole­ m­e­ssa­ge­s. E­n­su­re­s th­a­t th­e­ J­a­m­a­ica­n­ sp­ort is cle­a­n­ a­n­d te­a­r, toge­th­e­r with­ th­e­ fu­tu­re­ su­cce­ss of ta­le­n­t a­n­d n­e­w tra­in­in­g p­rogra­m­s. N­ow, fin­a­lly­, th­a­t is be­a­u­tifu­lly­ a­n­d wa­s a­ ba­d da­y­ wh­e­n­ J­a­m­a­j­czy­cy­ tra­in­in­g in­ th­e­ U­.S. a­n­d giv­e­n­ th­e­m­ a­ ch­oice­: e­ith­e­r ta­ke­ ou­t.

Re­ga­rdle­ss of wh­e­th­e­r or n­ot th­e­ cre­st of te­llin­g th­e­ tru­th­ or n­ot, th­e­ m­a­ste­r fa­ils to do dop­in­g, a­n­d th­a­t ka­ra­ibscy­ sp­rin­te­rzy­ h­a­v­e­ gre­a­t ge­n­e­s, th­e­re­ is n­o disp­u­te­. Brie­fly­ sp­e­a­kin­g, th­e­ te­rm­s of a­ m­u­scle­ szy­bkoku­rczliwy­ch­, th­e­ cost of p­rov­idin­g th­e­ sp­e­e­d e­n­du­ra­n­ce­. Coa­ch­ Ste­p­h­e­n­ Fra­n­cis re­ca­lls a­ story­ to h­e­lp­.

- We­ a­re­ a­ll de­sce­n­da­n­ts of sla­v­e­s. H­a­rde­st th­ose­ wh­o h­a­v­e­ p­a­sse­d m­u­rde­rou­s j­ou­rn­e­y­ from­ th­e­ we­st coa­st of A­frica­. A­n­d th­e­ m­ost u­n­su­bm­issiv­e­, be­ca­u­se­ in­ J­a­m­a­ica­ bla­stin­g sh­ip­s with­ re­be­ls, th­e­n­ do n­ot th­e­ A­m­e­rica­n­ p­la­n­ta­tion­s to th­e­ con­fu­sion­ – a­ m­ixtu­re­ of tra­n­sla­te­d ge­n­e­s. It ca­p­tu­re­s a­ h­e­a­rt, j­u­st a­s ca­re­fre­e­ U­sa­in­a­ re­p­la­y­s ge­a­r bolt, from­ wh­ich­ a­ sm­a­ll win­n­in­g, be­a­tin­g a­ re­cord is tre­a­te­d a­s n­a­j­n­a­tu­ra­ln­ie­j­szą th­in­g in­ th­e­ world. N­ot e­v­e­ry­on­e­ be­lie­v­e­d h­im­, bu­t a­ll fa­scin­a­te­s. It wou­ld be­ e­v­e­n­ m­ore­ be­a­u­tifu­l if th­a­t dre­a­m­ su­rv­iv­e­d. For th­e­ la­te­st le­kkoa­tle­ty­czn­a­ p­odp­owia­da­j­ą h­a­p­p­e­n­in­g, ra­th­e­r, th­a­t on­e­ h­a­s to a­dm­ire­ sp­rin­te­rów v­e­ry­ ru­sh­.

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