Jamaican Champions
Jamaica is on fire today! The official word from Beijing is as follows - Jamaica confirmed their new-found status as the greatest sprinting nation in the world, smashing the world record to win gold in the Men’s 4 x 100m Relay at the National Stadium on Friday, August 22.
Their victory was never in question, as ancho
r Asafa Powell crossed the finish line in 37.10 seconds, slicing three tenths of a second off the 15-year-old world record previously held by the United States.
Nesta Carter led off the Jamaican quartet, passing to Michael Frater who stormed up the back straight. With a significant lead already in their grasp, world 100m and 200m record holder Usain Bolt sailed around the final bend further extending the gap, before handing the baton to Powell who completed the seamless performance by the Jamaicans.
Bolt, Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter, and Michael Frater simply stroll around the Birds Nest setting a new world record of 37.10. Bolt’s third this week. Trinidad and Tobago captured silver, while Japan took the bronze.
Jacques Rogge, the Frenchman who presides over the International Olympic Committee (IOC) revealed his lack of appreciation for true cultural diversity and the different ways international competitors in the Olympics express joy by criticizing Usain Bolt’s celebration after winning both the 200m and 100m races in Beijing.
“That’s not the way we perceive being a champion…” Rogge said. “I understand the joy… I have no problem with him doing a show” Rogge explained in an interview with international news reporters, “…[but] I think he should show more respect for his competitors and shake hands, give a tap on the shoulder to the other ones immediately after the finish and not make gestures like the one he made in the 100 meters… the way it was perceived was ‘catch me if you can.’”
Jacques Rogge
Interestingly, other competitors do not share Rogge’s shortsighted sentiments. According to the Associated Press, American sprinter Shawn Crawford, who crossed the line fourth in the 200m but was upgraded to the silver medal after the disqualifications of Wallace Spearmon and Churandy Martina, said he saw nothing wrong in Bolt’s showboating celebrations.
“I guess there’s mixed feelings among athletes,” he said. “To me, I don’t feel like he’s being disrespectful. If this guy has worked his tail off, every day, on his knees throwing up like I was in practice, he deserves to dance.”
Claire Nelson of the Institute of Caribbean Studies and Co-Founder, National Caribbean American Heritage Month rebuked Rogge in a stern statement: “On behalf of the millions of Jamaicans worldwide I invite you to open your mind to other ways of being. As a promoter of diversity, I would hope that you would concede that not all cultures show respect in the same way… The fact is that the Olympic tradition has been based on Western concepts of pomp and circumstance and traditional handshake as a means of showing respect. But we live in a global village. In 5,000 year old CHINA it is the bow, and in 46 year old, Jamaica it is the fist to the chest. Allow us JAMAICANS if you please the right to our cultural practices and ask the questions. After all we are the nation that taught the world to sing ONE LOVE in perfect harmony.”
Powel and Bolt to lead Jamaica in relay
Yes dears, as dem say a’ yard, “Bad luck worse than obeah!” The official word from Beijing is that the much anticipated showdown between sprinting giants the United States and Jamaica will not happen in either the men’s or women’s 4×100m hurdles after the US relay teams failed to finish their heat by dropping the batons!
It seems Sonya Richards dropped the batton in the Women’s event - to the great dismay of her team mates. In the men’s race, Tyson Gay’s slip up will result in Jamaica meeting Trinidad to compete for the crown - defending champions Great Britain did not make it to the final.
Top shot sprinters Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell Read the rest of this entry »
Julian Marley and others celebrate Bolt's win
Julian Marley, Tessanne Chin and a slew of others are in Beijing to serve up a special blend of REGGAE POWER to keep our athletes motivated.
Artist Tessanne Chin said in her blog -
“Courtesy of PUMA and Mr Andrew Ballen of Ballen West I have been given the amazing chance to perform at the 2008 Beijing PUMA closing party on the 23rd of this month.
I am soo honoured that I have been given such an opportunity not only to represent my country but our MUSIC !!!! and trust me I gwen shout it from the great wall if I have to that Jamaica posesses not just amazing athletes but also Phenomenal Artists!!! I promise I’ll do my best to let dem know seh we artist dem SICK!!! LOL”
So, who know how to do the Usain dance?!
Veronica Campbell Brown Grabs the Gold!
Grab the dutchie, beat the jesta pot - it’s gold and bronze again for Jamaica!
Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown clocked 21.74 seconds to win the gold medal in the Women’s 200 meters at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Thursday.
Allyson Felix of the United States took silver in 21.93 seconds, and another Jamaican, Kerron Stewart, won bronze in 22.00.
And yes, the island is on fire! The report from Beijing is that Campbell-Brown’s success means Jamaica has now won gold at 100m and 200m in both the Women’s and Men’s competitions and won six of the 12 medals available at those distances.
Photo credit: Beijing Olympics 2008
Melaine Walker is Golden in Beijing
More gold and more records for the Jamaicans in Beijing! Melaine Walker proved that Jamaicans are not only some of the best runners but are among the best hurdlers as well by setting a new Olympic record and winning gold in the Women’s 400m event.
Walker emerged victorious over Sheena Tosta of the United States (the race’s favorite) by winning the race in 52.64 seconds.
According to the official word from Beijing - Sheena Tosta of the United Read the rest of this entry »
A day before his 22nd birthday, Usain Bolt of Jamaica showed that his gold medal and world record in the Men’s 100m was no fluke by adding the Olympic gold and world record in the Men’s 200m.
During the semifinal, Bolt cruised to the finish line with the fastest qualifying time of 20.09 seconds.
There was a lot of doubt that Bolt could do what no athlete has done since Carl Lewis of the United States at the Los Angeles games in 1984.
Bolt, fifth off the blocks, was well ahead by the bend. Unlike his win in the 100m, he Read the rest of this entry »
Great Britain won the gold medal in the Women’s 400m on August 19, at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games thanks to the talented Christine Ohuruogu.
Shericka Williams of Jamaica took the silver in 49.69s for a personal best (she outdid the season’s best of 50.28 which she clocked in the semis), ahead of Jamaican born U.S. Citizen Sanya Richards had to settled for bronze with an impressive time of 49.93s. The U.S. citizen was favored to win the race but managed to keep good spirits regardless - I mean, how Caribbean is that?
Three Jamaican Women Score Big in Beijing
Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart did it! All three women brought home gold and silver to the tiny island in the warm blue Caribben sea! Celebrations errupted all over the island across the nation.
According to the official Olympics press Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser won the gold medal in the Women’s 100m with a personal best time of 10.78 seconds at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Read the rest of this entry »
Jamaican Women Get Ready
Yes, wi nuff! Not one but three Jamaican women are in the finals for the 100 meters race in Beijing all going for gold - Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart.
Favorite Shelly-Ann Fraser gained a spot in the line up - she is tapped to win the race regardless of the excessive hype being given to the talented US athelete Lauryn Williams.
r Asafa Powell crossed the finish line in 37.10 seconds, slicing three tenths of a second off the 15-year-old world record previously held by the United States.
