Jamaican track sprinting

[Losidan]

where have all the jamaican athletics sprinters come from?
Track is usually dominated by USA but jamaican team seem to be the new USA.

 

[marinyork]

Jamaica were always strong in the women's but underachieved. They've not been too shoddy in the mens either. For the USA Tyson Gay is no slowcoach, he has the fastest ever run just is less consistent and was blown out of the water by Bolt. On the 100m side I do wonder what affect Gatlin, Montgomery and Jones have all had...

 

[Lardyboy]

The fact that EPO can now be detected, and the latest version of it was already known to the athletics authorities before it even left the lab?

Is there a connection? I think we must be told.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

A lot of islanders previously left to go to Britain, the USA and Canada whereas now the Jamaican (and other) sporting authorities have more funding to keep their top athletes apparently.

 

[Mr Pig]

Is Swingball an Olympic sport?

 

[zimzum42]

where have all the jamaican athletics sprinters come from?

Jamaica

 

[Melvil]

A lot of islanders previously left to go to Britain, the USA and Canada whereas now the Jamaican (and other) sporting authorities have more funding to keep their top athletes apparently.

E.G.

Donovan Bailey
Linford Christie
Ben Johnson

Amongst others. Amazing talent. Glad it's being nurtured and hopefully without drugs.

 

[marinyork]

I hope Bolt and Powell's talent is nurtured. Although well beaten Powell is still a talent having run 4 legit 9.7*s.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Up to quite recently, all the Caribbean sprinters were hoovered up by the US universities on sports scholarships. Places like Louisiana State based their successive national titles in track and field on recruiting West Indian athletes. It was a recognised way out of poverty. Unfortunately few returned So, recently they have established a sports scholarship program at the Jamaican Technical University, but it is woofully underfunded, with poor facilities (grass track) but with some good coaches.

However the athletes they have produced has been exceptional and this has raised a few eyebrows as they seem to be doing better than the Jamaican athletes who are chosen (often as a fist pick) to still go to US universities. Also many are worried that the US university based athletes from the islands also seem to make huge performance gains when they return home for winter warm weather out of season training. In fact, significantly better than similar standard athletes who go to Mexico with their university program and stay under the auspices of the US drug monitoring system.

It's why WADA's recent 'targeted' drug testing system has been dogging the Jamaicans since their arrival in Beijing. But it' too late to catch sprinters who favour steroid use at the conditioning / strength training phase well before competition.

 

[Fab Foodie]

For those of us in our forties, it seems strange seeing a womens athletics sprint final without Merlene Ottey... always the bridesmaid never the bride.

 

[Mr Pig]

Swingball?

If it's not an Olympic sport it should be. I'll bet there are more people play Swingball than half of the daft sports that 'are' in the Olympic games?

 

[MessenJah]

Onion chopping should be an olympic sport for sure.

 

[lifeson]

Onion chopping should be an olympic sport for sure.

Paula Radcliffe and Matthew Pinsent could represent GB

 

[Disgruntled Goat]

If the inference is that they 'might be on something' the same could easily be said of GB Cycling. GB win nothing for decades then 'all of a sudden' wipe the floor with the rest of the world. But of course there are no drugs involved - just talent and a good set-up. Like they have in Jamacia.

British athletics (the organisation) should really be hanging their heads in shame.

 

[Melvil]

OMG - Usain Bolt has got the 200m world record TOO! Amazing.