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Here is an interesting 15 minute history lesson on Jamaican sprinting from the Olympic appearance of Herb McKenley in 1948 up to 2002 when this film was produced.
This video includes interviews from Jamaica’s Head Coach Dennis Johnson, and athletes Lennox Miller, Michael Blackwood, Ray Stewart, Donald Quarrie and more. None of these men won the individual 100 meters Olympic Gold medal, though Quarrie did win the 200m Gold in Montreal 1976.
On the women’s side, they cover Merlene Ottey and Deon Hemmings.
They even cover sprinters who were born in Jamaica that “won” the 100 meters: Ben Johnson ’88, Linford Christie ’92, and Donovan Bailey ’96.
At the end of the second video, you will see a very young 15 year old Usain Bolt easing up in a 200 meters race. Little did we know this would be a deja-vu 6 years later!
This was filmed in 2002, so Asafa Powell wasn’t even mentioned, although he was my favorite to win the 100 meter Gold in Athens 2004. He came 5th.
You all know what happened with Jamaica at Beijing 2008, unless you’ve been living in a cave.
UPDATE: Sorry, the video is no longer on YouTube.
Jimson Lee
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