With a country at 14.5% unemployment, and an average annual income of $2700, you have to ask yourself why are Jamaicans so fast at running?
Below is an infographic, but they left out one statistic about Jamaica, and that is the country’s average homicide rate is nearly three per day. This is alarming for a small country! In fact, based on per capita of 100,000 people, Jamaica ranks 3rd for the highest homicide rates!
TOP TEN COUNTRIES FOR HOMICIDE, PER COUNTRY, PER 100,000
- Colombia 63
- South Africa 51
- Jamaica 32
- Venezuela 32
- Russia 19
- Mexico 13
- Lithuania 10
- Estonia 10
- Latvia 10
- Belarus 9
Source: Interpol, 2003 statistics
It was reported on the day of the 100 meter Final in Beijing, there were no murders in Jamaica from Timesonline.co.uk:
That is the effect that the Olympics had on Jamaica. Barbara Blake Hannah, a special consultant to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports, said: “Sports is one thing that holds Jamaica together. I heard that on the day of Bolt’s 100 metres, no one here was killed. Even murder took a holiday for him.”
Why are Jamaicans so Fast at Running?
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nice story, keep the side infofrmation coming.
Jamaica didn’t win “all 4 sprint titles” in 2008, because there are more than 4 sprint events and they only won one of those others. The 400m, 4×100, and 4×400 are all sprint events, and many consider both hurdle races to be sprint events, as well.
Here is an interesting snapshot from 2008 Beijing.
…oops, make that 2 of the others (m4x100 & w400h)
I predict the USA women will fare much better in London than in Beijing (regarding sprint-medal counts). The men, not so much.
Nice visualization, however there seems to be something wrong with one of the last pictures which compares the main contenders based on their personal bests. Based on that picture I read that Blake has better PB than Powell or Gatlin been faster than Thomson, but numbers in the brackets tell a different story.
“…Jamaica and Canada will tie for third place for taking the most gold medals in the men’s 100m…”
Remember, Donovan Bailey, Ben Johnson, and Linford Christie were all born in Jamaica…so in a sense, Jamaica is already ahead of Canada in the “born in” column.
Usain Bolt must have upped his endorsement earnings since 2009 if this information is correct. I think it is based on information by Forbes Magazine:
“#63 Usain Bolt
Total earnings: $20.3 million
Salary/winnings: $300,000
Endorsements: $20 million”
http://www.jayblessed.com/2012/06/20/usain-bolt-carmelo-anthony-tim-duncan-lewis-hamilton-on-forbes-100-highest-paid-athletes/
Have you ever considered publishing an ebook
or guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based upon
on the same information you discuss and would really like to have you
share some stories/information. I know my subscribers would value your
work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an email.
@Hugh, your email bounces back.
I’m getting tired of the “blacks are genetically predisposed to be good at _____ sport” trope. Not only is it usually followed by something that suggests that blacks are not genetically predisposed to intelligence (racist), but it also ignores the historical and cultural factors that contribute to why huge numbers of blacks are drawn to said sport–making it more likely that a person with a great talent will be discovered and nurtured. Usain Bolt is now considered the fastest man in the world NOT because them darkies are genetically predisposed to be good runners, but because Jamaica, as a nation, eats, sh*ts and sleeps track. Every kid (and most kids in Jamaica are black) wants to be a track star, therefore, the few kids with the talent for it are more likely to be discovered and nurtured. The same can be said for a few sports in the U.S. It doesn’t take great powers of discernment or a PhD in history to understand why little black kids turn to sports (the ones that are cheap and accessible, at least) as a means to success. In short, no, we’re actually not a different specie.