Qatar sport COVERMG.indd - Qatar Olympic Committee

More documents

Recommendations

Info

THE BIG INTERVIEW But that alone was never going to be enough to keep broadcasters and sponsors happy or to enthral a new generation of fans to keep the flame of track and field alive. That lack of superstars was compounded by the issue of doping which had tarnished many a reputation in athletics and created a level of public scepticism over every outstanding performance and performer. But then came Bolt, the boy from Trelawny, Jamaica who could turn his hand to almost any sport but had a unique physique and talent for the track. Bolt is 6ft 5ins tall (1.98m), the same height as he was nine years ago as a 16-year-old, and the ability to harness that physique and its potential to the particular rigours and disciplines of sprinting have been the secret to his success. SUPERFAST His talent has made him one of the most recognisable sportsmen on the planet and he has single-handedly made track and field cool among youngsters. In many respects Bolt reinforces the Jamaican stereotype, but in a good way. Those who meet him say he is genuinely relaxed and passionate about athletics and a lot else. On one occasion in 2010 for example, during a day off in Paris, Bolt spent the afternoon playing a reggae DJ set in front of City Hall to several thousand people. As the fastest man who ever lived he has also become a hot commercial property. In 2010 he signed the biggest endorsement contract in history, worth a reported $32.5 million with Puma, a deal which was rationalised by the brand’s CEO and chairman John Zeitz who reckons Bolt is bigger than David Beckham. “He relates not just to the performance side but to the lifestyle side as well,” he said. In addition there are deals with Gatorade, watch brand Hublot, sporting surfaces manufacturer Repugol and mobile company Digicel. In the UK, Bolt’s reputation has been done no harm by appearing in a series of quirky, funny TV spots and online, press and outdoor media ads for new banking brand Virgin Media in which he appear as a spoof Sir Richard Branson, the company’s high profile and instantly recognisable founder. All of which is a long way from Bolt’s origins in Jamaica where his first medal was won in the 80 metres hurdles as a third year student in the Western Jamaica championships. The almost freakishly tall Bolt was a promising fast bowler but athletics held sway even though he is said to have disliked running the 400 metres which was one of his two main events in his early years. He was already considered one to watch when, in 2002, he won the 200 metres at the western Championships in 20.3 seconds before going on to book himself a berth at the CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Area) Games by winning both the 200 metres and 400 metres at the trials. The Games themselves were a momentous occasion for Bolt who won four golds. Later that year he provided further proof of his undeniable potential when ran 20.61 seconds to win the 200 metres in the World Junior Championships in front of an ecstatic home crowd in Kingston. Further success came at the 2004 CARIFTA Games in Bermuda when he broke the world junior 200 metres record in 19.93 seconds but progress was, for a while at least, slowed by a hamstring injury which re-occurred to keep him out of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. But by 2007 Bolt was well and truly back in the saddle. He had already beaten Don Quarrie’s 30-yearold the Jamaican 200m record before travelling to the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan to take silver in both the 200 metres and 4x100 metres relay. And then came 2008, the year in which he started to rewrite history. Bolt gave notice of what was to come in New York at “Few others have achieved his status. It’s not so much that he is a game changer, more that he is the man who saved his sport.” the end of May when, in only his fifth 100 metres race, he ran 9.72 seconds to take Tyson Gay’s world record. It was a remarkable achievement that set the scene for the Olympic Games in Beijing when Bolt seared himself into the consciousness of the watching world with a stupendous performance. He set another new world record in 9.89 seconds but clearly eased up in the final yards leaving fans wondering just how fast he could go if he powered through the finish. A year later the IAAF World Championships held in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium became an event absolutely defined by the brilliance of Bolt. He was on fire as the competition approached and in the 100 metres heats he recorded the fastest time ever set outside a final before focusing his attention on yet another world record. Those who were in the stadium on the night Bolt ran his word record 9.85 seconds 100 metres describe it as one of the most memorable in the history of sport. Here was the fastest man alive destroying all opposition to demonstrate just what the human body is capable of achieving. Some have described it as Bolt’s Bob Beamon moment, a perfect set of circumstances which resulted in a single, perhaps unrepeatable, moment of brilliance. But he wasn’t finished yet. His own world record in the 200 metres also tumbled as he took the line beating his chest in a time of 19.19 seconds. There was also what might be considered an almost 14 | Issue 17 | Qatar Sport
THE BIG INTERVIEW incidental gold medal in the 4x100 metres relay as the products of Jamaica’s famous sprint factory did the business once again. The success of his compatriots on the track is a happy side-affect of Bolt’s predominance, but not one he takes sole credit for. “The success of people like me, Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell has inspired the next generation,” he says. “We have great sprint talent, great sprint coaches and the athletes are very motivated in Jamaica.” EYES ON THE PRIZE Indeed, when people come to reflect on the legacy of Usain Bolt they will dwell not simply on his speed, personality and the way that he reignited the popularity of the track. They will also take note of the impact that his own performances have had in raising the bar for others. The pursuit of Bolt for several years has been more or less futile quest, but has seen the most marked improvement in the times of the world’s top 25 sprinters in the history of the sport. So what is next for a man who has the money, the fame and even the restaurant (Records and Tracks in Jamaica)? He is, of course, well and truly focused on London 2012 and there has been some discussion over running in the 4x400 metres relay in an attempt to reach a gold standard of four while post London he might be tempted to take the advice of Olympian Mike Powell and have a crack at long jump, just as another Olympic phenomenon, Carl Lewis, did so successfully. He has set himself a window through to the 2017 World Championships – also in London – to achieve whatever can be achieved on the track. “And then,” he says, “I will find something else to do.” Bolt is unlikely to be short of options so how about a career in football? In fact, would he swap all he’s achieved on the track for a career with his beloved Manchester United? “That’s an unfair question,” he replies. “I would like to have both but I have no regrets. My career has been great so far.” There’s clearly a lot more to come. Qatar Sport | Issue 17 | 15
Page 1 and 2: ISSUE 17 MAY 2012 $10 TRENDS SPORTS
Page 3 and 4: INSIDE 5 In Focus Sporting life thr
Page 5 and 6: 1 THE SPORTING WORLD THROUGH THE LE
Page 7 and 8: 5 Qatar Sport | Issue 17 | 7
Page 9 and 10: chest palpations) to look out for.
Page 11 and 12: FIT FOR LIFE SINK OR SWIM Top tips
Page 13: Qatar Sport | Issue 17 | 13
Page 17 and 18: COMING UP 19/5 UEFA Champions Leagu
Page 19 and 20: Program Planning & Evaluation The p
Page 21 and 22: SPORTS SHOES IF USAIN BOLT had want
Page 23 and 24: SPORTS SHOES said: “Back then, Pu
Page 25 and 26: Al Sadd win the AFC Champions Leagu
Page 27 and 28: HOW WILL THE NATIONAL SPORTS DAY CH
Page 29 and 30: Program Planning & Evaluation The p
Page 31 and 32: NATALIYA DOBRYNSKA The 14th IAAF Wo
Page 33 and 34: SCHOOL SPORT EVERYONE AGREES that s
Page 36: TRENDS GEARING UP FOR LONDON 2012 S

Qatar sport COVERMG.indd - Qatar Olympic Committee

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?