Yu see dat?
August 20, 2009
I still can’t believe what I saw. I can tell you what I feel though: A surge of national pride from watching Usain Bolt stride past a pack of very fast men to break a second world record this week.
200 metres in 19.19 seconds.
100 metres in 9.58 seconds.
What?!
A few weeks ago, London hosted an athletics grand prix. A gang of us packed up bully beef an’ hardough bread sandwiches, bun an’ cheese and rum punch and drove down there to see The Bolt. And we weren’t disappointed. Surrounded by a stands pumping out yellow and green, Jamaica’s national colours, we watched The Bolt cruise to an easy victory. That was amazing. Like mouth-hanging-open amazing, even from 500 yards away. He was dancing. We were dancing.
Fast forward a few weeks to Berlin and The Bolt is looking confident, his usual jovial self. And focused. Jamaica is at the top of the medal count in world athletics. Also today in Berlin, Melaine Walker made quick work of her hurdle final, leaving daylight behind her competitors. And yesterday, the 34-year old Bridget Foster-Jones finally got her gold medal. My likke island in the sun, man!
Celebrate this for a long time, folks. Big tings a gwan. I just called my mom and she was just bubbling with joy. I can’t stop smiling.
To all the Jamaican athletes, THANK YOU!
Bolt and Asafa Powell in yellow. Actually, Bolt towering over Powell, both in yellow.
Now squint and you can see the big man loose and relaxed, dancing.
And here was our opportunity to yell and scream as he made his victory lap.
August 24, 2009 at 5:36 pm
[...] Alas, it is neither small, desirable, politically stable nor visitor-friendly. Apparently. We will have to be content with producing excellent sprinters and entertaining Europe with our music… Don’t get mad at the EU! I figured this out all by myself. It’s a good thing Jamaicans [...]