Medals in Bunches

There was a time not long ago when Jamaicans would be happy if their athletes returned from a major athletics meet with a medal or two. If we got four or five, we’d be beside ourselves with great pride and joy. Throw in a gold medal and we’d be over the moon.

Since the world championships began in 1983 and before the Berlin championships this past August, Jamaica had won 67 medals including seven gold medals. In eight days in Berlin we doubled our gold medal count, from seven to 14, just like that.

In fact, these past two years Beijing and now Berlin – Jamaica has won 13 gold medals at global competitions. Is there anyway we can go back to the past now?

Well, from the looks of things not any time soon. If our current crop of athletes remain healthy, Jamaica should be able to secure bunches of gold medals for at least the next five to seven years. The greatest sprinter in history Usain Bolt is only 23. If he can remain healthy and motivated and continues to run the short sprints, Bolt could secure three more gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in India next year October, at the World Championships in Daegu in 2011 and at the Olympics in London in 2012. That’s a possible nine gold medals over the next three years!

That would give him 15 gold medals overall.

Also, it could go on for another three years after that. Bolt will be 27 after the Olympics in London. He will be in his prime. That sets him up perfectly for another three world championships – 2013, 2015 and 2017, the Commonwealth Games in 2014, and one more Olympics in 2016. All things being equal Bolt could end his career with an astonishing 30 gold medals, with 24 from major championships.

Of course, for the relays he would need a supporting cast. No problem there. Yohan Blake, Dexter Lee, Lerone Clarke, Nesta Carter, Steve Mullings and, of course, if Jahzeel Murphy comes through, Jamaica will have more than its fair share of elite male sprinters in the near future ready to follow Bolt’s lead. And let’s not forget, Asafa Powell has maybe another four or five good years left in him.

On the women’s side, Shelly Ann Fraser, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson are all young and fast, very fast. These three women are among the fastest who have ever lived and could very well dominate in the years to come. Veterans like Veronica Campbell-Brown should also continue her battles with Alyson Felix for at least another four years, and of course, there are several promising young guns on the horizon.

These would include athletes like Simone Facey, Aneisha McClaughlin, Kaleise Spencer, Jura Levy, and the Tracey sisters.

The long and short of it is that Jamaica’s chances of continuing to win gold medals at future championships are pretty good right now.

We just need to find a few more coaches other than Glen Mills and Stephen Francis who can hone the available talent and turn them into world beaters.

Tags: Leighton Levy