seets@carib-link.net

MUST BE VOODOO

I heard that a member of the US women 4 x 100 metres relay team claimed it must be voodoo that caused both US relay teams to drop their baton at the end the same leg of the qualifying round of their event.

It may have been a statement made in frustration in a sense of bewilderment that the US has lost out in all the premier athletic events at the Beijing Olympics, which has been dominated by the English-speaking Caribbean.

Implicit in it, however, is a suggestion that there must be some hanky-panky for this dominance, and since there is no evidence of steroid use, it must be black magic.

The statement is reminiscent of the comments by US sports analysts in respect of accomplishments of the Kenyan distance runners in all major road races in the last 15 years or so.

It must be their diet; the altitude that they trained at, or the long distances they ran.

Ten years ago, when the Chinese women were setting records in the 5k and such distances, it was speculated that it was because of some kind of turtle blood that they drank or a worm that they ate.

It is evident that as first world as the United States is, they simply are unable to accept the fact that another country may have athletes that just might be better than theirs.

Such athletes might be more talented, more dedicated, and might simply work harder.

Any comments by disappointed US athletes cannot, therefore, be given any credence, since it is clear that serious sour grapes exist.

Further, that country is still reeling from the revelations that in recent Olympics their athletes in premier events were using steroids.

After decades of pointing fingers at many other countries (especially Eastern European countries), accusing them of using steroids, the US has to be at least seriously embarrassed by the adverse findings about their athletes in recent times, culminating in the Marion Jones fiasco.

That embarrassment would have been accentuated at these Olympics. The Chinese publicly announced that they were going all out to ensure it was drug-free, and demonstrated that the past several months by doing out-of-season testing.

It would be a bold or foolish competitor who would risk steroid enhancement at this time.

That being so, it is a matter of record that this has been the worst Olympics for US athletes, and everyone knows athletics are the premier events in the Olympics.

The US lost both the men and women’s 100 metres event, and could only come out with one bronze of the combined medals. They lost out on all the women’s 200 metres medals and managed a silver in the men’s (because another Caribbean athlete was disqualified for running out of lane).

Neither their men nor women qualified for the 100 metres relay.

In the distance events, things were little better: nothing in the women’s marathon; 10k or 5k. Nor in the men’s 10k. In fact, the only thing I recall them winning of substance is the 4 x 400 metres relay and the decathlon.

In contrast, the English-speaking Caribbean, with six million people, has scored in all the premier sprint events with at least 15 medals at last count: Jamaica with six gold and between Jamaica and T&T, five silver.

Included in the Jamaican gold wins were three world records.

In the long distance events, the relatively small countries of Ethiopia and Kenya have dominated.

How is it that the Caribbean has done so much better in these Olympics than they ever had before? An explanation is offered by Jamaican (female) sprinter Kerron Stewart, to the effect that the Caribbean is coming around, now that “it seems like the playing field is level.”

She continued to say that as long as “it is level and everybody is running on the same playing field,” they could continue to do what they did best.

It is not difficult to read between the lines: as long as no other country has an unfair advantage by steroid use, the Caribbean would continue to do well.

This brings us back to the original question—What do the Jamaicans have that contribute to their phenomenal success in athletics? Apart, of course, from the phenom, Usain Bolt?

Natural talent might be the answer, but no one can doubt that T&T sprinters do have talent as well. A combination of genes and culture might determine who would excel at a given sport (or occupation or vocation), but what will take someone to the next level?

I read some Jamaicans attribute their team's success to diet and their keen track and field competition. I am not too sure of the latter, because I dare say countries such as the US or Britain can claim that as well.

An answer to the question might be gleaned from considering what were identified as key elements in the Ethiopian and Kenyan training: Diet and single-minded devotion to the sport.

Few distractions are permitted, and everything is focussed on the training. These, too, appear to be elements of the athletic tradition in Jamaica.

The world can learn from the Jamaican, Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes.