Jamaicas cheating on track
- Thread starter dang-str8
- Start date
LongestHorn
2,500+ Posts
LOL
Stuck_At_Work
1,000+ Posts
I won't go that far...
But I will admit, what Bolt did in the 100 and what the women did by sweeping the 100 is a bit absurd.
I realize Jamaica is known for speed... but really... that was nuts.
Given the size of that island, it is just amazing that they can produce that much speed.
But I will admit, what Bolt did in the 100 and what the women did by sweeping the 100 is a bit absurd.
I realize Jamaica is known for speed... but really... that was nuts.
Given the size of that island, it is just amazing that they can produce that much speed.
TexonLongIsland
2,500+ Posts
I thought the herb slowed you down?
Asafa looked like he'd been hitting it though
Asafa looked like he'd been hitting it though
George Best
25+ Posts
Jimmy the Greek, holla!
It's all in the genes: New theory suggests Jamaican runners are born to Bolt like Usain
By Neil Wilson Last updated at 5:51 PM on 06th August 2008
What is the secret behind the astonishing success of Jamaican born sprinters?
How can an island with a population smaller than Wales have produced three Olympic 100m champions? If we are to believe the world's fastest man, the clue is in their training.
'I don't think there is a secret - we train very hard,' said Usain Bolt, challenging for a 100m and 200m sprint double in Beijing.
That may be so, but it is not the whole story. For new research suggests it is all in the genes. If only Ben Johnson had known he was born with an advantage over his rivals, he need never have taken a steroid to fuel him at the Olympic Games in Seoul.
Usain Bolt
Nature or nurture? Bolt says he trains hard but research claims he has a built-in edge
The same might be said of 32-year-old sprinter Julien Dunkley, who it was revealed yesterday tested positive for a banned substance at Jamaica's national championships in late June and will not now be a relay team-mate of Bolt in Beijing.
The genes theory comes from a Jamaican professor who believes nature as much as nurture is responsible for his countrymen running off with more than their fair share of sprinting spoils.
Professor Errol Morrison, president of the University of Technology (Utec) in Kingston, has been involved in research conducted jointly by the University of West Indies and Glasgow University into athletes of West African origin - from where Jamaicans came originally.
Tests have been conducted on athletes at Utec and at MVP Track Club, which boasts Asafa Powell, Bolt's predecessor as world record holder, and Sherone Simpson, Jamaica's No 1 woman at 100m, as members. Before his death last November, they also tested Herb McKenley, a world record holder and winner of Olympic silver medals at 100 and 400m, and another Olympic silver medallist Grace Jackson.
What they have found - and Morrison emphasises the findings are preliminary - is that fast men have a special component called Actinen A in their fast-twitch muscles, which determine whether humans are sprinters or plodders. It is found in 70 per cent of Jamaicans. In a control study of Australians, only 30 per cent were found with it.
It would seem to explain why Jamaicans punch above their weight among sprinters. Jamaican-born Donovan Bailey for Canada, and Jamaican-born Linford Christie for Britain, both won the Olympic 100m.
So did Johnson - before it was stripped from him. Jamaican legend Don Quarrie won the 200 in 1976 and Veronica Campbell in 2004. Arthur Wint (1948) and George Rhoden (1952) both won Olympic 400m and a whole host of Jamaicans have picked up other sprint medals. Yet the country has a population of less than 2,800,000.
Morrison calls early results exciting. In his article, he says: 'The question is always there. What is it, nature or nurture that makes us so good? The answer seems to be a strong underlying genetic or natural predisposition as to why we are able to perform like this.'
Bolt, in an odd way, confirmed it. He has always been fast, breaking the world junior record at 200m when he was 17. Yet he said: 'I was lazy but not any more.'
Mind you, Bolt seemed a confused young man and not the swiftest of foot or mind. He arrived 45 minutes late for his first appearance in Beijing in the bizarre setting of a jazz club to sit alongside Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini in front of a drum-set under which dry-ice smoke pumped occasionally.
Nutini was at least certain of the reason he was there - to play at Jamaica's National Day celebrations today. He wrote a song New Shoes three years ago which has been picked up by Bolt's shoe sponsors. Bolt seemed unsure of his reasons.
'I am only 80 per cent sure I will be doubling (at 100m and 200m),' he said, causing a storm of fresh interest because three days ago his British manager Ricky Simms and Jamaican coach Glen Mills had announced that he would be. 'My coach hasn't exactly told me. I'm guessing,' he said.
Told of his manager and coach's comments, he added: 'I thought it was 80 per cent but I guess it's 100 per cent. If he said it, he didn't communicate it to me.
'This is the first time there has been a miscommunication between us. I hope it doesn't happen again.'
He knows now. It was confirmed later that he would run both and the relay, a possible seven races.
It would be as great a surprise if he does not win the 200 as it would be if one of the two Jamaicans does not win the 100. After all, we can be fairly certain now that it is written in the genes.
The Link
It's all in the genes: New theory suggests Jamaican runners are born to Bolt like Usain
By Neil Wilson Last updated at 5:51 PM on 06th August 2008
What is the secret behind the astonishing success of Jamaican born sprinters?
How can an island with a population smaller than Wales have produced three Olympic 100m champions? If we are to believe the world's fastest man, the clue is in their training.
'I don't think there is a secret - we train very hard,' said Usain Bolt, challenging for a 100m and 200m sprint double in Beijing.
That may be so, but it is not the whole story. For new research suggests it is all in the genes. If only Ben Johnson had known he was born with an advantage over his rivals, he need never have taken a steroid to fuel him at the Olympic Games in Seoul.
Usain Bolt
Nature or nurture? Bolt says he trains hard but research claims he has a built-in edge
The same might be said of 32-year-old sprinter Julien Dunkley, who it was revealed yesterday tested positive for a banned substance at Jamaica's national championships in late June and will not now be a relay team-mate of Bolt in Beijing.
The genes theory comes from a Jamaican professor who believes nature as much as nurture is responsible for his countrymen running off with more than their fair share of sprinting spoils.
Professor Errol Morrison, president of the University of Technology (Utec) in Kingston, has been involved in research conducted jointly by the University of West Indies and Glasgow University into athletes of West African origin - from where Jamaicans came originally.
Tests have been conducted on athletes at Utec and at MVP Track Club, which boasts Asafa Powell, Bolt's predecessor as world record holder, and Sherone Simpson, Jamaica's No 1 woman at 100m, as members. Before his death last November, they also tested Herb McKenley, a world record holder and winner of Olympic silver medals at 100 and 400m, and another Olympic silver medallist Grace Jackson.
What they have found - and Morrison emphasises the findings are preliminary - is that fast men have a special component called Actinen A in their fast-twitch muscles, which determine whether humans are sprinters or plodders. It is found in 70 per cent of Jamaicans. In a control study of Australians, only 30 per cent were found with it.
It would seem to explain why Jamaicans punch above their weight among sprinters. Jamaican-born Donovan Bailey for Canada, and Jamaican-born Linford Christie for Britain, both won the Olympic 100m.
So did Johnson - before it was stripped from him. Jamaican legend Don Quarrie won the 200 in 1976 and Veronica Campbell in 2004. Arthur Wint (1948) and George Rhoden (1952) both won Olympic 400m and a whole host of Jamaicans have picked up other sprint medals. Yet the country has a population of less than 2,800,000.
Morrison calls early results exciting. In his article, he says: 'The question is always there. What is it, nature or nurture that makes us so good? The answer seems to be a strong underlying genetic or natural predisposition as to why we are able to perform like this.'
Bolt, in an odd way, confirmed it. He has always been fast, breaking the world junior record at 200m when he was 17. Yet he said: 'I was lazy but not any more.'
Mind you, Bolt seemed a confused young man and not the swiftest of foot or mind. He arrived 45 minutes late for his first appearance in Beijing in the bizarre setting of a jazz club to sit alongside Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini in front of a drum-set under which dry-ice smoke pumped occasionally.
Nutini was at least certain of the reason he was there - to play at Jamaica's National Day celebrations today. He wrote a song New Shoes three years ago which has been picked up by Bolt's shoe sponsors. Bolt seemed unsure of his reasons.
'I am only 80 per cent sure I will be doubling (at 100m and 200m),' he said, causing a storm of fresh interest because three days ago his British manager Ricky Simms and Jamaican coach Glen Mills had announced that he would be. 'My coach hasn't exactly told me. I'm guessing,' he said.
Told of his manager and coach's comments, he added: 'I thought it was 80 per cent but I guess it's 100 per cent. If he said it, he didn't communicate it to me.
'This is the first time there has been a miscommunication between us. I hope it doesn't happen again.'
He knows now. It was confirmed later that he would run both and the relay, a possible seven races.
It would be as great a surprise if he does not win the 200 as it would be if one of the two Jamaicans does not win the 100. After all, we can be fairly certain now that it is written in the genes.
The Link
I might agree if Jamaica came out of nowhere to win sprints, but they have very strong in the sprints for a very long time. Unfortunately, with all the doping scandals over the past few years, it appears it was the Americans that needed that little extra to keep up with the Jamaicans.
BadgerinATX
250+ Posts
[pun]Actually, I'd say China's cheating is really on track. [/pun]
CleverNickname
500+ Posts
I blame the yams.
Michael Frater, Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Sherone Simpson, and 6 other atheletes all train under Stephen Francis.
Bolt trains with Glen Mills. He was offered track scholarships to American universities a while ago but turned them down to stay in Jamaica.
Kerron Stewart trains with Henry Rolle at Auburn.
Bolt trains with Glen Mills. He was offered track scholarships to American universities a while ago but turned them down to stay in Jamaica.
Kerron Stewart trains with Henry Rolle at Auburn.
LongestHorn
2,500+ Posts
What if the Jamaican Olympic track star is also a Texas Longhorn track star?
Get back to me on that WHEN Melaine Walker wins the Gold in the 400m hurdles.
Get back to me on that WHEN Melaine Walker wins the Gold in the 400m hurdles.
O
Oilfield
Guest
What is is about the Carribean and/or Gulf of Mexico. This seems to be the common denominator of the world's best sprinters. They're from Jamaica, USA, Trinidad & Tobaggo, Netherlands Antilles, UT, LSU, Florida State, Auburn....
nych 1
250+ Posts
Why are the Jamaican men not dominate in the 400 meter? No Jamaican runner made it to the 400m final. Jamaica has a decent history in the 400m, but most of that history was in the late 40, early 50s (Arthur Wint, Herb Mckenley, and George Rhoden).
Not that he would, but could Bolt with his long stride (and improved curve running) become world class in the 400m?
Not that he would, but could Bolt with his long stride (and improved curve running) become world class in the 400m?
accuratehorn
10,000+ Posts
The 400 meters is getting into some distance work. You have to cut down on the ganja to train for that event.
Bolt was solely 200m runner up until a year ago (or so). His coach wanted him to add the 400m to his plate, but Bolt didn't want to work that hard. Too much distance running. He prefered to try the 100m. Not as much work.
Now... that boy is LAZY fast. I mean CRAZY fast/ Lazy fast...
The dude is fast.
And he's funny.
Now... that boy is LAZY fast. I mean CRAZY fast/ Lazy fast...
The dude is fast.
And he's funny.
FondrenRoad
1,000+ Posts
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