Libby Trickett says goodbye to swimming

Dual Olympian, world record holder and multiple world champion Libby Trickett has today announced that she will retire from competitive swimming with immediate effect.

One of Australia’s most decorated female swimmers of the modern era, the 24-year-old plans to spend more time with her family and look to pursue a career in the media with Network TEN and ONE.

According to Swimming Australia, speaking at today’s announcement, Trickett said it has been the most difficult decision of her life, but one she is now completely comfortable with.

“It’s something that I’ve been thinking about for almost a year now, and after much consideration and speaking with my family and close friends I know that I am ready to move on to the next stage of my life and career,” said Trickett.

“Swimming is such a great sport to be involved with and has been a huge part of my life for such a long time. Through swimming I’ve been able to travel the world doing something that I love and this great sport has provided me with so many fantastic memories and opportunities.”

“I would like to thank everyone for their fantastic support throughout my career, especially my family and coaches Stephan Widmer and Grant Stoelwinder.”

Swimming Australia President David Urquhart said Trickett’s contribution to the success and culture of the Telstra Dolphins Australian Swim Team has been outstanding since first joining the team some seven years ago.

“Libby was a member of the team from a young age, but always conducted herself with the utmost professionalism and respect for the sport,” said Urquhart.

“She has been a member of the leadership group for the last five years, and in that sense we hope she can stay involved with the sport at some level, to pass on her great knowledge and experience.”

“Her legacy and success at Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth level is a tribute to her hard work and commitment over a long period of time and while it’s disappointing she won’t be swimming for Australia again, her achievements and contribution will be well remembered.”

“All we ask of our swimmers is to work hard and give their best, and Libby is a great example of what happens when these two values come together.”

Trickett first joined the Australian team as 17-year-old Libby Lenton in 2002 for the Oceania Championships in Noumea.

A year later she won her first major international medal at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona in 2003 – taking bronze in the 50m butterfly – before going on to taste relay gold at the Athens Olympics in the 4x100m freestyle.

She won three gold medals at the 2005 World Championships in Montreal, four gold and one silver in Melbourne at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and then an incredible five gold medals at the 2007 World Championships again in Melbourne.

Her Olympic dream of individual gold was fulfilled in Beijing last year, winning the 100m butterfly in a commonwealth record time, before teaming up with Emily Seebohm, Leisel Jones and Jessicah Schipper to win gold in the 4x100m medley relay.

Bronze in the 100m butterfly and silver in the 4x100m medley at the World Championships in Rome this year, was the last time Trickett competed internationally, while the true champion that she is goes out at the very top of her game, setting a world record in the 100m freestyle at the Telstra Australian Short Course Championships in Hobart.

Trickett’s final swim – an incredible 51.01 seconds for the 100m freestyle – withstood a recent onslaught at the World Cup series and looks set to stand for many years to come.

Lisbeth Trickett (formerly Lisbeth Lenton)

Born: 28/01/1985 Townsville Queensland

Started Swimming: At age one

Physical: 167cm, 63kg

Clubs/Institutes: Commercial QLD/ QAS and SOPAC/NSWIS

Coaches: Stephan Widmer, Grant Stoelwinder

Main Events: 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly

Stats and Facts

Libby Trickett won six Olympics medals, including three gold from two Olympics – Athens and Beijing

She is the current world record holder for the 100m freestyle over the short course – setting a new world mark of 51.01 in what proved to be her last ever competitive swim at the Telstra Australian Short Course in Hobart in August

In 2007 she married Luke Trickett a former national medallist in the 200m breaststroke and clubmate from Commercial Queensland

Won five gold and two silver medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Has eight gold, three silver and four bronze medals from four FINA World Championships

Won the Telstra Swimmer of the Year award in 2007

Made her senior Australian debut in 2002 at the Oceania Championships

IOC approves new events for London 2012: tennis mixed doubles and more track cycling events

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today approved the inclusion of a mixed doubles tennis event as well as several changes to the track cycling programme of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The requested changes came from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the International Cycling Union (UCI) as part of the IOC’s systematic review of the Olympic programme. The changes reflect the IOC’s desire to continually refresh the programme, as well as its commitment to increase women’s participation.

The inclusion of the tennis mixed doubles event will not increase the current number of athletes and will bring an added value to the Olympic programme by providing another opportunity for men and women to compete together on the same field of play.

The changes to the track cycling programme see the number of women’s events increase from three in Beijing in 2008 to five in London, with the total number of track cycling events now at five each for men and women. There were seven men’s events and three women’s events in Beijing.

The EB agreed to this modification as the UCI has adjusted its track cycling programme to remain within its current number of events and athletes.

These changes in the track cycling programme bring the number of women cyclists at the Games to 84, up from 35 in Beijing. Women will now make up 45% of the total number of track cyclists at the Games (compared to 19% in Beijing).

Both men and women will now compete in the sprint, team sprint, keirin, team pursuit, and omnium events. To make room for the increased participation of women and the inclusion of the new event, omnium, the men’s and women’s individual pursuit, men’s and women’s points race and men’s Madison events will no longer be part of the Olympic programme.

Omnium, a track cycling competition that is part of the UCI’s World Championships, can be compared to the decathlon in athletics, with six competitions, including individual pursuit and a points race.

The IOC received requests from 17 International Sports Federations for modifications to events, quotas and competition formats for the Olympic Games in London in 2012 by the deadline of October 2008.

The IOC Olympic Programme Commission analysed all of the requests based on established criteria, and submitted its findings to the Executive Board. The key positive factors included whether the changes would increase universality, gender equity and youth appeal, and, in general, add value to the Games. Other considerations included the cost of infrastructure, and the impact on the overall quota and the number of events.

All modifications to events, quotas or competition format for the Olympic Games in London 2012 are provisional, and will be reviewed for the programme of the 2016 Olympic Games after the Games in London.

Simply Roger Federer

On Tuesday, 24 November, Roger Federer was guaranteed to finish the 2009 calendar year ranked No. 1 in the world after beating Andy Murray at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

This is the fifth time Federer has finished leading the world rankings. Pete Sampras holds the record in this respect, having wrapped up six year end No. 1 rankings (1993-1998).

Federer now joins Ivan Lendl as the only players to have held, lost and regained the year end no. 1 position since the current ATP rankings were introduced in 1973.

Year end No. 1 ATP rankings by individual

# Name Nation Year(s)

6 Pete Sampras USA 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

5 Jimmy Connors USA 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978

5 Roger Federer SUI 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009

4 John McEnroe USA 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984

4 Ivan Lendl TCH 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989

2 Björn Borg SWE 1979, 1980

2 Stefan Edberg SWE 1990, 1991

2 Lleyton Hewitt AUS 2001, 2002

1 Ilie Nastase ROU 1973

1 Mats Wilander SWE 1988

1 Jim Courier USA 1992

1 Andre Agassi USA 1999

1 Gustavo Kuerten BRA 2000

1 Andy Roddick USA 2003

1 Rafael Nadal ESP 2008

37

Taeke Taekema shouted 42 times

On Saturday, 28 November, Taeke Taekema broke the all-time Champions Trophy record for most goals scored by netting his 41st and 42nd goal in the history of the competition in the Netherlands 3-2 win over Spain at the 2009 Hockey Champions Trophy. The Dutch penalty corner specialist has now broken Sohail Abbas’ total of 40 Champions Trophy goals set between 1998 and 2006.

Taekema’s 42 goals are made up of 39 penalty corner goals and three penalty stroke goals. Abbas has scored 36 penalty corners and four penalty strokes.

Top 3 all-time Champions Trophy top scorers

Goals Player Nation

42 Taeke Taekema Netherlands

40 Sohail Abbas Pakistan

36 Teun de Nooijer Netherlands

Taekema vs Abbas in Champions Trophy competition

Taeke Taekema vs Sohail Abbas

Netherlands Team Pakistan

51 Matches 42

2000-2009 Years 1998-2006

42 Goals 40

0 FG 0

39 PC 36

3 PS 4

Taeke Taekema Champions Trophy goals

Edition PC PS Total goals

2009 2 2

2007 6 1 7

2006 8 8

2005 4 4

2004 6 6

2003 4 4

2002 6 1 7

2001 2 1 3

2000 1 1

Total 39 3 42

Sohail Abbas Champions Trophy goals

Edition PC PS Total goals

2006 5 1 6

2004 5 1 6

2003 9 9

2002 3 3

2001 7 1 8

1999 4 4

1998 3 1 4

Total 36 4 40

Andre Agassi and hard drugs: I lied to escape a ban

Andre Agassi makes the sensational confession today that he lied to the tennis authorities to escape a ban for taking hard drugs.

The American, one of the finest players to grace the game, tested positive for the highly addictive drug, crystal methamphetamine, and then duped the Association of Tennis Professionals into believing he had taken it by accident.

The admissions come in a soul-searching autobiography that is being serialised exclusively today and tomorrow in The Times.

The 1992 Wimbledon champion, the winner of eight grand-slam titles, also says that he has always secretly hated playing tennis and lived in fear of his bad-tempered and violent father.

Agassi, now 39, relates how he took crystal meth — possession of which carries a maximum five-year jail sentence in the US — in 1997, when his form was falling and he was having doubts about his impending marriage to the actress, Brooke Shields.

Had the positive drugs test become public, the repercussions for Agassi could have been catastrophic. It remains to be seen whether repercussions will follow his confession.

In his book, Agassi recounts sitting at home with his assistant, referred to only as Slim, and being introduced to the drug. “Slim is stressed too ... He says, You want to get high with me? On what? Gack. What the hell’s gack? Crystal meth. Why do they call it gack? Because that’s the sound you make when you’re high ... Make you feel like Superman, dude.

“As if they’re coming out of someone else’s mouth, I hear these words: You know what? F*** it. Yeah. Let’s get high.

“Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table. He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some. I ease back on the couch and consider the Rubicon I’ve just crossed.

“There is a moment of regret, followed by vast sadness. Then comes a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. I’ve never felt so alive, so hopeful — and I’ve never felt such energy.

“I’m seized by a desperate desire to clean. I go tearing around my house, cleaning it from top to bottom. I dust the furniture. I scour the tub. I make the beds.”

In the autumn of a year in which he pulled out of the French Open and did not bother to practise for Wimbledon, Agassi is walking through New York’s LaGuardia airport when he gets a phone call from a doctor working with the ATP.

“There is doom in his voice, as if he’s going to tell me I’m dying,” Agassi writes. “And that’s exactly what he tells me.”

Agassi learns that he has failed a drugs test. “He reminds me that tennis has three classes of drug violation,” Agassi writes. “Performance-enhancing drugs ... would constitute a Class 1, he says, which would carry a suspension of two years. However, he adds, crystal meth would seem to be a clear case of Class 2. Recreational drugs.” That would mean a three-month suspension.

“My name, my career, everything is now on the line. Whatever I’ve achieved, whatever I’ve worked for, might soon mean nothing. Days later I sit in a hard-backed chair, a legal pad in my lap, and write a letter to the ATP. It’s filled with lies interwoven with bits of truth.

“I say Slim, whom I’ve since fired, is a known drug user, and that he often spikes his sodas with meth — which is true. Then I come to the central lie of the letter. I say that recently I drank accidentally from one of Slim’s spiked sodas, unwittingly ingesting his drugs. I ask for understanding and leniency and hastily sign it: Sincerely.

“I feel ashamed, of course. I promise myself that this lie is the end of it.” The ATP reviewed the case — and threw it out.

Neil Harman, Tennis Correspondent via Times

Usain Bolt: he also plays cricket ! -At least for a day-

Golf and rugby are Olympic sports since Rio 2016

Golf and Rugby 7’s will be played at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics after receiving strong support from the IOC members in Copenhagen.

The IOC members voted 63 to 27 to accept golf and a resounding 81 to 8 in favour of rugby.

Golf and Rugby 7’s had been recommended by the IOC Executive Board after seven sports had vied for the honour including squash, karate, softball, baseball and roller sports.

Golf and Rugby attempted to re-join the Olympic program at the 2005 IOC Session in Singapore but failed.

Following that disappointment they included female athletes in their pitch…. a winning move.

Golf was previously an Olympic sport in 1904 for men only. In Rio 60 men and 60 women will play a 72-hole stroke tournament.

Golf stars Padraig Harrington, Michelle Wie and Suzann Petterson pitched their sport to the IOC members today. Tiger Woods sent a video message from the Presidents Cup in San Francisco.

Rugby was last played in the 15-man format at the Olympics in 1924 when the USA won the gold medal. Australia won the Olympic Rugby tournament back in 1908.

The Australian women’s team is the reigning Rugby 7’s world champion and would be considered a definite medal chance in Rio.

The Australian captain Cheryl Soon, was up on the stage today along with Agustín Pichot, former captain of the Argentina Rugby Sevens team, Humphrey Kayange, captain of the Kenya Sevens team, Anastassiya Khamova, one of Kazakhstan’s top female players and New Zealand great Jonah Lomu.

For 2016 the International Rugby Board proposed 12 men's teams and 12 women's teams, with 12 athletes on each team.

The IOC member for Rio told the delegates his country had the facilities to stage both sports in 2016.

Canadian Dick Pound argued that the process of recommending only two sports to the IOC members was a matter of “take it or leave it”. Clearly upset with that decision he said “it is a mistake and not fair to the other five sports”.

However when the votes were cast both sports had the overwhelming backing of the IOC members.

Mike Tancred – Australian Olympic Committee
Copenhagen

76th Cycling World Championship Road Race to be held

On Sunday, 27 September, the 76th edition of the Cycling World Championship Road Race will be held in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

Italy has won the last three editions: Paolo Bettini (2006 and 2007) and Alessandro Ballan (2008).

According to Infostrada Sports, Italy can become the first country ever to win the World Championship Road Race four times in a row.

Italy (1930-1932 and 2006-2008) and Belgium (1948-1950 and 1955-1957) are the only two countries to have won the world title in three consecutive editions.

Most successive wins by country – Men’s World Cycling Championship Road Race

# Country Years

3 Italy 2006 (Paolo Bettini), 2007 (Paolo Bettini), 2008 (Alessandro Ballan)

3 Italy 1930 (Alfredo Binda), 1931 (Learco Guerra), 1932 (Alfredo Binda)

3 Belgium 1948 (Briek Schotte), 1949 (Rik Van Steenbergen), 1950 (Briek Schotte)

3 Belgium 1955 (Stan Ockers), 1956 (Rik Van Steenbergen), 1957 (Rik Van Steenbergen)

2 Belgium 1928 (Georges Ronsse), 1929 (Georges Ronsse)

2 Belgium 1937 (Eloï Meulenberg), 1938 (Marcel King)

2 Belgium 1960 (Rik Van Looy), 1961 (Rik Van Looy)

2 Belgium 1970 (Jean-Pierre Monseré), 1971 (Eddy Merckx)

2 Italy 1972 (Marino Basso), 1973 (Felice Gimondi)

2 Netherlands 1978 (Gerrie Knetemann), 1979 (Jan Raas)

2 Italy 1991 (Gianni Bugno), 1992 (Gianni Bugno)

2 Spain 2003 (Igor Astarloa), 2004 (Óscar Freire)

Clijsters imited Serena and Chris O’Neil

On Sunday, 13 September, Kim Clijsters beat Caroline Wozniacki in the 2009 US Open final. Clijsters became the 11th unseeded player to win a Grand Slam in Open Era. According to Infostrada Sports, Serena Williams (Australian Open 2007) and Chris O’Neil (Australian Open 1978) are the only other female players to do so.

Unseeded players winning Grand Slam titles – Singles in Open Era

Edition Champion Country Gender Tournament

2009 Kim Clijsters BEL W US Open

2007 Serena Williams USA W Australian Open

2004 Gastón Gaudio ARG M Roland Garros

2001 Goran Ivaniševic CRO M Wimbledon

1997 Gustavo Kuerten BRA M Roland Garros

1996 Richard Krajicek NED M Wimbledon

1994 Andre Agassi USA M US Open

1985 Boris Becker FRG M Wimbledon

1982 Mats Wilander SWE M Roland Garros

1978 Chris O'Neil AUS W Australian Open

1974 Jimmy Connors USA M Australian Open

Mum Kim Clijsters goes for more and more history

If Kim Clijsters defeats Serena Williams in the semifinals of the US Open women’s singles she will set the best performance by a wildcard player in women’s Grand Slam history in Open Era.

According to Infostrada Sports, by reaching the final four, Clijsters already equalled Zheng Jie’s record. The Chinese tennis player reached the 2008 Wimbledon semifinals on a wildcard.

Clijsters has already outperformed the previous best wildcards at the US Open: Martina Hingis (2002), Serena Williams (2006) and Séverine Brémond (2008).

Best Wild Card result in Grand Slam - Women’s Singles Open Era
Round Name Nation Tournament Year

Semifinals Kim Clijsters BEL US Open 2009
Semifinals Zheng Jie CHN Wimbledon 2008
Quarterfinals Mary Pierce FRA Roland Garros 2002
Quarterfinals Martina Hingis SUI Australian Open 2006
Quarterfinals Jelena Dokic AUS Australian Open 2009
Round 4 Zina Garrison USA Wimbledon 1982
Round 4 Alexia Dechaume-Balleret FRA Roland Garros 1994
Round 4 Sam Smith GBR Wimbledon 1998
Round 4 Martina Hingis SUI US Open 2002
Round 4 Maria Sharapova RUS Wimbledon 2003
Round 4 Tatiana Golovin FRA Australian Open 2004
Round 4 Agnieszka Radwanska POL Wimbledon 2006
Round 4 Serena Williams USA US Open 2006
Round 4 Séverine Brémond FRA US Open 2008

Santoro retirement: Goodbye Fabrice!

Yesterday Fabrice Santoro was eliminated in the first round of his 69th and last career Men’s Singles Grand Slam appearance, an Open era record. The Frenchman leads that list ahead of Andre Agassi (61), Jimmy Connors (58) and Jonas Björkman (58). Santoro is set to retire at the end of the 2009 season.

He made his Grand Slam debut in the 1989 French Open, where he lost to David Wheaton in the first round. According to Infostrada Sports, Santoro’s best Men’s Singles Grand Slam result is reaching the quarterfinals, which he did once, at the 2006 Australian Open.

Most Grand Slam Men’s Singles participations in Open era

69 Fabrice Santoro FRA
61 Andre Agassi USA
58 Jimmy Connors USA
58 Jonas Björkman SWE
57 Ivan Lendl TCH/USA
57 Michael Chang USA
57 Wayne Ferreira RSA
55 Mark Woodforde AUS
54 Stefan Edberg SWE
54 Vince Spadea USA

Take a look at what he is / was able to do

Usain Bolt: “I can run faster in 100, 200 meters”

Fresh from setting a pair of world records, Usain Bolt is ready to go faster.

The Jamaican sprinter, who took part in a ceremonial kickoff celebrating the start of the Spanish league at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium this weekend, said he can improve on his record times of 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters and 19.19 in the 200.

"I think I can go faster, but I leave that up to my coach," Bolt said Sunday. "We analyze each race. We try to go through the season without risking getting injured. We see what we can do to go further and achieve great things in sport."

Bolt was in the Spanish capital on Saturday to attend Real Madrid's opening match of the season. He said he has become a fan of the team since striker Ruud van Nistelrooy moved there three years ago.

"Manchester United was my favorite team when I started to watch football because he was there," said Bolt, calling the Dutchman his favorite player. "I became a Real Madrid fan because I follow Ruud van Nistelrooy wherever he goes."

Bolt said he felt nervous in front of 80,000 fans just before the season's opening match against Deportivo La Coruna, which Madrid won 3-2. He said the experience was "priceless."

While at the Bernabeu, the sprinter met Madrid great Alfredo di Stefano, whom he shook hands with and greeted in Spanish as "Mister Campeon" — Mr. Champion.

"I remember I saw Cristiano Ronaldo's presentation and thought it was amazing. It was the same for me yesterday," Bolt said. "It was overwhelming, but I enjoyed it very much. It was beautiful."

Bolt said he gave Ronaldo some advice on how to run faster when he first met him two years ago.

"Normally, when he gets up speed he leans his body forward," Bolt said of the former Manchester United winger. "I told him what to do to run longer and go faster."

However, the sprinter said he felt he could still outrun Ronaldo over 100 meters — even while running with a ball at his feet.

"Definitely, I think I can do that," Bolt said. "I don't think Cristiano can beat me. I'm the fastest man in the world, so I can do that."

Bolt, who is expected to travel to London on Monday, was set to watch a bullfight in the Madrid suburb of San Sebastián de los Reyes.

AP

Vuelta a España in Netherlands!

On Saturday, the 64th edition of the Vuelta a España will start in Assen, the Netherlands.

The only other Vuelta edition which started outside of Spain was 12 years ago in 1997 in Portugal. Assen hosts the sixth Dutch start in any of the three major tours, more than any other country.

According to Infostrada Sports, the last time the Netherlands hosted a major tour was seven years ago when the Giro d’Italia started in Groningen. Both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France will start in 2010 in the Netherlands as well, respectively in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Major tour starts – Foreign countries
# Starts Country Year(s)

6 Netherlands Tour (1954,1973,1978,1996), Giro (2002), Vuelta (2009)
5 Belgium Tour (1958,1975,2004), Giro (1973, 2006)
3 West Germany Tour (1965,1980,1987)
2 Luxembourg Tour (1989,2002)
2 Monaco Tour (2009), Giro (1966)
1 Switzerland Tour (1982)
1 Spain Tour (1992)
1 Greece Giro (1996)
1 Portugal Vuelta (1997)
1 Ireland Tour (1998)
1 France Giro (1998)
1 England Tour (2007)

List of Dutch starts in three major tours
Year Race City

2009 Vuelta Assen
2002 Giro Groningen
1996 Tour Den Bosch
1978 Tour Leiden
1973 Tour Scheveningen
1954 Tour Amsterdam

Federer goes for sixth one at Flushing Meadows

On Monday, the 2009 US Open starts in New York. World number one Roger Federer can become the first man to win the US Open for the sixth time in Open Era.

Richard Sears, Bill Larned and Bill Tilden have managed to win the US Open seven times before the start of the Open Era, according to Infostrada Sports.

If the Swiss wins the tournament, he also becomes the first in Open Era to win a specific Grand Slam six successive times.

Federer won Roland Garros and Wimbledon earlier this year. If he wins the US Open, it will be the third time that he wins three successive Grand Slam titles.

Federer has reached the final the last six Grand Slams. This is the second most in Men’s Singles in Open Era.

Federer already holds the record of reaching 10 successive Grand Slam finals (2005-2007).

Most US Open Men’s Singles titles – All-time
# Name Nation Years

7 Richard Sears USA 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887
7 Bill Larned USA 1901, 1902, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911
7 Bill Tilden USA 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1929
5 Jimmy Connors USA 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983
5 Pete Sampras USA 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002
5 Roger Federer SUI 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
4 Robert Wrenn USA 1893, 1894, 1896, 1897
4 John McEnroe USA 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984


Most consecutive specific Grand Slam Men's Singles titles – Open Era
# Name Nation Grand Slam Editions

5 Roger Federer SUI US Open 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
5 Björn Borg SWE Wimbledon 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
5 Roger Federer SUI Wimbledon 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
4 Björn Borg SWE Roland Garros 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981
4 Rafael Nadal ESP Roland Garros 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Most consecutive Grand Slam Men's Singles titles – Open Era
# Name Nation Year(s)

4 Rod Laver AUS 1969
3 Pete Sampras USA 1993-1994
3 Roger Federer SUI 2005-2006
3 Roger Federer SUI 2006-2007

2 Roger Federer SUI 2009

Usain Bolt: how do Jamaicans run and run so fast?

Usain Bolt got the party started in Jamaica when he smashed the 100m world record on Sunday. It seems that party shows no signs of stopping after adding the 200m gold in record time on Thursday night.

But while Bolt has stolen the headlines at the World Championships in Berlin, his teammates have also been delivering on the track. Jamaica currently top the medals table with five gold, two silver and two bronze leading to one question: how do Jamaicans run so fast?

There is nothing fortuitous about how this poor Caribbean island, with a population of just 2.6 million people, have made the sport of sprinting their own.

Preliminary medical research has indicated that the so-called speed protein Actinen A is much more prominent in Jamaicans’ fast-twitch muscles, meaning they are naturally better adapted to sprinting events.

But what cannot be understated is the combination of a successful development programme for raw talent and a tradition that sprinting is a one way ticket out of poverty, and a route to free education.

In 1971, former world record sprinter Dennis Johnson decided he wanted to pass on some of the knowledge he had gained at San Jose State University and set up a USA-style college sports academy in Jamaica.

As Anthony Davis, Johnson’s predecessor as sporting director at Jamaica’s University of Technology (UTECH) explains: “Dennis had the opinion that the sprint is a bit like engineering – people can be taught how to do it.”

Johnson’s speed academy offered scholarships to promising Jamaican athletes who he could develop on an individual basis, while receiving a free college education.

Now, nearly 40 years on, UTECH students make up a quarter of the Jamaican athletics squad and the University has an impressive list of success stories, including Usain Bolt and former world record holder Asafa Powell.

Davis believes that the link between athletics and free education cannot be ignored.

He said: “You can’t escape the fact that in Jamaica, many of these athletes are running to escape poverty.

“Sport for many is their one chance to get a tertiary level education and make themselves a better citizen. Sport opens doors to Jamaican youngsters which would be otherwise closed for them.”

The UTECH programme is just one of Jamaica’s assets when it comes to developing young sprinters. Perhaps more importantly, is the cross-island high school sports system, which sees 120 schools compete in a national championship, in front of crowds of up to 30,000 people.

“The intense rivalry and standard of competition can give young athletes a massive boost.” Davis said.

“Because our island is so small it’s fairly easy to organise a national event with every school competing and the crowds are brilliant.”

These national high school events provide UTECH’s coaches with a chance to scout the best talent from around the isle, although Davis says they are not necessarily interested in the fastest.

He said: “Rather than trying to pick out the quickest athletes at high school level, our coaches look out for promising talent and then teach them the most effective ways to run.

“That’s why so many of the Jamaican squad run with a high front leg style. Asafa Powell was not the quickest athlete at high school level, but he showed signs that he could be moulded to run with a quick stride and he was eager to learn.”

The story of Jamaica’s rise to a sprinting powerhouse has lessons which could even be learned by some of the world’s sporting superpowers. Even with modest investment and facilities, phenomenal results can be achieved with the right grassroots strategy and attitude.

“We’ve shown that you can develop world class athletes locally without the investment and facilities other countries have available to them. We are punching way above our weight.” Davis said.

“We are at the stage now where Jamaica are going to dominate Olympics and World Championships for the next decade or so. With our current athletes inspiring so many young people to run, anything is possible.”

With young Jamaicans dominating the annual Penn Relays in the USA, and a generation of children likely to be inspired by the role models of Bolt, Powell, and Fraser, the future for Jamaican athletics looks nearly as bright as their yellow and green vests.

Source: Paul Garbett via Telegraph

Brooklyn Decker gallery: photos of Andy Roddick wife for Men Style Magazine

What else?

Usain Bolt goes for the sprint double - double

This evening, the men’s 200m final is at stake at the World Athletics Championships. World champion Usain Bolt can become the first man ever to win the sprint double at both the Olympic Games and World Athletics Championships.

The men’s sprint double has been completed at each of the last two World Championships, by Justin Gatlin (2005) and Tyson Gay (2007), according to Infostrada Sports. Last year, Usain Bolt became the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win the Olympic sprint double.

Winning Men’s 100m and 200m double at World Championships or Olympic Games

Year Name Nation Competition

2008 Usain Bolt JAM Olympic Games

2007 Tyson Gay USA World Championships

2005 Justin Gatlin USA World Championships

1999 Maurice Greene USA World Championships

1984 Carl Lewis USA Olympic Games

1972 Valeriy Borzov URS Olympic Games

1956 Bobby Morrow USA Olympic Games

1936 Jesse Owens USA Olympic Games

1932 Eddie Tolan USA Olympic Games

1928 Percy Williams CAN Olympic Games

1912 Ralph Craig USA Olympic Games

1904 Archie Hahn USA Olympic Games

Usain Bolt: the fastest man in the history

Usain Bolt has captured another world record, winning the 100-meter race in 9.58 seconds at the world championships.

Bolt shaved 0.11 seconds off the record he set at the Beijing Olympics, beating defending champion Tyson Gay on Sunday, who set a U.S. record of 9.71 seconds.

In the fastest 100 ever, Asafa Powell earned a bronze with a time of 9.84 in Berlin.

The race had been the most anticipated event of the world championships and lived up to its billing.

Bolt won the Olympic gold in Beijing last year with a world record performance of 9.69.

Usain Bolt said he was ready for the world record even before the final at the World Championships.

The Jamaican stormed to a stunning victory with a new world record of 9.58 seconds, shaving 0.11 seconds off his own record of9.69 set in last year's Olympic Games.

"I was definitely ready for the world record and I did it! " he said.

"I am proud of myself. This is a big moment in history but you never know what happens tomorrow. For me it was a great run.

"This is big in Jamaica. I just came to execute and I did it right."

Triple world champion Tyson Gay of the United States, who vowed to beat Bolt earlier, found that he had just no chance, even though he won the silver with a U.S. national record of 9.71 seconds.

"There were seven guys and not just Tyson running in this final with me. I took them all seriously. Yes, my parents are here. I had nuggets for lunch. The first phone call I got was from a TV station in Jamaica and the second from our Prime Minster."

He said that he had expected to set a world record but did not expect to beat the record by such a big margin.

"I was focused and came out to execute, I did not think that I could run 0.1s faster than my own world record.

"But for me, anything is possible. I did not worry about anything before the race. I do the worrying outside of competition."

Bolt, who also won the 200m and 4X100m relay in Beijing, said: "The game is now on for the 200m gold."