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In the World of Sports, Sporting rivalry becomes the catalyst for Sporting dominance. Every sport has had two nations competing hard to fight it out for sporting supremacy or being hailed as the “Numero Uno” nation of that sport.
Prominent rivalries which stand out amongst the rest have been the Latin American soccer derby between Brazil and Argentina or the Germans vs. the Dutch in European soccer, India/Pakistan or Australia/England (Ashes) rivalry in cricket and the Trans-Tasman rivalry between Kiwis and Aussies in Rugby.
These rivalries have brought the best out of sportsmen competing for their nations with the ultimate aim of bringing back sporting laurels to their respective nations and boost their countrymen’s esteem and happiness index. But when it comes to athletics and specifically Sprinting as a track event, United States were the dominant force and unrivalled for a long time on the international scene.
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Some critics would argue that Great Britain and Canada pushed the ever dominant Americans to the limits but in every sense they were second best to the Americans in the 80s and 90s. With the turn of the new millennium, a change of guard happened at the top with Jamaica stamping its authority by winning sprinting accolades at World meets and somewhat dethroning the Americans as the “Kings of Sprints “.
The small Caribbean island nation should be credited for producing a string of world class sprinter, with Usain Bolt surely being the flag bearer of his country at sprinting events.The bragging rights for being the top sprinting nation is up for the grabs yet again with the World Championships coming up at Beijing. Will Jamaica yet again dominate the sprints or will the Americans regain a little bit of their lost legacy from their Caribbean counterparts? Only time will tell when the blue riband races of track event unfolds at the big stage next month. Let’s go down memory lane and have a look at the nations which dominated the Sprint events in the last three decades.
UNITED STATES – AN EVER DOMINANT FORCE IN WORLD SPRINTING
United Stated has always been a dominant force when it comes to the Sprints. If James Hines was the first sprinter to officially break the 10-second barrier, Carl Lewis raised the bar of sprinting to another level. Lewis was by far the most versatile athlete mankind witnessed, winning 4 Gold medals at the Los Angeles Olympics in Sprints and Long jump, eventually becoming the dominant sprinter of the 80s.
The Americans had great sprinters in Calvin Smith and Sam Grady, both of whom got overshadowed by Carl’s herculean achievements. Lewis’s biggest rival was Canadian Ben Johnson who had the potential to challenge and beat Lewis but went down in history books for the wrong reasons (1988 Seoul Olympics Doping Scandal).The Americans had a formidable sprinting unit in Leroy Burell, Michael Marsh and Jon Drummond, all of whom served the Americans with great distinction.
In the mid and late 90s, Maurice Greene became the dominant sprinter of the decade winning multiple Gold medals at the Olympics (2000 and 2004) and World Championships (100m Gold-1997, 1999, 2001). Greene was pushed to the limits by his training partner and Olympic medallist Ato Boldon who put Trinidad and Tobago on the sprinting map. The US boasting of sprinters like Brian Lewis, Andre Cason and Bernard Williams formed a very powerful relay quartet for the American team.
Tim Montgomery was another world class sprinter who lost all his credentials as an athlete by getting involved in a doping scandal. The Americans produced speed demons of World Class pedigree in Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin, both of whom became multiple medallists in Olympics and World Championships. Michael Rodgers and Walter Dix have been world class sprinters in their own right by winning medals at World Championships and Olympics.
The depth in the American sprinting unit can be seen with the likes of the veteran Darvis Patton, Ryan Bailey and Isiah Young, who have to compete hard to get into the star-studded American sprint unit. Trayvon Bromell is the latest sprinting sensation coming out of the US and promises a lot in the future. The Americans have been a dominant force in the 200 meters too with Olympics and World Champions in the legendary Michael Johnson, John Capel, Shawn Crawford and Wallace Spearmon.
CANADA
America’s continental neighbours, Canada had a power packed sprinting unit in the 90s spearheaded by 1996 Olympic (100m_Gold) and 1995 World Champion Donavan Bailey. Bruny Surin was another Canadian sprinter who beat the best at sprints on the world stage. Robert Esmie and Glenroy Gilbert were part of the Canadian relay team which won many a medals at international athletic events. Canada’s future at sprinting events looks promising with budding sprinters in Andre De Grasse and Aaron Brown.
EUROPE’S SPRINTING POWEHOUSES: GREAT BRITAIN & FRANCE
Great Britain was Europe’s sprinting powerhouse right from the days of 1980 Olympic champion Allan Wells (100m) and John Regis. Linford Christie pioneered the Golden Generation of British sprinting by winning the 100 meters titles at the 1993 World Championship and 1992 Olympic Games.
What followed next was a string of world class sprinters in Dwain Chambers, Darren Campbell, Jason Gardener, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis who consistently won medals at international meets. Richard Kilty, Adam Gemili and James Dasoulu are the brightest hopes to take the legacy of British sprinters to greater heights in the future.
Christophe Lemaitre has been France’s most consistent sprinter at World and European championships for almost a decade. The French have budding sprinters in Jimmy Vicult and Martial Mbandjock who have the skill and physical prowess to become potential world champions in the future.
The NEW MILLENIUM- JAMAICA’S DOMINANCE & PLETHORA OF SPRINTING TALENT FROM THE CARIBBEAN NATIONS
Jamaica’s glorious tradition of sprinting goes back to the late 70s and 80s with Olympic medallist in Raymond Stewart, Lennox Miller and Donald Quarrie. With the turn of the millennium, Asafa Powell made his mark on the world scene and was the first of many sprinters to stamp Jamaica’s dominance in the sprinting arena. Meanwhile, Usain Bolt raised the barrier of world class sprinting by shattering world records, clocking timings beyond human imagination (100m_9.58 seconds, 200m_19.19 seconds). Such was Bolt’s dominance that 100 meters was no longer was an event of photo finishes, as Bolt ran with lighting speed and finished most of the races at an arm’s length distance of his fellow rivals.
A multiple time world champion, Bolt has etched his name in the annals of World athletics by being in an elite club of athletes who have successfully defended their Olympic titles (100m and 200m_Gold_2008 and 2012 Games). Bolt’s training partner Yohan Blake has been another Jamaican sensation, winning the 100m title at the 2011 World Championships and posing a major challenge to Bolt at international athletic meets.
The Jamaicans have showcased their supremacy in winning sprinting titles by having a star-studded line-up of sprinters in Nester Carter, Michael Frater and Warren Weir who on their day could easily run sub 10 seconds timings. Add to that illustrious list, the likes of Kemar Bailey Cole, Oshane Bailey, Lerone Clarke,Dwight Thomas and Steve Mullings who all are world class by any standards to give the top class sprinters a run for their money.
Nickeal Ashmeade has been Jamaica’s standout runner in the 200 meters. The Jamaicans also have the likes of Jason Livermore and Rasheed Dwyer who have excelled at the 200 meters over the years.
Brian Charles Lara’s country, Trinidad and Tobago has been second to none as a Continental powerhouse from the Caribbean. Right from the days of Olympic medallist Ato Boldon, they have produced Darren Brown, Marc Burns, and Richard Thomson and off late Keston Bledmen, all of whom have won sprinting titles at continental and world athletic meets.
The other prominent sprinters who have tasted Olympic success in the last two decades have predominantly come from the Caribbean Islands.World Champion Kim Collins (St Kitts and Nevis), Obadale Thompson (Barbados),Daniel Bailey (Antigua), Martina Churandy (Netherland Antilles), Alonso Edward (Panama) and Dennis Atkins (Bahamas) have also showcased their prowess by winning sprints in IAAF Golden/Diamond league events. Brazil and Cuba have had their share of success at Olympic games by winning medals in the relay events (4*100 meters).
The African continent normally dominant in middle and long distance running has been well represented by Nigeria in sprints on the world stage. The nation has churned out world class sprinters in Chidi Imoh,Deji Aliu,x Davidson Ezinwa, Uchenna Emedolu and Olusoji Fasuba challenging the American and European dominance at sprints over the years.Francis Obikwelu another world class sprinter from Nigeria now represents Portugal (initially represented Nigeria).
Frankie Fredericks from Namibia (100&200m_Silver Medallist_1992&1996 Olympics) deserves a special mention for being Africa’s most successful sprinter at Olympics. Another notable mention would be Abdul Aziz Zakari from Ghana.The Asian continent hasn’t perhaps been up to the world standards at sprint events, but Japan has sent out powerful relay contingents to the Olympic Games which have competed against the best in the world.
The World Championships is next big event in the calendar and all eyes are set on Usain Bolt to defend his title. The Jamaican has been notably absent from the sprinting season this year on account of his niggling knee injury. Meanwhile the Americans, Justin Gatlin and Tyson have been setting the pace for this season by winning races with impressive sub 10 timings at the Diamond League events, thereby throwing up a challenge and word of caution to Bolt for defending his World Titles.
The 100 meters finals at the upcoming World Championships in Beijing could have the strongest possible line-up in recent editions if all the speedsters make it to the finals. Going by current form, the fans won’t be unrealistic in dreaming of a start list comprising of Bolt, Powell, Carter (All Jamaica), Gatlin, Gay, Micheal Rodgers (All USA) Lemaitre and Vicult (France). What a power packed line-up would that be to kick off the race often dubbed as “Fastest Race on the Planet”. One thing is for sure, if Gatlin, Gay and Powell push Bolt to the limit, the 100m World record is surely at stake.
