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Asafa Powell

A walk in the park' - Powell confident of reaching 100 sub-10 clockings

Powell, who set the world record twice, first in 2005 (9.77) before lowering the mark in 2007 (9.74), has the most sub-10 clockings in history with 97.  The 37-year-old has, however, been hampered by injury in recent years and has struggled to dip below the mark in recent years.

The runner has not managed to go below the mark since 2016, when he clocked 9.92.  With a solid preseason behind him, however, Powell feels he is ready to get back to his best form and achieving the target is well within his grasp.

“Based on how training has been going this year I expect it to be a walk in the park,” Powell said of getting to 100 sub-10 clockings.

“I’m not really focusing on that it will come naturally.  I’m focused on going to the national trials where you have to go sub-10 and on the Diamond League circuit you have to go sub-10, so I’m not focusing on it,” he said.

“I’m just taking it step by step and making sure I stay healthy.”

Asafa Powell in court over child-support payments

Powel, 37, appeared before the court after the child’s mother Amita Persaud-Webb filed documents seeking financial maintenance of JMD$25,000 a month.

Attorney-at-law Michelle Thomas represents Webb while Annaliesa Lindsay is representing the former world record holder.

The parties are to return to court on October 9.

Asafa Powell statue will be unveiled tomorrow – Sports Minister

Prime Minister Andrew Holness will unveil the statue in a special ceremony at Statue Park in the National Stadium, beginning at 5:00 pm.

Minister Grange has invited the public to attend the ceremony and witness the unveiling of the statue.

Minister Grange said: “This is the final of four statues that we commissioned as part of the Jamaica 55 Legacy programme to celebrate the achievements of our outstanding athletes.

The statues not only highlight Jamaican athletic success but will serve as inspiration for all of us about what is possible when we try.

So I invite as many people as possible to join us on Sunday and celebrate with Asafa.

”The renowned Jamaican sculptor Basil Watson was engaged by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport to design statues in honour of Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Asafa Powell.

Asafa Powell targets three more sub-10s, Olympic medal in 2021

Powell, 38, holds the record for most legal sub-10 times in the 100m but wants to extend it for at least another three races as he approaches the twilight of his career. Plagued by injury throughout his career, especially in the past few years, the last time Powell broke the 10-second barrier, his 97th, was in 2016 when he ran 9.92 in Hungary.

However, the four-time Olympian remains undaunted as he vies for a fifth Olympiad this summer.

“The Olympics have been put off until this year but the goal is still the same. It’s just another year and we as athletes know how to prepare and get ourselves ready. My biggest goal this year, apart from the Olympics is getting my next three sub-10s and I want to seal that off and going to the Olympic Games, making it on the podium, that would be a big dream for me,” he said.

To get those sub-10 times, Powell is going to need to compete at meets that are in short supply because of the prevailing conditions.

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on track and field in the last 10 months. Meets at all levels have been cancelled across the, including some that had been scheduled for this past weekend. Last season, several Diamond League meetings, as well as lower-tier meets, were either postponed or cancelled outright as the Covid-19 virus raged across the globe.

Powell said athletes will have to find a way to live with the virus until the situation improves.

“We have to learn to adjust to it, learn to compete with no fans, nobody in the stadiums. I think it’s going to be the new norm. Europe is where we compete the most so if there are putting off track meets that means we have to find other alternatives, stay home and compete until the Olympics or whatever it is,” he said.

Should he achieve his goals this season, Powell said he has no immediate plans to retire and will continue competing until his body tells him otherwise.

"The body will tell me. I am just going to keep going. I am not going to go forever, but I am a family man now so I can't keep running and training forever. After the three sub-10s and the Olympic Games, I will feel a lot more satisfied and then consider if I go another year or just cut it off." he said.

Asafa Powell to attend United Nations' “Making a Difference Beyond the Game" event April 6 as special guest

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is an annual celebration of the power of sport to drive social change, community development, and promote peace around the world. The United Nations designated April 6th as IDSDP in 2013, recognizing the role that sports and physical activity play in promoting sustainable development and peace.

The 40-year-old Powell is considered one of the greatest sprinters of all time. He has competed in three Olympic Games as well as several World Championships during a career in which he held 100m world record from 2005 to 2008 and has a personal best of 9.72 that makes him the fourth-fastest man in history.

His athletic career, an example of hard work and dedication, has inspired many young athletes to pursue their dreams.

Making a Difference Beyond the Game will showcase the important role of sports in promoting social inclusion, gender equality, and youth empowerment. It will feature a panel discussion and presentations by experts and athletes as well as interactive activities to engage attendees and highlight the importance of sports in creating a better world.

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is an annual celebration of the power of sport to drive social change, community development, and promote peace around the world. The United Nations designated April 6th as IDSDP in 2013, recognizing the role that sports and physical activity play in promoting sustainable development and peace.

Asafa Powell wins 60m at Milo Western Relays

The 37-year-old Powell of MVP Track Club clocked 6.73 seconds to beat Sprintec Lions' Andrew Fisher in a close finish in section one of the three-section race. Fisher was also credited with the same time as Powell.

Powell was one of the most dominant sprinters of his era, consistently breaking the 10-second barrier and twice setting the world 100m record in 2005 and 2008. The second time he did it with a blazing 9.74 seconds.

Powell also won a gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the Rio Olympics and competed in three Summer Games.

A statue of the sprinter is set to be unveiled at Statue Park inside Independence Park Ltd on Sunday.

Asafa Powell's absence cost Jamaica a faster 4x100m world record in 2012, suggests Gatlin

Powell, renowned for his blistering speed having held the 100m world record at 9.77 and 9.74s, missed out on the opportunity to join the likes of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake, and Usain Bolt in that record-breaking relay team due to a groin injury sustained during the final of the 100m.

Gatlin, reflecting on the potential of the Jamaican squad, speculated that adding Powell to the mix could have propelled them to an astonishing 36.5-second mark.

"Adding Asafa Powell to that already formidable lineup of Bolt, Blake, Carter, and Frater could have pushed the team to an even faster time," Gatlin remarked on his podcast. Powell's absence, while the team still delivered Olympic gold, left room for speculation on just how much quicker they could have been.

Gatlin, a seasoned sprinter himself, understands the unique pressure and responsibility that comes with relay events. "There is a difference between being an individual runner at the Olympics or world championships and being part of a relay team," he explained. "If you falter as an individual, it's on you; but in a relay, it's on the country's back."

Reflecting on the challenges of breaking a world record in relay events, Gatlin emphasized the need for everything to align perfectly. "36.8 is a gigantic order. 37 low is a tall order," he admitted. "Everyone needs to be in peak condition and ready to run."

Looking ahead to the future, Gatlin also weighed in on Team USA's chances of breaking the 12-year-long Jamaican 4x100m relay world record in 2024. "It's going to take a near-perfect performance from a team firing on all cylinders to surpass what Jamaica achieved in 2012," Gatlin predicted.

Asafa's character will define his legacy more than anything he does on the track - Paul Doyle

His accomplishments were cast in stone on Sunday at the unveiling of a statue in his honour at the Independence Park complex in Kingston.

Before a large gathering that included athletes like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson, Michael Frater, Nesta Carter, Janieve Russell and Kaliese Spencer, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Minister of Sport Olivia Grange, the statue of the former world-record holder was unveiled at next to those of Veronica Campbell-Brown, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Usain Bolt.

Each athlete was recognised for being among the best of an era and in some instances, the best of all time.

However, according to Powell’s manager and friend Paul Doyle, the sub-10 king will be most likely be remembered for who he was rather than for anything he would have done on the track.

 “Asafa’s legacy is how he has been as a person. How he has conducted himself as a person,” said Doyle following Sunday night’s unveiling.

“An Australian 1500m woman told me one time; we were in Osaka at the end of the season and we were all partying at the end of the year, and she said genuinely, everybody wants Asafa to do well. She said we secretly cheer against the Americans who are cocky and all that but Asafa is always so humble and we genuinely want him to do well, and that is a global feeling, to be honest. He is appreciated more for his character more than his performances on the track.”

Career-ending injury steers Olympian Michael Frater to medicinal marijuana business

Frater, 38, represented Jamaica at the senior level for more than a decade, winning gold medals as a member of Jamaica’s world-record-setting 4x100m relay teams at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011 and again at the London Olympics in 2012.

He also won a silver medal in the 100m at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. He was also a 100m champion at the 2003 Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic.

However, about five years ago persistent problems with his knees forced him to retire.

At Saturday’s launch, he explained how those knee problems introduced him to the healing properties of cannabis.

“I had very bad knees, and I remember waking up one day, and my knees were swollen, and I couldn’t walk. I went to the University Hospital (of the West Indies) where I met with Dr (Carl) Bruce and ran some tests but nobody could figure out what was wrong,” he told the gathering that included Jamaica’s Minister of Sports Olivia Grange, former world record holder Asafa Powell and Jamaica and West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle.

Christopher Samuda, President of the Jamaica Olympic Association and Ali McNab, an advisor to the sports minister were also in attendance and were in rapt attention as Frater shared his harrowing experience.

“I had an IAAF (World Athletics) function in Monaco. I remember leaving on Monday and got there on Tuesday and I couldn’t even walk off the plane. They had to send a wheelchair for me,” he recalled.

Initially, doctors in Monaco believed his condition was the result of doping, he said, but subsequent tests disproved their theories even though they were still unable to determine what was the cause of the constant swelling and fluid build-up in his knees.

He spent two weeks in hospital there where doctors ‘patched’ him up enough to enable him to fly home.

A subsequent visit to a medical facility in Florida was also unable to help him get any closer to identifying what was wrong with his knees, he said which left him fearing he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

It was then that his father, Lindel Frater, suggested he tried cannabis oil. He tried it and within a month he felt ‘brand new’, he said.

“I started studying a lot about it and realized that a drug that has been taboo for most of my life is really a miracle drug. It’s really a drug that once taken properly with the proper prescription, the medicinal purposes are exponential.”

Minister Grange applauded the retired Olympian and praised him for his initiative in opening the dispensary. She eventually made the first purchase of medicinal marijuana. Samuda also shared similar sentiments while praising Frater for his venture into the cannabis industry.

Gayle, meanwhile, said Frater’s venture was an example for other retired athletes to emulate.

“I am a big supporter of Michael's career and now his business venture, and from a sportsman's point of view, there is life after your original career and to actually venture in a business is good for him and we are here to support him 100 per cent,” said Gayle.

Powell, who was Frater’s teammate on several national teams, said, his friend and colleague, was always a budding entrepreneur.

“From ever since, Michael has always been the brains among all of us. He has always been driven, business-oriented. I have always admired that about him,” said the former 100m world record holder who brought his wife Alyshia along.

“It’s kind of intimidating sometimes when you’re talking to him, and he is saying some stuff I don’t even know about, so I have always known he would make this step into business.

“He keeps pushing and I am very, very happy for him.”

Fears over COVID-19 forces postponement of 2020 Grenada Invitational

In recent weeks, the Coronavirus has spread to 111 countries and has infected more than 100,000 people across the globe, killing more than 3000 of them. It is against this background that the Local Organising Committee of the relays has taken what they have described as a difficult decision.

“After extensive deliberations with local public health officials, our broadcast partners, sponsors and athletes representatives, it was determined that the paramount importance of the health of our citizens and the expected influx of travellers (athletes, etc) warranted us to err on the side of caution,” organisers said in a statement today.

“As such, in light of the fluidity and uncertainty related to (COVID-19), it has become necessary to postpone the 4th annual Grenada Invitational that was scheduled for April 4th, 2020.

“The improbability and flexibility of the situation changes from day to day and these uncertainties are sure to hinder in the delivery of a World Class event.”

Some of the world’s best track and field athletes were down to compete at the Grenada Invitational as they gear up for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan that is also under threat because of the spread the virus that has seen thousands of Japanese citizens being infected.

Schools in that country have been ordered closed and public gatherings have been banned until the end of April when the International Olympic Committee is expected to make a final decision on whether the Games will be held.

Similarly, the organisers of the Grenada Invitational said they will decide if and when the meet will be held this year.

“Grenada Invitational will, as the rest of the sporting world, monitor the global conditions and along with track and field’s governing body, World Athletics and our broadcast partner, a new date for the meet will be announced once the (COVID-19) is no longer a threat and normalcy in travel and other routine activities is returned,” the statement said.

Elaine Thompson-Herah, the 2016 double Olympic champion, 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake, and Olympic and World Champion Kirani James were to be among the headliners at the meet this year as the organizers had begun to assemble a world-class field of athletes for the meet.

Also confirmed were the likes of Briana Williams, Kendra Harrison, Asafa Powell, Justin Gatlin, and Tajay Gayle.

Former 100m world-record holder Asafa Powell hangs up his spikes

One of the fastest men to have ever lived, Powell, who celebrated his 40th birthday on November 23, was a trailblazer in an era that produced some of the fastest men in the history of track and field namely Usain Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medallist, Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake and Steve Mullings, among others.

Powell set 100m world records of 9.77 in Athens, Greece in 2005 and 9.74 in Rieti, Italy in 2007. His record was broken by Bolt in New York in 2008 when he ran 9.72 at the Adidas Grand Prix.  Powell lowered his personal best to 9.72 in September 2008, but by then Bolt had taken the record down to 9.69 at the Beijing Olympics.

After breaking 10 seconds for the first time in 2004, Powell went on to run under 10 seconds for the 100m, a record 97 times. It is an achievement that has earned him the moniker ‘Sub-10 King.”

However, despite his amazing talent, Powell never won individual global titles in the blue-riband event. Favoured to win the 100m at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Powell finished fifth. Four years later, he was fifth at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Powell won the Commonwealth Games 100m title in Australia in 2006 and was favoured to win the 100m at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan. However, the six-time Jamaican champion was third behind American Tyson Gay, the gold medallist and Bahamian Derrick Atkins, admitting afterwards that he ‘panicked’.

In 2009, Powell ran his best time in a global final – 9.84 at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany - good enough for bronze behind Usain Bolt, who lowered his own world record to 9.58 with Gay winning silver in a then American record of 9.71.

He was seventh in the 100m final at the London 2012 Games.

Powell won gold medals as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and at the World Championships in 2009 in Berlin and 2015 in Helsinki.

He last ran under 10 seconds in 2016 when he ran 9.92 in Hungary. Injury played a significant role in his inability to continue to break 10 seconds with his fastest time in the last six years being 10.02 in Leverkusen, Germany in 2019.

A favourite of female fans across the globe, Powell announced that his career had come to an end at a lavish birthday party late last week that was attended by several prominent figures from Corporate Jamaica, his shoe sponsor Puma as well as former teammates Bolt, Blake, Frater, Carter and Elaine Thompson-Herah.

His agent Paul Doyle, family, and his closest friends were also in attendance.

On Saturday, he shared the news on Instagram.

“18 years!!! Thanks to my sponsors and loyal fans who have supported me over the years. This sport has given me so many opportunities…but I started my track career in 2002 and have had many ups and downs but was never ungrateful for what I have accomplished,” he said.

“I am entering a new phase and a new chapter of my life and a lot more to come from me. I will continue to inspire the younger generation in every way possible.”

Powell married Canadian model Alyshia Miller in a lavish ceremony before family and friends in Montego Bay 2019 and together have two sons.

I'm feeling fast as ever' - former world record holder Powell rejects 'old guy' label

In his prime, Powell cast an enviable figure for many sprinters, his picture-perfect running style taking him to a world record time of 9.77 in 2005 and then lowering that mark with a time of 9.74 in 2007.  The Jamaican went on to clock the most sub-10 second times for any sprinter with a total of 98.

In recent years, Powell, who has been plagued by injuries, has struggled to reach close to such heights.  On Saturday, the sprinter finished in 5th place in the men’s 60m, with a time of 6.71, expectedly well off his best of 6.44.  His efforts seemed to do little to impress United States sprinter Demek Kemp.  The 23-year-old South Carolina representative took the event in a personal best time of 6.50. 

"Feels great," Kemp said of the run.

"I had some good competition. Glad to have a personal record,” he added.

He clearly did not feel Powell was among them, however.

"He's an old guy," Kemp said when asked about competing against the Jamaican.

For his part, Powell, who insisted the run was about testing his legs, however, claims he is feeling as good as ever and is confident he should still be competing.

“I am still feeling very strong, still feeling as fast as I did years ago,” Powell told Track Alerts.

“With the entire Jamaica is motivating me, and with that kind of support, it’s hard to give up,” he added.

Jamaica 4x100m relay team runs second-fastest time in the world at GC Foster

The team of Asafa Powell, Oshane Bailey, Yohan Blake and Julian Forte clocked 38.33 that is only bettered by China’s 38.29 established on March 20, this year.

Jamaica was in a race against time to achieve a qualifying time for the Olympic Games after it withdrew from the recently concluded World Relays in Poland where the top eight teams automatically qualified for the Olympic Games.

However, after Saturday’s performance, qualifying could become a formality.

In the race at GC Foster, a Jamaica Green team of Ackeem Blake, Romario Williams, Nigel Ellis and Kadrian Goldson was second in 39.55.

A St Vincent team of McKish Compton, Javon Rollins, OJ Jackson and Akani Slater were third in 40.13.

Meanwhile, Blake followed up his 9.98/10.02 runs a week ago with a 10.05 wind-legal run to win the 100m time trial. Bailey was second overall in 10.13 while Williams was third fastest with 10.16.

World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist ran a fast 22.62 to win the 200m ahead of Stephenie-Ann McPherson, who in continuing her quest to develop her speed, was timed in 22.98. Shashelee Forbes was third in 23.03.

The men’s event was won by Anthony Carpenter of Legacy Athletics. The former Calabar High quarter-miler ran a decent 20.88 with a 2.2m/s trailing wind. Breakout sprint hurdler Rasheed Broadbell was second best with his time of 20.95 while Michael Sharpe of GC Foster crossed in 20.98 to be third overall.

Janieve Russell clocked 55.45 to win the 400m hurdles ahead of Rhonda Whyte (56.29).

Jamaican Olympian and former world-record holder Asafa Powell receives hero's welcome on arrival in Ghana

The former world-record holder will be in Ghana until March 7.

During the trip he will meet and speak with local athletes, pay a courtesy call on the President of the Republic at the Jubilee House and also engage the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ghana Olympic Committee and the LOC (Local Organizing Committee) of the African Games Accra 2023 as well as the Ghana Athletics Association on how best Ghana sports can benefit from his huge image on the international sports arena.

Hundreds turned out to see the sprint legend in person as the Ghanaian media lined up for interviews with the now-retired Jamaican Olympian to hear what he and the Ghanaian Olympic Committee (GOC) headed by President Ben Nunoo Mensah, had in store for the athletic community in Ghana.

“The welcome I received upon landing yesterday was truly amazing, the warmth, the music, the dancing and the hospitality was beyond fantastic,” Powell said on Tuesday.

“I feel like I am in my home away from home.”

Powell’s wife Alyshia Powell, who was born and raised in Ghana, was excited to be able to share her homeland, culture and family with her world-famous husband.

Powell began the second day of Ghanaian trip with a visit to Ghana's Youth & Sports Minister, the Honourable Mustapha Ussif.  He and his wife also visited Black Star Square as well as The Ghanaian House of Parliament.

On Wednesday, Powell is scheduled to visit the residence of the late footballer Christian Atsu. While there, he will sign the condolence book for the Ghanaian footballer who perished during the recent earthquake in Turkey that claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people.

He is also scheduled for a media session hosted by the Ghana Olympic Committee at the Accra City Hotel.

On Thursday, Powell and his wife head to the Cape Coast to visit the school she attended as a child as well as to trace his ancestral roots. He will meet some of Alyshia’s family as well as the Chief of Cape Coast.

GOC President Nunoo Mensah thanked corporate Ghana for their swift response in supporting the visit and embracing Powell as their own.

Jamaican sprint legends Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell praise Kishane Thompson's electrifying performances at National Championships

Thompson, who was making his season debut, stunned the athletics world with a series of remarkable times: 9.82 seconds in the preliminaries, 9.84 seconds in the semi-finals, and a jaw-dropping 9.77 seconds in the final, despite trying to slow down towards the end. His efforts secured him a spot at the Paris Olympics and have reignited the hopes of Jamaican sprinting fans.

Blake, the second fastest man of all time with his 9.69 clocking in Lausanne in August 2012, expressed his excitement for Thompson’s future. Blake, who famously ran 9.75 at the 2012 National Championships and 9.69 in Lausanne later that year, sees immense potential in Thompson.

"I think great things are in store for Kishane. That was a big run! I am happy for him and I think he can go all the way and bring Jamaica the gold," Blake said.

Blake's words come with significant weight, given his own storied career. He famously defeated Usain Bolt at the 2012 National Championships and went on to finish second to Bolt at the London Olympics with a time of 9.75 seconds, a performance that remains one of the fastest in history.

Thompson’s performances have not only earned him accolades from legends but have also reignited the passion of Jamaican sprinting fans, who have been longing for a new hero since the retirement of Usain Bolt in 2017 and Powell’s subsequent exit from the track. Severe injuries limited Blake's performance in recent years, but Thompson’s emergence has given fans renewed hope.

In the finals on Friday night, Oblique Seville, who many considered the pre-race favorite, finished second with an impressive 9.82 seconds, while another rising Jamaican sprinter, Ackeem Blake, took third in 9.92 seconds.

Powell, known for his world record-setting runs of 9.77 in Athens in 2005 and 9.74 in Rieti in 2007, also had high praise for Thompson. Powell, who holds the record for the most wind-legal sub-10 second runs, believes Thompson is just getting started.

"Jamaica has been asking for an answer since we retired, and they now have it. Kishane will run faster than 9.77 this year. That’s what I think," Powell stated.

Powell’s confidence in Thompson’s ability to surpass his recent times adds to the anticipation surrounding the young sprinter’s future performances. With his lifetime best of 9.72 and a record 97 wind-legal times under 10 seconds, Powell has set a high standard for Jamaican sprinters, and his endorsement of Thompson signals the arrival of a new era in Jamaican sprinting.

Powell to race Tajay Gayle, Fraser-Pryce faces Shauna Helps over 60m at Milo Western Relays

According to meet organizer Ray Harvey, MVP Track Club, UTech and Speed Unit Track Club, requested that he add three 60-metres races the schedule. As a result, the first of those three races will be run at 9:40 am.

In that race, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will line up alongside Shauna Helps, Jodean Williams, Ezinne Okparaebo of Norway and four other athletes.

In the second race Utech athletes Ojamu Graham, Marcus Brown and Tarisco Bell will line up against five other athletes including Chaquille Sam of Montserrat.

The final 60-metre dash former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell will face World Long Jump champion Tajay Gayle and Nesta Carter.

Julian Forte, Austin Hamilton of Sweden are also listed among the starters.

Ray Harvey said the races are expected to be a treat for all the spectators who turn up to the venue on Saturday.

Powell was paying child support, being asked to pay more - report

This detail has emerged through new reporting by the Jamaica Gleaner from the sprinter’s Family Court on Thursday.

According to a report in the Jamaica Gleaner, Powell was already paying child maintenance of JMD$25,000 a month up to earlier this year, to support his seven-year-old daughter. However, the child’s mother is requesting an increase that would put the amount to JMD$40,000 monthly.

According to the Gleaner, in child-maintenance settlements, the complainant is required to match the request being sought from the defendant. If settled, the full maintenance of the child, in this case, would be $80,000 per month.

The 37-year-old Powell, who has requested a paternity test, is being represented by attorney-at-law Annaliesa Lindsay. Michelle Thomas is representing Persaud-Webb.

A gag order has been placed on all parties involved in the matter.

Statue of Asafa Powell to be unveiled February 9

 This was announced by Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, who received the all-clear from Powell to move forward with plans to erect a monument in his honour at Independence Park at the National Stadium.

 The sprinter and his wife, Alyshia, signed off on the maquette during a recent call on Minister Grange.

 The Powells remarked that the sculptor got the details “just right.”

 Minister Grange said the “sign-off by Asafa is an extremely important part of the process” which has included months of discussions and review of models between the sculptor, Basil Watson, and the athlete.

 The bronze statue — to the scale of one and quarter life-size — is the last of four monuments in tribute to outstanding Jamaican sports stars that have been commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport under the Jamaica 55 Legacy Programme. 

 The statues of Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce and Veronica Campbell Brown have been completed and installed.

Sub-10 King Asafa Powell honoured with 2024 Bleu & Bougie Superstar Award

Bleu & Bougie and White Soiree En Blanc are popular events staged by Jamaicans in New York City.

Originally scheduled to receive the award on Saturday, Powell graciously accepted the honor on Sunday during the White Soiree En Blanc event, the second day of the Elite Weekend festivities.

Powell, hailed as one of Jamaica’s most decorated athletes, boasts an impressive track record of multiple Olympic and World Championships medals. His remarkable career culminated in his retirement from track and field in 2022, leaving behind a legacy of unparalleled speed and athleticism. Powell has run the 100m dash under 10 seconds, a world record 97 times.

Powell expressed his gratitude for being honoured by a Jamaican organization, especially within the New York Diaspora. "I feel blessed receiving this honour because it shows that I’ve done something legendary to be proud of," he remarked, reflecting on the significance of the recognition.

When asked about his career success, Powell spoke fondly of representing Jamaica on the global stage. "Wearing our national colours at the Olympic or World Championships gave me great joy and had the greatest impact," he reminisced, highlighting the standout moments of his illustrious career.

With the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships (Champs) about to begin in Jamaica on Tuesday, Powell revealed limited memories of his days competing at the prestigious 113-year-old high-school championships.

"My memories competing at Champs are not so many. The year I went, I was the only athlete from my school, and making the finals was a big achievement." Despite his limited experience, Powell expressed admiration for the event's enduring success, praising the new generation for carrying on its legacy.

Powell's last attendance at the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships (Champs) was in 2022, as he shared that he visited Ghana in 2023. Expressing gratitude to Jamaicans in New York, Powell conveyed his heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering support he received from the diaspora throughout his career, acknowledging their enduring love and encouragement.

The Bleu & Bougie Superstar Award adds another accolade to Asafa Powell's illustrious career, reaffirming his status as a legendary figure in Jamaican track and field history.

Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson and Asafa Powell named to Jamaica's World Relays team

Thompson, 29, has been named to the 4x100 relay squad that includes Natasha Morrison, Natalliah Whyte, Remona Burchell, Kasheika Cameron and Shashalee Forbes.

She, Whyte, and Forbes are also down to compete in the 4x200m relay along with Candice McLeod, Tiffany James and Anastasia LeRoy.

Jamaica’s 4x100m team will comprise Powell, Oshane Bailey, Nesta Carter, Julian Forte, Nigel Ellis, Romario Willams and Kadrain Goldson while Goldson, Ellis, Williams, and Michael Bentley will make up the 4x200M team.

Meanwhile, Jackson heads up a women’s 4x400m squad that includes Stephenie-Ann McPherson, Shiann Salmon, Janieve Russell, Rhonda Whyte, Tovea Jenkins, Roneisha McGregor and Christine Day.

The men’s team will have Zadrian Barnes, Troy Whyte, Javon Francis, Terry Thomas, Keeno Burrell, Jamoi Jackson, Demar Murray, and Nathon Allen.

Rasheed Broadbelt, Ronald Levy, Deuce Carter, Janeek Brown, Megan Tapper, and will Jeanine Williams contest the Mixed Shuttle Hurdles.

The team will be managed by Marvin Anderson, who will be assisted by Craig Richards. Paul Francis will be the Technical leader and will have coaches Jerry Holness, Bertland Cameron and Lamar Richards as his support.

Dr Anthony Cox has been named Team Doctor.