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.”