I recently had a rather eye-opening conversation with an 18-year old about one of Jamaica’s greatest ever female sprinters Merlene Joyce Ottey.
I would say this young man has a strong working knowledge of sports but especially of Jamaican athletes and their accomplishments.
It, therefore, struck me by surprise when the name Merlene Ottey did not resonate with him, certainly not in the way I would have expected.
It isn’t that he hadn’t heard the name before but the significance of it did not immediately dawn on him, not in the way speaking of a modern star like Usain Bolt or Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce would. Sadly, I find this of most I speak to from the younger generation.
I will admit when Ottey was in her prime his generation would not have been born but to me, she is such a legendary figure that her legacy of placing Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean on the female track and field map must never be forgotten.
And so, I took the opportunity to educate this youngster about Ottey and her stunning career, from becoming the first English-speaking Caribbean female to win an Olympic medal in 1980, to her switch to and subsequent major appearances for Slovenia post the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
I especially focused on some narrow misses for World and Olympic 100 metres gold at the 1993 Stuttgart World Championships and the 1996 Olympics, on both occasions narrowly, and some would say controversially, losing to American Gail Devers.
This young man seemed in awe, as he should be.
“She was cute too,” he said as he watched the 1993 IAAF World Championship 200 metres final when she finally won a global outdoor gold medal.
So many youngsters are unaware of the history and believe Jamaica’s track and field success started at the Beijing Games with Bolt and company.
But since 1948, the world has respected what we have offered in the global track and field space and for 20 years 1980-2000, Ottey stood front and centre as the leading figure not only but especially for women in the English-speaking Caribbean.
She won nine Olympic medals, including 7 in individual events, the most by any woman in track and field.
She backed that up with 14 World Outdoor medals and 7 World Indoor medals and she still holds the 200m world indoor record at 21.87 seconds.
Just this week, Ottey was again recognised at the National Honours and Awards ceremony on Heroes’ Day, receiving the country’s fourth highest honour, The Order of Jamaica.
This is a well-deserved and timely reminder of the greatness of the woman.
She was dubbed “Bronze Queen” as 15 of her 30 global medals, indoors and out, were of that variety. She had many narrow misses for gold but Merlene Ottey’s impact in inspiring generations of Caribbean female sprinters is worth honouring and celebrating even to this day.
So, this is in honour of Merlene Ottey.
May we never forget her impact on Jamaica, the Caribbean, and indeed global track and field.
Hetmyer fails Windies fitness test for second time in one year
Top class West Indies talent, Shimron Hetmyer, has been left out of the squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour after failing to meet the required fitness standard for the second time in just around one year.
The exclusion due to falling short of the fitness requirement is a repeat such issue for Hetmyer, who also missed out on selection in February of last year for a tour match against the same opponents. The 24-year-old Guyanese batsman has been in splendid form of late, only yesterday, crafting a masterful century to push Guyana Jaguars to the semi-final of the Regional Super50 competition.
According to Cricket West Indies (CWI) stipulations, players must pass a battery of tests that measure stamina and endurance, called the Yoyo test, before being eligible for selection.
The test is, however, not without controversy as some players who do not make the 40 grade in the yoyo test are given exemptions, at times much to the annoyance of those players who fail to meet the grade.
Hetmyer will be joined on the sidelines by fast bowlers Sheldon Cottrell and Oshane Thomas, along with West Indies vice-captain and all-rounder Roston Chase. Cottrell and Hetmyer were among 12 players who declined to take part in the team’s tour of Bangladesh earlier this month, after citing health and safety concerns.
Gayle, Edwards in but no place for Hetmyer or Chase as squads named for Sri Lanka series
Chris Gayle and Fidel Edwards have been recalled to the West Indies squad for next month’s T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka.
Windies pace bowler Fidel Edwards tipped to be recalled for Sri Lanka T20I series
Experienced fast bowler Fidel Edwards has been tipped to make a return to the West Indies squad, ahead of the Sri Lanka T20 series, which could mark his first appearance for the team in over eight years.
The 39-year-old pace bowler last suited up for the regional team against Sri Lanka, at Pallekele, in 2012. Edwards has been unavailable for selection after signing a Kolpak deal in 2015. However, the player became available again with the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union and the termination of such contracts.
Earlier this year, the player announced his availability for the West Indies and also took part in the IPL and Abu Dhabi T10 League. Despite being one of the oldest active players, in the sport, Edwards has lost none of the pace he has always been noted for and is cable of exceeding 90mph deliveries. His pace and guile were very much on display in a fiery over against in-form young compatriot Nicholas Pooran during the T10 league.
The Barbadian-born right-arm pacer has played 20 T20 internationals for the West Indies and claimed 16 wickets. He has also taken part in 55 Tests and 50 One-day Internationals. Edwards hopes to be part of the T20 World Cup squad, which will attempt to defend its title in October.
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