The much-anticipated unveiling of a sculpture honouring track and field legend Usain Bolt, was done with the pomp and pageantry that met the expectations of all in attendance at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, including the man of the moment himself.

Amidst cheers and excitement at the moment of the unveiling, Bolt, was visibly proud and humbled to see the excellent work done by Basil Watson, who created the masterpiece that will remain a source of pride in the city for years to come.

In fact, the retired sprint legend, also received a proclamation that declared Friday, July 14, 2023, Usain Bolt Day in Miramar, and to top it off, he was presented with the keys to the City by Mayor Wayne Messam.

All this brought the famous idiom, “to the victor belong the spoils”, into sharp focus, as Bolt is indeed reaping the benefits of his success.

The iconic athlete is the only man to win the 100 and 200m at three consecutive Olympic Games (2008, 2012 and 2016) and he also set world records of 9.58 and 19.19 in the 100 and 200m, respectively at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany. Both records still stand today, 14 years later.

Bolt also won 11 gold medals, 13 overall at the World Championships between 2007 and 2017 when he retired from the sport after winning bronze in the 100m in London.

For sure, Bolt left a few encouraging words for aspiring athletes in particular, during a brief press conference to accommodate members of the media at the ceremony.

“You must believe in yourself and believe it is possible. Even when you don’t feel like getting up, you need to show up and work hard at your craft and in the end, it will pay off,” Bolt said.

Bolt’s sculpture, which is the first installation of the City’s Art-in-Public-Places initiative, was the brainchild of Vice-Mayor Alexandra Davis, who was delighted that her vision had come to fruition.

“This statue of Usain Bolt will not only serve as a source of inspiration for our residents, but I believe it will also attract visitors from far and wide,” Davis said.

“As people come to witness the magnificence of this statue, they will discover the charm and vibrancy of our city, leading to increased tourism and economic opportunities for local businesses. The statue will become a point of pride for our community, a landmark that showcases our commitment to excellence, athleticism, and the celebration of human achievement,” she added.

Jamaica’s minister of sport, Olivia “Babsy” Grange and members of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), were also in attendance at the unveiling ceremony that started with a banquet on Friday.

There was also a fundraising banquet and silent auction where Bolt memorabilia from his winning races were sold to the highest bidders, with proceeds benefiting the Usain Bolt Foundation and Do the Right Thing of Miramar, Inc.

On Saturday, hundreds of well-wishers turned out to see Bolt, who held a mini clinic with budding track stars, including aspiring Special Olympians, as he imparted knowledge about their start and form.

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz was also present and lent her voice to the proceedings.

With the much-anticipated unveiling of a statue of Usain Bolt at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, still two weeks away, the city’s vice mayor Alexandra Davis has given a glimpse of what the monument to the greatest sprinter of all time will look like.

In recent days, Davis posted images on her standing alongside the statute that will be mounted at the facility where Olympic relay gold medallist Briana Williams once trained under the watchful eye of coach Ato Boldon.

Noted sculptor Basil Watson was commissioned to undertake the project at a cost of US$250,000. It will be paid for under the Art in Public Spaces ordinance designed to promote art throughout the city of about 150,000.

“It will spur on economic development and serve as an inspiration for up-and-coming athletes of all ages and backgrounds,” Davis told Sportsmax.TV in 2022, adding recently that “developers pay into the fund if they cannot provide public artwork at their facility.”

Preceding the unveiling on Saturday, July 15, the city will host a fundraising dinner on Friday, July 14. A track meet will be held at the Ansin Sports Complex on Saturday that will be followed by a press conference after which the Bolt statue will be unveiled.

Though he has never competed at the facility, Bolt has been an inspiration to many of the large and diverse community that make up the City of Miramar in Florida.

The Jamaican sprinter is the only man to win the 100 and 200m at three consecutive Olympic Games (2008, 2012 and 2016). Bolt also set world records of 9.58 and 19.19 in the 100 and 200m, respectively at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany.

Both records still stand today, 14 years later.

Bolt also won 11 gold medals, 13 overall at the World Championships between 2007 and 2017 when he retired from the sport after winning bronze in the 100m in London.

A date has been set for the unveiling of a statue of the world’s fastest man in Miramar, Florida, Sportsmax.TV has been informed.

Located in southern Broward county, Miramar, a city of just under 150,000, boasts a thriving, large and diverse Jamaican community.

The statue of three-time Olympic 100m and 200m champion, Usain Bolt, is set to be unveiled on Saturday, July 15, 2023, Vice Mayor Alexandra Davis revealed on Tuesday.

“We have a date for the unveiling confirmed,” she told Sportsmax.TV. “The Friday (July 14), we will have a fundraising event, then Saturday, July 15 will be the unveiling with a programme on the track with young athletes and a press conference with the unveiling last.”

Davis also revealed that the statue that was done by noted sculptor Basil Watson is ready for the delivery and installation and that the foundation on which it will be mounted ‘almost’ done.

In November 2021, Davis, who was born in the United Kingdom but raised in Jamaica where she attended school right up to the tertiary level, announced plans to mount a statute of the 100m and 200m world record holder at the Ansin Sports Complex, which was once the training ground for Jamaica's World U20 100m and 200m gold medallist Briana Williams.

“We wanted to make sure we had a world-class Olympian as part of the art in public places,” said Davis back then.

However, the decision sparked division among the city commissioners, chief among them Winston Barnes, who believes the USD$250,000 price tag was a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“Attaching ourselves to monuments or icons is not going to make us a 24/7 city,” Barnes  was reported saying. “We’re not a tourist city — come on. I do not think we have the luxury to try to create monuments of icons simply at the fancy of elected officials.”

However, Davis divulged that much of the cost for the project is being paid by developers. "I created an Art in Public Places fund that is paid for by developers who cannot provide artwork at their facility," she explained.

Payment for the statue is reportedly to be made in four installments.

Bolt won gold medals in both the 100m and 200m in world-record times at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. He shattered both record again at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany establishing times of 9.58 and 19.19 in the 100m and 200m, respectively. Both records still stand today, 14 years on.

The towering Jamaica would go on to defend his Olympic titles in London in 2012 and again in Rio, Brazil in 2016 before hanging up his spikes in 2017.

Bolt also won World Championships gold medals in both short sprints in 2013 and 2015 as well as 200m gold in Daegu, South Korea in 2011.

Two members of the new age of Jamaican sprinting, Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake, were the top two finishers in the Men’s 100m at the 2023 Miramar Invitational at the Ansin Sports Complex in Florida on Saturday.

Seville, who finished fourth in the 100m at the World Championships last year, produced a season’s best 9.95 in the preliminaries before returning to run 9.91 in the final, a time that would have been a world lead if not for the 2.2 m/s wind, just over the allowable 2.0 m/s.

Blake’s time for second was 9.93 while Canadian Aaron Brown ran 9.97 for third.

In the Women’s equivalent, American Sha’Carri Richardson used a massive 4.1 m/s wind to run 10.57 for victory ahead of teammates Twanisha Terry (10.83) and Cambrea Sturgis (10.98). Jamaican Natasha Morrison was fourth in 11.05.

Richardson turned heads in the preliminaries when she ran 10.75 with a 2.8 m/s trail-wind before producing the stunning time a mere few hours later.

Bahamian Alonzo Russell produced a personal best 44.93 to take top spot in the Men’s 400m ahead of Botswanan Leungo Scotch (45.03) and Japan’s Rikuya Ito (46.02).

In the Women’s one lap event, Jamaica’s Charokee Young and World 200m Champion Shericka Jackson were second and third in 51.58 and 51.64, respectively, behind American winner Shamier Little (50.73).

Jamaican Marvin Williams ran 52.74 for third in the Men’s 400m hurdles behind American Amere Lattin (50.22) and Italy’s Gabriele Montefalcone (50.26).

Tonea Marshall narrowly won the Women’s 100m hurdles in 12.62 (2.2m/s wind) over Jamaican Amoi Brown (12.69) and Anna Cockrell (12.73).

The Men’s 110m hurdles was won by the USA’s Eric Edwards in 13.21 (2.7 m/s wind) over Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett (13.37) and Brazil’s Rafael Pereira (13.40).

Puerto Rico’s Ryan Sanchez took the title in the Men’s 800m in 1:46.59 ahead of Jamaica’s Rajay Hamilton (1:47.47) and the USA’s Kameron Jones (1:47.47).

St. Vincent’s Shafiqua Maloney ran 2:04.98 for second in the women’s equivalent. Ajee’ Wilson ran 2:02.95 for the win while Kendra Chambers was third in 2:06.29.

In the field, 2019 World Championship silver medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd threw 18.48m for victory in the Women’s shot put ahead of the USA’s Adelaide Aquilla (18.26m) and Great Britain’s Divine Oladipo (16.49m).

Chanice Porter jumped 6.59m for third in the women’s long jump behind American Taliyah Brooks (6.65m) and Nigeria’s Ruth Usoro (6.82m).

World champion athletes Steven Gardiner and Shericka Jackson are among Caribbean headliners set to compete at the Miramar Invitational at the Ansin Sports Complex on Saturday.

Gardiner, who is making a return after missing the 2022 World Championships in Oregon with an inflamed tendon, will run the 200m against a line-up that includes Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Botswana’s World U20 100m champion Letsile Tebogo.

The USA’s Kenny Bednarek will also compete in the half-lap sprint that is expected to be electric.

Meanwhile, Jackson, the reigning world 200m women’s champion, will take on a crack field in what will be her third 400m run for the season. She will line up against fellow Jamaicans, the Olympic finalist Stephenie-Ann McPherson, Janieve Russell and Charokee Young as well as American 400m hurdler Shamier Little and Aliya Adams.

World championships finalist Oblique Seville is among 22 sprinters listed for the 100m. The Jamaican prospect will take on compatriots Ackeem Blake, Andrew Hudson, Raheem Chambers, Oshane Bailey, and Michael Campbell for a lane in the finals.

Cejhae Green of Antigua and Barbuda, Ian Kerr of the Bahamas and Eric Harrison Jr of Trinidad and Tobago will also be aiming to make it into the finals. American veteran Mike Rodgers and current star Ronnie Baker will also be in contention.

Among the women, Briana Williams returns to her former training ground, hoping to make up for her poor performance over 200m at the recent Velocity Fest meet at the national stadium in Kingston. However, she will have her work cut out for her as she runs her first 100m this season.

A crack field has been assembled that includes the mercurial American Sha’Carri Richardson, compatriots Twanisha Terry, Teahna Daniels, Cambrea Sturgis, Melissa Jefferson and Javianne Oliver as well as Jamaicans Natasha Morrison, Jonielle Smith, Shockoria Wallace and Kashieka Cameron.

The 200m dash for women also promises to be intriguing with the likes of Caribbean stars World Championship 400m bronze medallist Sada Williams lining up against Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas and Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte.

The race will also include the supremely talented Abby Steiner, Tamari Davis and Kyra Jefferson.

Machel Cedenio lines up in the 400m against Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald and Alonzo Russell of the Bahamas. They will represent Caribbean pride as they do battle with the USA’s Michael Cherry and Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith.

Shafiqua Maloney of St Vincent and the Grenadines will take up the USA’s Ajee Wilson over 800m while Rajay Hamilton goes in the men’s equivalent against Puerto Rico’s Ryan Sanchez.

BVI’s Kyron McMaster will take on Marvin Williams of Jamaica and Andre Colebrook of the Bahamas over the 400m hurdles while Orlando Bennett, Damion Thomas of Jamaica and Shane Brathwaite of Barbados will challenge the might of American Daniel Roberts in the 110m hurdles.

Amoi Brown of Jamaica faces a tough field of Tonea Marshall, Anna Cockrell and Gabby Cunningham in the 100m hurdles that also features Haitian talent Mulern Jean.

In the field events, the long jump for both men and women should provide solid entertainment as 2019 World Champion Tajay Gayle, who has been gradually making a return from a long-term knee injury has been included in a field that also has LaQuan Nairn of the Bahamas and Andwuelle Wright of Trinidad and Tobago.

They will have their hands full facing Japan’s Shoutarou Shiroyama.

The women’s event promises to be an evenly matched affair as Jamaica’s Chanice Porter and Barbados’ Akela Jones will match skills against the USA’s Tiffany Flynn and Taliyah Brooks.

Danniel Thomas-Dodd and Lloydricia Cameron will be aiming for podium spots in the shot put as they take on the likes of Adelaide Aquilla and Khayla Dawson of the USA.

Three track and field meets have been scheduled in 2022 for the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, the training base of Olympic gold medalist Briana Williams and the home for a new life-size statue of the greatest sprinter of all time, Usain Bolt.

Bolt, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist and an 11-time World Champion, owns the world records for 100m (9.58), 200m (19.19) and the 4x100 meters relay (36.84).

The Miramar Invitational (Saturday, April 9, 2022), the Coach O Invitational (Saturday, June 11, 2022) and the NACAC New Life Invitational (Sunday, June 12, 2022) will be held at the complex where the city will pay tribute to the Jamaican and global sprint icon, Miramar Commissioner Alexandra Davis announced via a public statement on Tuesday.

“Artist Basil Watson has been commissioned to create the sculpture in Usain Bolt’s iconic “TO THE WORLD” pose from a position of kneeling on one knee,” Davis said.

 “I proposed the Art in Public Places ordinance to be able to promote art throughout the City.  The sculpture of the international and world-renowned track and field athlete will be funded in part by the Art in Public Places Fund as well as the Art in the Parks capital project.

“It will spur on economic development and serve as an inspiration for up-and-coming athletes of all ages and backgrounds.”

The monument is expected to be ready to be mounted by October 2022.

In 2021, the Ansin Sports Complex hosted two track meets that attracted hundreds of international athletes, more than 5,000 spectators and 30,000 international viewers via live stream.

At the Miramar Invitational that was held on Saturday, April 10, 2021, more than 160 international athletes including Justin Gatlin, Mike Rodgers, Ajee Wilson, Natoya Goule and Grant Holloway.

Akeem Bloomfield, Briana Williams, English Gardner, Kahmari Montgomery, Mike Rodgers, Kendra Harrison, Wil London and Elaine Thompson also participated at the meet.

It was also at that meet that Sha’Carri Richardson set a lifetime best 10.72 seconds to win the 100m. The performance moved her to the sixth all-time in the 100m.

On Saturday, June 5, 2021, the NACAC New Life Invitational- World Athletics featured approximately 200 international athletes, of which over 100 were Olympic qualifying athletes including Zachary Campbell, Jeims Molina and Kaden Cartwright.

It was there that Williams broke her national U20 record running 10.93 seconds before going on to become the youngest Jamaican to win an Olympic gold medal as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team in Tokyo.

The USA’s Trayvon Bromell also set his personal best and world-leading time of 9.77 seconds at this event.

“We were so thrilled to have welcomed these talented athletes and have them take advantage of the world-class amenities including the FTX Mondo Olympic track at Ansin Sports Complex. We look forward to hosting more international track and field competitions in 2022,” said Davis.

Over his 40-year career, Watson has completed major works in Guatemala, China, Jamaica, and the U.S.  Some of his major commissions include “Ring of Life” in London, “Martin Luther King” in Atlanta and “Cradle-The Future in our Hands” in Fulton County, Georgia.

When City Commissioner Alexandra Davis received a request for the city to host an auction and fundraiser for Jamaican Olympian Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in October, she jumped at the opportunity.

Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce was the toast of South Florida at the Miramar Cultural Centre in South Florida on Tuesday night at a red-carpet event that also served as an auction and fundraiser for her Pocket Rocket Foundation.

At the event dubbed ‘An Evening with an Olympian’, the four-time Olympian raised thousands of US dollars auctioning a pair of her running spikes, competition gear, a wig, a painting of mother and son by Mark Cameron and a weekend stay at the Altamont West Hotel.

However, the high-points of the evening were the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to the four-time 100m World Champion by Consul General Oliver Mair, the keys to the city of Miramar and Broward County as well as having Alexandra Davis, a City Commissioner for Miramar, declare November 16, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Day.

Consul General Mair told Sportsmax.TV that it was an evening when everything went according to plan and that Fraser-Pryce made it worth the while for all who turned out. She engaged the guests in conversation and took pictures with all who had requested.

“We have many icons that have made Jamaica proud; Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, Miss Lou, Usain Bolt, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is among the most decorated athletes of all time and she has done in a most respectable and humble manner,” said Consul General Mair, who presented Fraser-Pryce with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Her focus is always looking to empower others. Even in her book ‘The Promise’ she seeks to empower young people. Her foundation was also set up to support others.

“She has been doing this since 2008 in the sport, a woman who has put Jamaica on the world map following in the footsteps of Merlene Ottey and Veronica Campbell-Brown.”

For her part, Fraser-Pryce said she was thankful for the turnout and support she received for her foundation.

“Thank you to those in attendance especially the individuals that supported the auction,” she said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

“I cannot forget those persons that donated despite not being able to attend. As more is poured into me, the more I will continue to pour out to others. This is how we create lasting change for generations to come.”

Since 2008, when she became the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic 100m title, Fraser-Pryce has gone on to create a legacy as arguably the greatest female sprinter in history. She won Olympic 100m titles in Beijing in 2008 and again in London in 2012 and is one of only four women to do the same – Wyoma Tyus (1964, ’68), Gail Devers (1992, ’96) and Elaine Thompson-Herah (2016, ’21).

Along the way, Fraser-Pryce also won four 100m World titles (2009, 2013, 2017 and 2019) as well as a 200m title in 2013.

This past summer, Fraser-Pryce added to her already rich legacy when she won a silver medal in the 100m at the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the only woman to win medals in the Olympic 100m for four consecutive Games.

She added a third Olympic gold medal to her trophy case as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team that won in a national record 41.02, the third-fastest time ever.

Her work off the track has also been extraordinary. Through the Pocket Rocket Foundation, she has provided scholarships to scores of student-athletes enabling them to complete their high school education and to pursue tertiary education.

She has also hosted an annual Christmas treat for the children of Waterhouse where for the past few years she has also staged a six-a-side football competition aimed at maintaining peace within the under-served community.

Meanwhile, Consul General Mair said he was thankful to Jamaican-born elected officials in South Florida for their support of the event notwithstanding the short notice they had, explaining that they have always been supportive of similar ventures that are beneficial to the Diaspora.

Tokyo Olympics relay gold medalist Briana Williams was among several persons honoured with Heritage Awards in Sunrise, Florida on Sunday. The 19-year-old Olympian was recognized for her youth leadership and her broader influence across the globe.

Elaine Thompson-Herah won both the 100 and 200m at the inaugural NACAC New Life Invitational in Miramar, Florida, on Saturday.

American Trayvon Bromell will square off against Jamaican Yohan Blake in the men’s 100 metres dash at the inaugural North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) New Life Invitational.

Reigning double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah headlines a large field of world-class athletes down to compete at the inaugural North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) New Life Invitational this Saturday at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida.

Natalliah Whyte was well pleased with her 100m outing at the Miramar South Florida Invitational on Saturday but she is hoping that she will go much faster as the season progresses. Whyte was third in 11.16 behind runaway winner Sha’ Carri Richardson, who ran a jaw-dropping 10.72s, the fastest time in the world this year.

The 23-year-old Jamaican, who ran the lead-off leg for Jamaica’s gold medal-winning 4x100 relay team at the World Championships in Doha in 2019, had run even faster in the preliminary round clocking 11.07s, her season-best.

However, taking the two races together, Whyte said she was happy with the overall performance.

“The first 100 metres of the season after not competing or doing much due to Covid this time last year, and with a time of 11.07 in the heats and 11.16 in the finals, I am satisfied,” she told Sportsmax.TV following her race.

She explained that the races were meant to provide her and her coach with indicators of what her progress is this season.

“It’s really just taking each race at a time and finding out my weak points and working on those so I can put everything together to get that perfect race,” said Whyte, who trains with Puma MVP International at their base at the Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

“I was hoping to go faster in the final run but, as I said, the race wasn’t perfect but there is still room for improvement. It’s the first race of the season and I think everything will come together as I move forward.”

Whyte did not compete indoors during the winter but does not believe it had any impact on her performances outdoors where she has run two 200m races recording times of 22.88 and 23.28 on March 20 and April 4, respectively.

“Not competing indoors doesn’t give you that early push that pushes you into outdoor. So basically, just training doesn’t give you a true benchmark of where you would want to be,” she explained.

“Competing with world-class athletes is what really sets the standard for what to work on and to just see where you are in your progress. So this meet was a great meet. It had a lot of world-class athletes so it was a true test of progress.”

Having run both short sprints so far this season begs the question, does she plan to compete at both at the Olympic this summer should she qualify at her national championships set for June? Whyte said it’s too early to say.

“Both events complement each other so at the moment I am using each event to get better at the other. The 200m really helps with speed endurance but eventually, when it gets closer to that time, my coach and I will decide based on how the season progresses, what will be best,” she said.

“At the moment, I am delighted for the opportunity to compete. I haven’t run the 200 consistently for the past few years so I am just trying to familiarize myself with the event again. So it’s really a learning process as I go along.  I am also trying to stay injury-free, which is my number one goal.”

Commenting on Richardson's phenomenal time, Whyte said: "Richardson's run was spectacular, she’s a very talented athlete."

World long-jump champion Tahjay Gayle and silver medalist Danielle Thomas-Dodd were the only winners on a day of mixed results for Caribbean athletes at the Miramar South Florida Invitational at the Ansin Sports Complex on Saturday.

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn was shocked at the time she ran to win the 200m at the Florida Invitational “Pro Addition” meeting on Saturday.