TRACK AND FIELD great Carl Lewis has always divided opinion.
I could see why after interviewing him last week as he took a break from the jump and sprint clinic he was putting on for young, local athletes at the National Stadium.
His views on certain topics are very strong and he is prepared to stand by them even if they are deemed controversial, offend others and hit where it hurts most.
I honestly believe from our discourse he thrives on controversy. It was like bring it on when I reminded him of the references he made about the Jamaica anti-doping programme after their athletes dominated the sprints at the 2012 London Olympics and that he angered many with his comments.
Those who remember the comments felt they were aimed at superstar sprinter Usain Bolt who became the only man to ever repeat as double sprint champion at an Olympics.
Not even Lewis was able to do it in his heyday so it was against that background some thought his doping references amounted to nothing more than sour grapes.
I said back then his statement was untimely because, even if some of the issues he raised weren’t confirmed later by the former executive director of the Jamaica Anti-doping Organisation (JADCO), Renee Anne Shirley, coming from a man who was, in my opinion, the best sprinter prior to Bolt’s advent, many would take it with a grain of salt.
There was no way that Lewis’ detractors were going to say anything else than he was envious of Bolt’s achievements after he had been knocked off the top of the all-time sprinting charts and with such dominance by the phenomenal Jamaican.
It is as though he felt he had a divine right to stay on his throne forever and be king of the sport’s blue riband and most prestigious event.
I wonder if it would have made a difference to Lewis if it was an American and not someone from a developing country that had superseded him to the top.
Probably not because, let’s face it, the world anti-doping authorities tend to focus more on what’s happening with the drug programmes in developing or Third World countries than in developed ones.
For instance, it seems that there has been more focus and interest in the past two years in what’s going on in Jamaica and Kenya than in Russia.
In February, president of the IAAF, Lamine Diack, said the sport faces a crisis over allegations of doping by Russian competitors.
We could argue, too, that the cases involving Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay may have been handled differently if they weren’t Americans.
So, there’s that particular mentality which perceives that if you’re successful and you’re not from a developed country, you have to be doing something wrong or shady.
Could it be that Lewis’ psyche is cut from the same cloth? Or is he so preoccupied with the notion of safeguarding his own legacy?
Seriously, it may more be the former because I don’t see how anyone can depreciate his 10 Olympic medals, including nine gold, gained from four Olympics.
Not only that, only the great Jessie Owens at the 1936 Games in Germany was able to gain gold medals in the 100, 200 metres, 4 x 100 metres relay and long jump as Lewis did in the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
In that aspect, his legacy is assured as well as his World Championship career in which he earned another 10 medals with eight being gold.
Yet you could believe, too, that despite his successes, he may still be a shade insecure or even unsure how history will remember him or what position he will hold in the pecking order of the all-time greats in sports, not just track and field.
Some stars who were in the spotlight can find it hard to cope when the accolades are being showered on a new generation and they become only references of the past.
Lewis would have us believe he’s not like that. He told the Weekend Nation: “I’m financially successful, I’m a United Nations ambassador, I’m coaching now, I’m not even taking a salary, I don’t need it and I don’t need the attention.”
I assessed from his persona that he is somebody who loves a challenge and that he was a fierce competitor as an athlete. Neither does he mind being lonely in defending what he perceives as “the truth” even if his detractors hate him for his views.
He was very articulate and detailed in passing on his knowledge to the youngsters and his interactive sessions were truly educational and inspirational.
I suppose that his excellent track record made it easy for someone of his ilk to get over his points to a group of athletes who weren’t born when he was competing.
Lewis emphasised that despite how much talent you have, success is only guaranteed through hard work. I don’t think there should be any division on that.
• Andi Thornhill is an experienced, award-winning sports journalist.
