IS THE PROLONGED HATING of American sprinter Justin Gatlin necessary? I am a Usain Bolt fan just like the majority of the Caribbean and I am very pleased he won the 100. I look forward to him winning and hopefully breaking the 200 metres record, but the Gatlin hating has gone on too long.
Let’s be honest here: if there wasn’t a Gatlin, the last four years of track and field in the 100 and 200 metres would be somewhat boring. Bolt is entertaining and a phenomenal athlete so the world would watch his races regardless of whom he is running against, but the “competition” between him and Gatlin has made those races and to some extent the 4×100 metres relay very, very exciting.
Now, I believe Gatlin, after the second failed drug test, should have been expelled from the sport. However, he served his time based on what the IAAF deemed necessary. Going forward, I believe athletes proven to have wilfully used banned substances should be banned from the sport.
LaShawn Merritt, who has failed three drug tests, competed in the just-concluded 400 metres race, won a bronze medal, yet he didn’t receive the same bashing, criticism, booing and jeering as Gatlin. There may be many reasons for this, but as one person said, because Gatlin is Bolt’s biggest challenge, he is public enemy number one, especially given that Bolt is loved globally.
In my opinion, Gatlin has some serious mental strength. For the past four years he has been joked about, insulted and booed, yet he is able to remain composed, focused and executes. I just don’t know how he does it.
It is quite remarkable that so many people have taken a very high moral and ethical stance against Gatlin as it relates to doping or cheating within athletics. What is even more remarkable is that their high moral and ethical stance isn’t equally applied to their own actions. In their eyes, it is wrong and unforgivable to cheat in sports, but it seems not in relationships or to secure a promotion in their job or to cook the books to make the company finances look good or bribe voters to win a seat.
Gatlin, being a public figure, is automatically held to a higher standard and as a result of his “influence”, his responsibilities and consequences for bad judgement and ill practices are greater. Although most of us aren’t public figures, we should seek to hold ourselves to the same standards that we hold those we define as leaders and role models.
Hopefully this onslaught on Gatlin may be the key that opens the door of morality and ethics, not just in sports, but in government and politics, entertainment and media, family and relationships, education and business, as well as our personal lives.
Usain Bolt’s achievements, meanwhile, have been an inspiration for children, teenagers, adults and the elderly. This young man from Trelawny, Jamaica, has left many positive memories locked away in our minds and many exciting stories to share with generations to come. I believe he is the most famous person on the earth right now and what makes me feel really good is that he is a black man, he is from the Caribbean and he has achieved his goals in a clean and fair manner.
I am sure you would agree that Bolt is a gifted athlete and there is a lot we can learn from him. People who are gifted in a discipline generally don’t have to work as hard at their craft as others who aren’t. One thing I love about Usain Bolt is despite him knowing he is gifted, he remains dedicated to training, exercise, dieting and working hard to perfect his gift. He has been a good steward of what God has given him and as a result, he has been handsomely rewarded, but those rewards haven’t changed his identity or character.
That part of Bolt is within all of us. Let’s activate and produce it and be good stewards of what we have. When the rewards come, don’t let them change us.
Big respect to Usain Bolt for his contribution to society; you have represented the sport well and also Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. A big shout-out to all the athletes representing Barbados as well.
• Corey Worrell, a former Commonwealth youth ambassador, is director of C2J Foundation Inc., a project-based NGO focusing on social development.
Email: coreyworrell@gmail.com