WELL THE Rio Olympics are over now, the many stadiums are quiet and empty; every thing is silent and the athletes have all gone home tuh duh various countries, taking along wid dem, all types of emotions.
Some o’ dem gone home on a low because duh didn’t achieve what they wanted tuh. Some, even though duh didn’t take home a medal, feeling glad dat duh at least get the opportunity tuh represent duh country. Another set o’ dem gone home feeling on a high because despite not having anything ‘round duh necks, they got the chance tuh meet and rub shoulders wid some o’ the greatest athletes in the world.
Some o’ the athletes gone home wid-out a single medal but duh still pon a high because they performed their personal best. Meaning, duh out-do demselves and duh out-do other athletes who was even far better than dem. Then ya get the ones who was trying fuh years and years tuh even qualify far less get a medal, dem finally get one and oh the jubilation.
And wha’ bout the upsets; the ones who get ovah-thrown, the tears, the disappointments, the falls, the injuries, the mishaps and the pain of disqualification. But then there were the ones who went home wid medals and more medals. The ones like the li’l 19-year-old, four-foot eight inch gymnast wonder girl, Simone Biles from the United States who blow ‘way evahbody, even the great Chinese. And Michael Phelps who decide tuh come out o’ retirement after a whole set o’ years tuh blow evahbody outta the water and carry home four whole gold medals. Boy when ya great, ya great!
But talking bout great, while Michael Phelps might be the greatest in the pool, we got the bolt of lightning!
We got Usain Bolt!
We in the Caribbean got the man who will go down in history as the greatest sprinter of all time. Not a boy cahn match up long-side o’ Bolt. De Grasse try he best but it gine take a long, long time before anybody could walk in Bolt’s shoes.
He say this is his last Olympics; he say he hanging up he boots, dat he retiring and I totally agree wid him. It is always good tuh go out pon a all time high, especially in a sport dat does take summuch outta ya. A sport dat ya have tuh make sure ya eat healthy, practice, get a lot o’ rest, try not tuh break down or get sick, and stay away from anything dat might turn up in ya urine when duh decide tuh test ya.
Like one time I hear an interview wid him and he was saying dat duh does test he all the time. Ya see, duh cahn begin tuh understand nor accept how and why a simple man from the Caribbean could run suh fast just naturally and off o’ he own natural ability. Bolt, who is now 30 years old, lived up tuh he name at the Rio Olympics in the 100 metres, the 200 metres and the 4×100 metres relay. Jamaica could afford tuh celebrate, dem athletes was fantastic at the Olympics.
Although our contingent was small and we didn’t do as well as we woulda like, we athletes did a good job and we are proud of dem. I know dat one day our athletes gine be among some o’ the best in the world. I know we will have something tuh celebrate like anybody else. I know we will hear our national anthem playing across the Olympic stadium somewhere in the world.
I know our athletes will be on dat podium, not on the bottom level but at the very top, receiving the gold.
• Mavis Beckles was born and raised in The Orleans. She has an opionion on everything.