Usain Bolt
Former sprint star and gold medalist, Carl Lewis, issued
controversial statements about Jamaica, criticizing the island nation's
steroid screening program, due to the massive success of sprinters such as
Usain Bolt. According to U.K. Sport, Lewis, who was cited three times for
doping, but had each citation overturned in U.S. court, made inaccurate and
incorrect statements about the nation of Jamaica by stating, "I think
there are some issues. Countries like Jamaica do not have a random (drugs
testing) program, so they can go months without being tested. I'm not
saying anyone is on anything, but everyone needs to be on a level playing
field. I'm not saying they've done anything for certain. I don't know. But
how dare anybody feel that there shouldn't be scrutiny, especially in our
sport?"
Lewis kept making disparaging comments from the time of the
Beijing Olympics, escalating it, upset that Bolt had broken his record and
began implying Jamaica had somehow found a magic steroid that had not been
detected, which is untrue. Furthermore, Bolt was the most tested athlete at
the Beijing and London Olympics.
Yesterday, Bolt finally responded to Lewis' comments during
an interview. Bolt expressed admiration for U.S. Sprinting legend, Michel Johnson,
but spoke of his disdain for Lewis' statements. Bolt stated, "I'm
going to say something controversial right now. Carl Lewis, I have no
respect for him. The things he says about the track athletes is really
downgrading for another athlete to say something like that. I think he's
just looking for attention, really, because nobody really talks much about
him. That was really sad for me when I heard the other day what he was
saying. It was upsetting. I've lost all respect for him. All
respect."
Carl Lewis
When further questioned about his response, this prompted
the fastest man alive, Bolt, to reveal the nature of Lewis' statements that
had offended him, in the aforementioned interview yesterday. Bolt replied,
"It was all about drugs. Talking about drugs. For me, an athlete out
of the sport to be saying that. That was really upsetting for me. Really
upsetting. To jump up and say something like that. As far as I'm concerned
he's looking for attention. That's all."
I was disappointed that Lewis had made those statements. It
would have been nice if he had just been happy for his fellow global
sprinters that have done well. Bolt's rise and that of his teammates has
advanced the sport, making it even more popular with a new generation. That
should be one of the goals of every sport.
When you look at what newer stars such as Lebron James has
done for basketball, Michael Phelps has done for swimming and Bolt has done
for sprinting, among others, deceiving us all into thinking we can go out
there and do the same and not fall flat on our faces (or end up with a
busted lip because you falsely think you're Michael Jordan), as they've
made it look so easy and fun, it's a good thing. Somewhere in that global
group of admirers, future athletes are inspired to work hard and make it to
the top as well. That doesn't deserve pessimism.
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