THE EDITOR, Sir:
ONE OF my greatest moments as a Jamaican was when I saw Sherone Simpson, Aleen Bailey and Veronica Campbell, all lined up for the 100-metre sprint finals at the Olympics in Athens, Greece. I was overwhelmed with emotions, which saw tears
flowing from my eyes as I
cherished the moment, not only as a Jamaican ,but an African who has struggled throughout the years to take our rightful place in history.
Let me make it very clear I am not someone who cries easily, I was moved. For so many years the sprints had one dominant force and that is the mighty United States, but there is a breath of fresh air at this moment. At no time in our history can I record three Jamaicans in a 100-metre finals at the Olympics. I might be wrong, but one thing that has never happened before is Jamaica having three athletes at such a tender age in the finals of the Olympics 100 metres.
NEXT OLYMPICS
All three ladies are in their early 20s and will be much stronger at the next Olympics. So much said on age, but the moment was a very tense and emotional one for Jamaicans all across the globe as we proudly watched the race.
I was even more touched when I saw all three young ladies embracing each other after the race was completed. The Jamaican spirit was present in Athens in the most unified form I have ever seen it since we
qualified for the 1998 World Cup.
These three young ladies have brought back pride and unity to our beloved country and we should use this as a stepping stone in mending the divide that is threatening the very social and moral fabric of our society which has suffered seriously in recent years. They brought back pride to our country internationally. Let us bring it back locally. Let me use this occasion to
commend all of those past Jamaican Olympians who represented us proudly during their time at the crease.
I am, etc.,
CRAIG C. DAVIS
ccraig73@yahoo.com
