Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
The world's fastest man Asafa Powell (seated left), coach Stephen Francis (standing left), Olympians Michael Frater and Sherone Simpson join hands during Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport Portia Simpson Miller's call to fight against crime. This was during a welcome home ceremony for Powell at the Norman Manley International Airport's VIP lounge on Wednesday. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
STEPHEN FRANCIS, coach of the world's fastest man - Asafa Powell, said he wasn't surprised his athlete broke the men's 100 metre world record.
"I may be seem a bit underwhelmed about all of this but the truth is that it was not really that big a surprise," Francis told journalists on his return with Powell on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Powell nipped American Tim Montgomery's three-year-old record of 9.78 seconds, by running 9.77 seconds at Tuesday's Super Grand Prix meet in Athens' Olympic Stadium.
"It was something Asafa and I sat down after the Olympics last year and outlined as a major goal for this year," said Francis, who also coaches World Championships 100m hurdles silver medallist Brigitte Foster-Hylton.
According to Francis, breaking the record, along with being the top overall male athlete in the sport, were two of Powell's goals for the 2005 season.
Francis, who holds a Masters degree in accounting from the University of Michigan, also used the opportunity to publicly congratulate his athlete.
"Even though it doesn't look as though I am happy, I think as far as Tuesday went, he (Powell) did very, very well, but I have to remind him and everybody else, the season has just begun," Francis said.
The coach also remembered the first time he saw Powell.
"In 2001, when I saw Asafa running at Champs, I was immediately attracted to him .... mainly because nobody knew him including me."
Francis said that at that time it was inconceivable any of the top athletes would want to stay in Jamaica to train, so he targeted Powell.
"I figured he had good prospects, but I would be lying if I told you that at the time when I saw him, he would be at this point now because I didn't even had that much confidence in myself as a coach at international level ... because I had just started," he said. To add to that, Francis said he wasn't sure of the support structure.
However, he made it clear that Powell's parents played an important role in the athlete's life.
"A lot of other parents would have shipped him off to the States ... but his brother Donovan (Olympian), parents and Nigel (brother) took the decision that Asafa was going to stay here."
He also gave credit to many other persons, but Foster-Hylton was identified as the standard bearer.
"She was the first person to show that we can be on top of the world right here. Her dedication and attitude to training has been invaluable to all the other athletes.
"If it wasn't for her, I don't think we would achieve what we have achieved," he explained.
Francis, also spoke of the work put in to get Powell back on track, especially after the disappointment at the Olympic.
"I think the key thing was to get him mentally prepared to train, starting back in November of last year.
"How do I get him hungry to come back knowing that he could do a lot better?
"I think we have accomplished that by just setting him goals and discussing stuff with him. His teammates also encourage him."
