Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Merlene Ottey (second right) carrying out tests on world 100m record holder Asafa Powell during their TMG measurement system (tensiomiography) session at Hilton Kingston Hotel last Wednesday. Looking on are Shericka Willimas (right), Sherone Simpson (partially hidden), Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Grace Jackson. - PHOTO BY ANTHONY FOSTER
JAMAICAN SPRINT legend Merlene Ottey has pledged to extend her contribution to the country's track and field programme.
Ottey, Jamaica's most decorated athlete with 22 Olympic (8) and World Championship (14) medals, along with Srdjan Djordjevic from her company, carried out a number of tests last Thursday using a TMG Measurement System (tensiomio-graphy) on several leading national athletes at the Hilton Kingston Hotel.
This she did the day after witnessing the unveiling of a statue in her honour in front of the National Stadium last Wednesday.
At the time, she said competing in the green, gold and black colours of Jamaica had always been her "greatest pleasure and honour".
Ottey added: "I live in Slovenia but I will always be Jamaican. I will also offer all my assistance to Jamaican athletes and the track and field fraternity whenever I can."
HAPPINESS
Howard Aris, the president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) Howard Aris, expressed happiness with Ottey's continued contribution and promised to utilise her muscle-testing machinery in the future.
"We are very happy that Merlene has decided to work with us on this and we will continue to use her from time to time," Aris said.
"The entire sporting world is using the technology primarily because of the professionalism in sports now," Aris said.
The machine costs approxi-mately US$20,000 and Aris went on to list its benefits saying:
"The machine measures the speed of contraction of muscles, which is critical to determine whether or not someone is going to be a sprinter or longer distance runner."
He added that it also gives an analysis between hamstring on one side and the calf muscle as a group on the other side.
"It also helps where post injuries are concerned as when damage is done to your muscle the machine can measure your return of strength in a particular muscle group.
"This helps you to measure the strength and performance of muscles, which is a good way of knowing what you are doing," he further explained.
Ottey and Djordjevic have been doing research on their muscle mechanism for some time and have compiled over 2000 experiments with different people all over the world, primarily footballers.
Aris said Ottey had offered to carry out similar experiments in Jamaica and thus they ensured the unveiling of her statue coincided with the research visit.
Athletes tested were Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, Aileen Bailey, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Sherone Simpson, Shericka Williams, Kade Green, Kevin Stewart, Xavier Brown, Remaldo Rose, Alain Bailey, Gregory Little, Andre Wellington and swimmer Brad Hamilton.
