THE EDITOR, Sir:

MANY OF us waited with great expectation for Asafa Powell to finally win a gold medal at the World Championships in Osaka, but instead he won a bronze.

Even though many were disappointed and may have all sorts of criticisms, the point is we still have to be proud of his achievement. The fact is he won a medal at the event.

Great competitors

There are many great athletes in the world who never achieved the greatest attainment in their particular sport but remain in history as great competitors.

Ivan Lendl was a master tennis player on clay, winning the French title more than once, but he never won a Wimbledon crown. Roger Federer has five Wimbledon titles but the French title on clay still eludes him and, yes, even our own Merlene Ottey who was named the 'Bronze Queen' never won an Olympic gold but at 47 years old was still running and she remains a great athlete.

Asafa, you already have a gold star and this is something that will always be told and recorded in the annals of sporting history ... you hold the world record of 9.77 second in the 100 metres with the title the 'fastest man in the world'; you have a Commonwealth Games gold medal and now a World Championship bronze medal.

The Worlds gold medal may seem elusive but Asafa's greatness does not lie in medals, but in his determination and indomitable spirit to continue to be the greatest athlete that Jamaica and the world has ever seen.

We look forward to the Olympics in Beijing next year where we are sure Asafa will do us proud yet again.

To Asafa, I say, keep being the gold star that you are, shining for many young athletes to follow. For many of us who love you ... you already have many gold medals.

I am, etc.,

DUNDEEN FERGUSON

fcandc@cwjamaica.com