Hilary Robertson-Hickling

"Good better best, never let it rest, until your good gets better and your better best." This old saying came to mind as I heard of personal best and season's best in relation to the performance of athletes in the recently completed IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

The performance of our Jamaican team was phenomenal and the haul of 10 medals is evidence of that. We owe the athletes, coaches and managers a debt of gratitude after they lifted our spirits over the trauma of Hurricane Dean and the elections in Jamaica. We are also pleased with the inspiring performances of many other Caribbean countries like the Bahamas, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.

The continent of Africa was well represented by its native sons and daughters and those in its far-flung diaspora, and as I looked at one of the medal ceremonies for the relays two of the twelve athletes who were representing Jamaica the U.S.A. and the United Kingdom were daughters of the continent which is rising from the ashes of history. The recent controversy in the U.S.A. about the designation of the members of the Rutgers University Womens Basketball Team as "nappy headed hoes" by a well known commentator, came to mind as I saw African-Americans exceed in their best for a nation that seems ambivalent about them at best but at worst seems to despise and disrespect them.

Disgraceful situation

During the same time the disgraceful situation in New Orleans continued as the second anniversary of Katrina was commemorated and that city displayed how little America cared about the African-Americans who were described as refugees and other negatives. What is absolutely important to remember is that the athlete represents him or herself but as the Ethiopian said she ran for her flag i.e. her country.

There were many heroic moments displayed by our own athletes as well as others who were the first to reach the Games, the finals or even gain a medal. Tears flowed freely and many were moved at the courage, bravery, camaraderie of the persons who participated. Maybe a personal best can encourage the onlooker to realise that the triumph over adversity, over discrimination, illness, cultural barriers is ennobling for humanity. The media did an excellent job and the organisers have a lot to be proud of.

There are many lessons for the new school year here in Jamaica; individual students will have to be determined to do their personal bests in spite of the ravages of the hurricane, or some other adversity. There is often littleemphasis on the individual's responsibility to achieve the best of which he or she is capable. What the individual performances in the championships demonstrated is that a personal best is good for team as well as the country.

Jamaica needs to transform the personal best into a national best as we seem to be displaying our national worst in such aspects as the propensity for violence. What is good to remember is that there is still so much good in us that we need to ensure that the best is yet to come. A heroes welcome awaits our returning sons and daughters and they should not allow those who are negative to diminish their achievements. They must learn from mistakes and try to improve next time.