Jamaicans can arouse global passion for athletics: Gatlin
American sprinter Justin Gatlin, who won the 100-metre race at the Jamaican Invitational Saturday, said athletic fans in this Caribbean island are capable of arousing global passion for athletics.
|Last Updated: May 07, 2014, 12:55 PM IST|Source: IANS
Kingston, Jamaica: American sprinter Justin Gatlin, who won the 100-metre race at the Jamaican Invitational Saturday, said athletic fans in this Caribbean island are capable of arousing global passion for athletics.
Gatlin, who got the better of Jamaican pair Andrew Fisher, 10.21, and Nesta Carter, 10.22, to stop the clock in 10.11 seconds, has described track and field fans on the island as passionate and encouraged them to show that passion to the world, reports CMC.
"My message to the Jamaican people is thank you and keep showing the world what passion really means," said Gatlin, who received a mixed reaction from the near 15,000 spectators inside the National Stadium.
"That`s what we need in track and field. If we can teach the world what passion really is, I think track and field can take over all the other countries."
Gatlin believes the strong headwind inside the National Stadium during the men`s 100 metres robbed the crowd of a spectacle at Saturday`s event.
"I wanted to put on a show but because of the headwind it became really difficult," said Gatlin, the Olympic bronze and World Championships silver medallist.
"If we had better wind or turned it around (direction of the race), I think we would have seen something really good here."
The American, who had to chase down fast-starting University of Technology student, Andrew Fisher, had some words of encouragement for the young Jamaican.
"I think that Fisher is a brave athlete to be able to run with someone like Nesta Carter, myself, Weir -- athletes who have put out great times in the last couple of years," he said.
"To be able to seize the moment and make an impression like he did especially in the early stages is a sign of bravery."
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.