On hearing of your surgery, I thought that you should not have raced. My husband had a similar surgery and it took him a recovery time of five months. But you are much younger than my dear Michael. Younger and stronger than most. This too shall past.

Hang in there. Get up, stand up to run again …relay…your own business…coach…

Grateful to Asafa…Usain and the countless others who have paved the way for us to tread.

Olympic hurdler Liu Xiang still a hero to China

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olychina19-2008aug19,0,7633138.story

It is important to uplift our athletes – across all sport in which they compete – when they are doing well But especially when they are not doing well. Others countries – those of Western industrialised areas in particular – have succeeded in this. From my experience living in New Zealand and now Australia, and the evidence is there for all to seee where the Americans and Brits are concerned, they promote, and celebrate their athletes. They sympathise with them in defeat, they build up their lagging faith and self-confidence in those instances when they have been outperformed , and collectively encouarge them unto greater things.

One Australian coach being interviewed on TV here (August 18, 2008) says she tells her swimmers to think of the Olympics ‘as any other race’. Some athletes – as brilliant as they are – can be overcome by the august-ness of the occasion and the pressure to succeed. This statement holds profound resonance in Asafa’s case. I bet American hurdler Lolo Jones had no idea she would have stumbled, and tumbled out as the favourite in the 100m hurdles. Do we execute Brigette Foster – Hylton and Ennis-London for failing yet again to medal? Or do we prop them up and celebrate their acomplishments on the world stage? I rekon we ought to do the latter.

I think we have elevated failure to such a pedestal position so much so that we are unable to see achievement unless it glistens in gold. It is a limiting colonial mentality to be so unable to fully celebrate our victories in ALL their DIMENSIONS. Unless they are doing the almost unhuman feats – akin to ‘Boltism’ – we seem blinded. Asafa will rise again, and if he doesn’t – let us collectively recall when he was in full flight and celebrate that.

I have to repent for my own thoughts on Asafa and his performance. I am rebuffed. I too disparaged his what seems to be a lack of mental toughness. I certainly do not agree with Tony and his careless, insensitive “wuss” remark, however I must admit was barely disappointed in Asafa. Strangely,my disapointment extended to thoughts like “I wished Gay was in better form, so that within that big race he would have beat Tyson Gay free and clear.” Wierd right?

I did expect Bolt to medal and in my mind, freed Asafa to do the best he could what ever that was going to be. Hume there is always going to be somebody better, if not now, at some other time. Maybe Asafa’s moment in the sun has passed, maybe not. We’ll see.

Congrats to all our fine athletes. God bless you all.

Let us congratulate ALL our athletes who have sacrificed to carry the Jamaican flag at the Olympics!