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Powell has explained how his friendship with Usain Bolt made team Jamaica unbeatable for nearly a decade.
Jamaican sprint legend Asafa Powell has revealed how his friendship with Usain Bolt laid the foundations for nearly a decade of sprint dominance by Team Jamaica.
Powell, part of a generation of athletes that set incredibly high standards, shared how the camaraderie within the team created an environment for success, especially between 2008 and 2016.
During this period, Jamaican sprinters dominated the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relays in the men's category. The bond within the Jamaican team gave them an extra advantage, as even American sprinter Justin Gatlin admitted. Powell explained that his relationship with Bolt fostered a healthy atmosphere that allowed future sprinters to thrive.
“I remember in 2003 in Paris. Usain was probably 15 years old, but we were hanging out, riding bicycles through the village every day. I did not know what it was at the time, but it was cool,” Powell said on Gatlin’s Ready Set Go podcast.
“We had things in common. We liked to have fun and party, and from there, we created a bond. All the athletes that came after did not see it as a rivalry.
"They were all like, ‘Yo. You are Asafa, you are the one that made us want to do track and field, you are the one who made us want to stay in Jamaica.’ It was more respect than rivalry, and that created a bond for us in Jamaica. From then on till today, whenever we see each other, it is all jokes and laughter.”
Powell was the original sprint star, but Bolt’s rise to prominence shifted the spotlight. Despite this, Powell's strong brand remained influential, leading to occasional mix-ups between the two athletes.
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“It got to a point where people knew that Usain was there and they were looking for him. But at the same time, whenever Usain goes, the street people would mistake him for me. They would say, ‘Asafa! There’s Asafa!’” Powell shared.
“Until this day, you know, Usain and I, whenever we see each other or if we talk to each other, just all jokes.”
The strong bond between Powell and Bolt exemplifies the unity and respect that have been integral to Jamaica's sprinting success, creating a legacy that continues to inspire future generations of athletes.
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Fans have been dubbing Kishane Thompson 'Asafa Powell 2.0' since his heroic 100m Jamaican Olympic trials, but Gatlin has given two reasons why the runners are very different.
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