Asafa Powell
Synopsis:
Olympics: Powell propelled by personal tragedy as he prepares for greatest showdown on earth.
"Those things are nothing," Asafa Powell says quietly, shaking his head at suggestions that, just four days from the men's 100m final and the most intriguing event of this year's Olympic Games, he is no longer the Fastest Man on Earth but a twitchy choker and nervy underdog. His previous domination of sprinting had been shattered by his surprise loss to Tyson Gay in the world championships last August. If he set a new world record of 9.74 in Italy a few weeks later, after the pressure had been released, Powell was shocked when Usain Bolt, his friend and Jamaican protégé, ran even quicker this May while clocking an astonishing 9.72 in only his fourth 100m. On Saturday, he will face Bolt and Gay in potentially the greatest Olympic sprint in history.
- Publish date:
- 12 August 2008
- Author:
- Donald McRae
- Source:
- The Guardian
- Media:
