The Art of the Athlete –
What makes them great?
In the sporting arena, there are men and women who are capable of breathtaking feats of skill, strength and endurance. They consistently perform at the highest level, and in many cases, manage to leave an indelible mark on their sport through awe-inspiring achievements.
The likes of Diego Maradona, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods easily fall into this category. Closer to home, world 100-metre record holder Asafa Powell, batting prodigy Brian Lara and recent NBA Hall of Fame inductee Patrick Ewing (Jamaican born) are sources of immense pride in the region.
But what exactly is it that makes these athletes stand out in their chosen field? Any discourse on this topic usually includes words like “natural talent” and “physically gifted”, but just how valid is the argument of genetic predisposition in the making of a great athlete?
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One-on-one –
With Renê Simões
Ten years have passed since the Jamaican senior football team traversed the imperious and seemingly magical Road to France. The euphoria of qualifying for the World Cup and the grandeur of the achievement are permanently etched in the collective consciousness of the Jamaican people, who have been longing to relive that 1998 experience ever since.
With the next World Cup coming up in South Africa in 2010, the nostalgia for past glory and the levels of expectation continue to rise. T he change in administration of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) brought with it the return of Rene Simoes, the architect of Jamaica’s historic qualification. The Brazilian has been asked to repeat what was once thought to be an unattainable feat in the realm of “the beautiful game” – qualify Jamaica for the World Cup.
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Sherone Simpson –
Running back to the front
Some five months removed from what was the worst year in her short career as an international athlete, Commonwealth 200-metre champion Sherone Simpson, has already put 2007 behind her. She prefers to take from the experience, the things that will return her to the forefront of women’s sprinting.
In 2006, Simpson dominated the short sprints on the world stage, beating the best the world had to offer. She was so dominant that by season’s end she had the seven fastest times run that year. They were all under 11 seconds, and her 10.82-second run into a slight headwind at the National Stadium was, by far, the fastest time run that year.
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Damani Ralph –
Triple Surgery Can’t Stop Him!
Three knee surgeries in two years and a cancelled professional contract were not enough to break his spirit. Despite the obvious obstacles, former Reggae Boyz sensation, Damani Ralph, still harbours thoughts of once again playing the sport he loves. His bustling runs and ball skills once struck fear in opposing defenders. Today, the mere mention of his name is met with an impulsive "where is he now?".
A once glittering career has faded, and for the 27-year-old striker, the setbacks could not have come at a worst time.
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