To find its toughest competition, Jamaican track team looks in mirror
RIO DE JANEIRO — Though Hansle Parchment won’t race in Rio because of a hamstring injury, the reigning bronze medalist from the London Games continues to have an impact on the star-studded Jamaican team.
It’s seen most in a mentality Parchment has shared with his younger teammates, one that imbues the always assured Jamaicans with an extra sense of confidence leading into competition.
“As my former teammate would say, ‘They all fear us,’ ” said 24-year-old hurdler Deuce Carter, one of several Jamaican runners set to make their Olympic debut. “That’s Hansle Parchment. So I’m using it as motivation.”
A motivated Jamaican team is a scary team, as the rest of the sprinting field at the Rio Games will attest. The country has claimed 66 track and field medals in its Olympic history, 43 coming since the 1996 Atlanta Games. Jamaica won 12 medals at the 2012 London Games, the most in its Olympic history.
While other countries were more successful overall — the USA won 28 medals, and Russia had 16 — the Jamaicans specialize in the specific subset of short-distance sprinting events, and no country is better. Shelly-Ann Frayser-Price, like Bolt, has won the 100 at consecutive Olympics.
The USA will again provide the stiffest competition for the medal podium. U.S. sprinters have been on a recent tear, posting four of the world’s fastest times this season in the 100 during team trials in July.
Those times have seemingly sent a message to Usain Bolt, who has claimed back-to-back gold medals in both the 100 and 200 at the past two Summer Games.
“I never really try to pick out one person,” Bolt said, in a subtle message to Justin Gatlin, who has served as Bolt’s foil despite only occasional head-to-head success. “It’s all about the eight people, and they decide it on that day.”
Besides, even as Gatlin, Trayvon Bromell and the rest of the U.S. team stands at the ready, Jamaica find its stiffest competition in the mirror.
“We can’t see anyone else but Jamaica,” said four-time Olympian Asafa Powell. “No one exists but Jamaica. So it’s Jamaica one, two, three.
“We have a great team here. Every time we go onto the track we’re capable of creating history.”