The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Bailey gives Champs five stars

by Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Donovan Bailey - Anthony Foster

Former world record holder and Olympic gold medallist Donavan Bailey has given the 2008 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships a five-star rating.

"Ohh man, the last time I competed at Boys Champs was 27 years ago. I am telling you, it is phenomenal, this competition is by far the best high school competition in the world," said an enthused Bailey, who ran a world record 9.84 seconds to win the Olympic Games 100m title in 1996.

"I think Jamaica has to be proud," added Bailey, who along with Trinidad and Tobago's Olympic Games bronze medallist, Ato Boldon, watched last week's Championships at the National Stadium.

"All the sponsors, the fans that came out and supported this, the schools and the kids...this by far is the number one high school competition on the planet," added the Canadian, who also won the 1995 World Championships 100m title.

Bailey, who also anchored Canada to the 1996 4x100m Olympic title, urged the athletes, sprinters in particular, who did not win a medal at Champs, not to give up.

Future world champions?

"What I saw, any of these boys in the 100m or 200m finals can be the Olympic or World Champion, all of which I have accomplished," he said. "All it takes is a little grooming and training," he added.

Born in Manchester, Bailey emigrated to Canada at age 13, and played basketball before his graduation at Queen Elizabeth Park High School in Oakville, Ontario.

Using himself as an example, Bailey said some of the athletes who didn't do well may be precious late bloomers.

"When I competed at Boys Champs, I don't even remember where I placed. It might have been sixth or seventh, but I ended up becoming five-time world and Olympic champion, and world record holder," said Bailey, who competed for Knox College.

"At the end of the day, any one of these kids can make it to the top. I would encourage them, from the kid that finished 15th or the kid that came first, whatever you want to be you can make it."