Former 100 meter world record holder Asafa Powell has withdrawn from the recent Stawell Gift handicap race
Former 100 meter world record holder Asafa Powell has withdrawn from the recent Stawell Gift handicap race
in Australia after picking up a hamstring injury. A groin injury caused him to pull up during the 100-meter final at the London Olympics. These types of injuries have been plaguing Powell for some time now and it has left some critics asking the question, “Is Asafa Powell’s track and field career over?”
Some fans think Powell should maybe take a year off to allow his injury to heal properly and then hit the track again when he’s better. Others think he should just shake off the bad days when his injury acts up during a race and just prepare for the next race day. However, the sub-10 king will be 31 years old this year and one may argue that he doesn’t have many more years left in the sport.
I think Powell’s track and field career is over in the sense that he will never beat Blake or Bolt and everyone knows they are the ones to beat. Let us not forget too that there are many upcoming athletes who are younger, fitter and stronger, and are just waiting for the opportunity to burst onto the world scene. Sure we may see Powell performing well in the Diamond league and a few other races, but just like any other great champion, there will come a time when he’ll have change his career and earn money other ways.
There is no doubt that Asafa Powell is one of the greatest athletes of our time, even little babies know this. The poem, “To an athlete dying young” by A.E. Housman, a modern British poet, comes to mind when I think of Asafa Powell. The poem is about an athlete who has died young, but who has lived on even after death. Housman paints a picture of this athlete who has done his country proud and he shows how the people praised him even after he died. And so, I think Powell’s name will be in the history books for a long time, even after he has given up the sport of track and field. People will not remember Powell’s injury or the races that he could not complete because of his injury. We will all remember Asafa Powell as one of the greatest athletes to ever live, the man with the most sub-10 times, the man who started Jamaica’s take -over of the sprint events.
Writer: Zavia Walker
Disclaimer: All the commentary posted in this article are my personal view(s) and do not reflect the view(s) of Yardie Sports, any associations, Federations or Governing bodies
You must be logged in to post a comment Login