The “Less is more Strategy for 2016″ says Asafa Powell

File Photo: Asafa Powell

The man dubbed by many, including himself, as the Sub Ten King, Asafa Powell, is still trying to find a way to fill that empty cabinet slot,as it relates to an individual Olympic medal.

The 32 year old athlete was guided through his last season by a new coach and in a new environment, but to many what looked to be in early season, a new dawning for Powell at major championship, ended in a repeat of years gone by.

Now picking up the pieces of 2015 and looking for to Rio 2016, for the 31st games of the Olympiad, Powell and his management seem to have figured out an error that may have cost him in Beijing.

Speaking to the Gleaner’s columnist Leighton Levy recently, he was quoted as saying “I had a long year. I just have go back and analyse to see where I went wrong in the season. We ran 13 or 14 races before the World Championships, and that’s probably something we shouldn’t do,”.

The question coming the fore now, was it a case of too much in one season or was it another showing of choking under the pressures of the moment?

Stress on his body as he is not so young an athlete anymore, could have contributed, but others say he was not the only “aged” athlete who did a lot on the circuit and still delivered in Beijing.

American sprinter and double silver medalist in Beijing, Justin Gatlin, is one such athlete.

Others have even cited the fact that two athletes that were tied for third Canadian Andre Degrasse (20) and USA’s Trayvon Brommell (20), not withstanding the fact that they are younger, had a long and demanding collegiate circuit. And even had national duties such at the Pan Am Games for the Canadian athlete.

Entering the new track season and the Olympics in sight, many share the view that Powell, at 33 years old and having a possible stronger crop of athletes to face, if he doesn’t get “mental hiccups” sorted out , he may even be watching the Olympics from the comforts of his living room.

Powell who while speaking also his expressed gratitude for being able to represent Jamaica again and make another global 100-metre final in Beijing.

He also admitted to the views shared by many over the years as lining up as one the favorites, but he might only be remembered in the future as the man that was favoured for a medal,when discussions about the Olympic Games and Asafa Powell arise.