Asafa Powell - Research Paper Example

Athletics in Jamaica has been quite helpful, especially in empowering youths and providing careers. Most Schools in Jamaica include athletics in their curriculums, enabling young people to get involved in the career at a young age. There are several respectable men and women athletes from Jamaica, including Shelly-Ann Fraser, Merlene Ottey, Usain Bolt, Nesta Carter and Asafa Powell. Consequently, these athletes have shaped Jamaican future and changed their societies by making the country reckonable globally and inspiring the youths. This paper focuses on Asafa Powell; his life and influence on Jamaican society and youths. Asafa has risen from a humble background to become a world champion, recognized for his talent. His consistency in the tracks, improvement, motivation and training has ensured that he is a respectable icon of the tracks. Asafa Powell is the sixth son of two ministers born in November 23, 1982 in Jamaica’s Spanish Town. Asafa attended Ewarton Primary and proceeded to Charlermont High School before he went to Kingston, Jamaica. Running is in this family, as visible by the interest his siblings have in the sport. In the World Indoor Championship of 1999, Donovah, Powell’s eldest brother was a 60m finalist. For the 100m dash, Donovah clocked 9.5 seconds, while his father clocked 10.2 and his mother 11.4. In 2000 and 2001, Asafa represented his High School, Charlemont at the ISSA championships. In 2002, he finished fifth at the Commonwealth Games held in Manchester. Powell’s breakthrough and fame began in 2003 at the World Championships when he aided his 4x100 relay team qualify for the finals. In the same season (2003), he won two IAAF grand prix events. In the 100 meters, Asafa has rune five of the eight fastest times, including his September 2007 world record of 9.74 seconds. The following year, Usain Bolt beat this record to 9.72. Powell is a strong starter and finisher but not a big racer. His first medal was in 2004 when he finished fifth despite having run nine times. In 2006, he won all six events at the European Golden league, earning $250,000. In the same year, Powell was named field athlete and men’s track athlete of the year. In 2002, during the Jamaica National Trials week, Michael Powell, one of Asafa’s brothers was shot dead in New York. The following year, during the Jamaica National Championships, Asafa lost another brother, Vaughn Powell who suffered a heart attack. In 2007, his uncle, Corey Reid, was stabbed in Ewarton and died at the hospital. Family tragedies and poverty has affected Asafa’s life. However, he has been of fundamental influence to Jamaican society. His past, achievements and struggles illustrate his contribution to making Jamaican youths better people, and changing his entire community. Asaf Powel is the first International Ambassador for the Diana Awards. On February 4th 2012, Maggie Turner, the Chief Executive for Diana Award announced Asafa as the award’s International Ambassador in Jamaica’s Terra Nova Hotel. Asafa was the first Jamaican to break the world record. In addition to this, the athlete has historically run more sub ten seconds one hundred meters races that any other person. Similar to the young people who are represented by the Diana Award, Asafa is an inspiration. In a span of one year, Asafa lost two of his brothers. Most people would let this tragedy affect their lives and performance due to the emotional trauma associated with losing a sibling. However, Asafa found strength and never stopped running. Maggie Turner commented that Powel had channeled pain and suffering positively and obtained strength from pain, which made him a better athlete. By doing this, Powel acted as an example to youths and the entire community. People learn that tragedy and death need not be reasons for one to destroy their lives or lose hope. It is admirable for one to meet obstacles with perseverance and determination. Powell’s attitude towards his loss inspired to strive for better even when faced with difficulties. The Diana Award aims at motivating, inspiring and encouraging young people to succeed. By receiving this award at his former school, University of Technology, Powell became a role model to the students at the university. Globally, people have negative perceptions regarding Jamaican youths. Most people associate Jamaicans, and especially the youths, with drug use, violence and gangs. Asafa Powell’s award illustrated that Jamaican youths are talented and can achieve greater things. This recognition also helped to change this negativity towards Jamaicans. The Diana charity award inspires young people to work and excel, which are the motivations youths in Jamaicans need. Asafa Powell also has a positive influence on his community through his Asafa Powell Foundation. The foundation’s central aim is to contribute to the welfare of young Jamaican field and track athletes. Through his foundation, Asafa is ensuring that he provides for the needs of young athletes In the track field, Asafa has also shown determination and excellence, which inspires young athletes to stay focused on their goals. Despite his height (190cm), Asafa has an unusual explosive start for big runners. Powell’s athletic career has not been a smooth one. He has had to work harder and consistently to improve his running and become better. At the beginning of his races in 2000 when he represented Charlemont High School at the ISSA championships, Asafa finished fourth in the 1200 m class, with -1.7 meters per second headwind, in 23.7. Two days later, on April 13, he finished third in the 1100 m boy’s class in 11.45 with a headwind of -2.3 m/s. These recordings were insufficiently quick to ensure Asafa advanced to the next round of the competition. The following year, in 2001, he again represented the same school at the High School Boy and Girls ISSA championships. He recorded a drop from his previous performance in the same race, when he finished seventh in the 1100 m class finals. A week after the races, Coach Stephen Francis, who had recognized Powell’s talent in the tracks, started training Powell. The coach’s tactic was to provide Powell with a faster start. In June 2001, under the coach’s training, Powel won the under twenty boys 100m even in 10.50 seconds, during the JAAA National championships. Powell’s determination for success on the tracks was visible when the following year, in 2002, he finished fifth at the Commonwealth games in the 100m semi finals event. In this even, Asafa set a personal best record of 10.26 seconds. Together with Christopher Williams, Dwight Thomas and Michael Frater, Asafa formed the 4x100 m relay team for Jamaica and won a silver medal. In 2003, at the World Championships, Powell joined the Jamaican relay team an anchor, where he recorded his second fastest time and helped the team qualify for the final. During the same seasons, he won two of the IAAF Grand prix events. Powell’s first sub record was on June 2004 at the National Junior Track in Spanish Town, when he recorded (9.99 s +1.8m/s) for the sub-10 100m race. Two weeks later at the 2004 Athens Olympics, he became a favorite for the 100m medal. Despite ending the season with nine sub 10 second races, Asafa finished fifth in the Olympics final, recording a time of 9.94s. Powell was disappointed during this season because he failed to obtain a chance to compete for a medal, as their relay team did not qualify for the final. Despite this disappointment at the Olympics, Asafa set a new national record for the 100m race with a 9.87 s at the Memorial Van and recorded five wins for the IAAF Grand Pix event. Additionally, Asafa became the first male winner of both the 200m and 100m races, in record time at the World Athletics Championships. Globally, Asafa was ranked first for the 100m race and fourth for the 200m race. Powell’s competence continued to excel as he set a new national record at the Jamaica International Invitational with a record time of 9.84s. The same year, Powell broke the 100m world record when he recorded 9.77s in Athens. This record beat the previous world record of 9.78s, held y America’s Tim Montgomery. Repeatedly, he won the 100m race at the National Championships in his country. However, he suffered a groin injury, leading to his absence at the World Championship. Despite this, Powell had performed well at the season, with two Grand Pix wins, three fastest 100m records of the year, the CAC Male award and a second position ranking in the world. In 2006, Powell had a successful season with his win of the 100m race at the year’s Commonwealth Games. In the same season, Asafa anchored the Jamaican 4x100 m relay team and completed the games with two gold medals. In May 2006, Asafa won the 100m race at the International Invitational in Jamaica, recording 9.95s. In June 2006, he won the 200m race at the National Championships in Jamaica and also won ten 100m grand Pix events at the IAAF, in addition to six Golden League events. At Gateshead International Stadium, on 11 June 2006, Powell equaled his previous world record time by recording a 9.77s and did it again in Zurich (August 2006). In the same year, Powel earned a total of $ 250,000 after winning his sixth IAAF Golden Leagues. In addition to receiving the Male world athlete of the year after the 2006 IAAf performance, Powell also received a cheque amounting to $100,000. In 2007, Powell improved his recording to 9.74s for the 100m race. Asafa has won several medals, trophies and titles since he began his athletic career in 2000. In addition to this, he has inspired athletes and youths globally, with his excellent performance at the tracks. At the start, Powell’s performance was not extra ordinary, but through consistency, training and hard work, he has managed to break the world record and set new records on the tracks. He has also won several medals, which have increased his influence in the athletics world. Powell’s humble background and life difficulties such as dealing with the death of his brothers have not prevented the athlete from achieving his success and greatness. His passion and hard work has lifted Jamaica and changed people’s attitudes towards the country’s youths. He is one of the Jamaican’s role models for youths and thus, contributes to the betterment of his community. In February 2012, Asafa received two awards as recognitions for his achievements. These awards included the Chancellor’s Medal for the University if Technology and the prestigious Diana Award. The Diana Award is globally presented to youths who are committed to improving their communities and helping others, while the Chancellor’s medal recognizes people of high international and national achievements. Asafa Powell is the record holder for the most sub 10 second recordings for the 100m races. People are increasingly recognizing Jamaica for good reasons and respectable individuals such as Asafa Powell. He has positively influenced athletics in Jamaica and continues to do so through his foundation. Works Cited Asafa Powell Arte Documentary. Dir. Japan Institute of Sports Sciences. Perf. Asafa Powell. NHK/NHK Joho Network, 2008. DVD. Ayath. "First International Diana Award Ambassador Name." IYP. Inspiring Young People, 4 Feb. 2012. Web. 11 Apr. 2012 Brannica, Encyclopedia. "Powell Asafa 100 Metre Race." Powell Asafa 100 Metre Race 1 (2012). Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Commonwealth Games Gold Medallists for Jamaica: Asafa Powell, Merlene Ottey, Mike Mccallum, Don Quarrie, Marilyn Neufville. Vol. Vol.1 Harrison, Chris. "Asafa Powell." Zimbio.com. Asafa Powell Entertainment, 8 Aug. 2009. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. "Interview with Asafa Powell." Interview by Jon Hendershott. Track and Fieks Interview. Glady Chai/ Asvom, 12 June 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2012 Read More