THE EDITOR, Madam:
TRACK, LIKE all sports is fiercely competitive and, also, except for the relays, highly individualistic. At the starting blocks, it's me for me and you for you. But all truly great champions know that to get there to those starting blocks, it's a blend of the power of the rugged, competitive, individualistic spirit of the athlete, and the co-operative spirit of many.
The 'many' include the goodwill, trust and support of family and fans. Miss Ottey experienced this second component the co-operative spirit of an entire nation, almost to the last man and woman in her recent battle to clear her name. Yet, since the trials, only the individualistic aspect of Miss Ottey's spirit has emerged.
I would love to see Miss Ottey run the 100 metres individual race. But at what cost?
The young athlete that she is seeking to displace today, may be the athlete who needs these Olympics to win gold at the next one.
How much power, energy and emotion is being depleted and drained from the athletes, coaches and officials at this 11th hour, that might have been channelled to the athlete who might miss moving up a round by 0.01 second? Or worse still missing a medal by that same amount of time?
Here is another scenario for the Ambassador:-
"I qualified only for the relays. I am going to run the best set of relay rounds and bring home a relay gold. I'm going to share every last ounce of knowledge and technique with my relay team to bring that gold home. As elder stateswoman, I am going to be such a role model and motivational power for the women who are running the 100 metres that they will all be in the final and I'll do the same for all the other athletes. The same powerful support that I received during my problems, I'll try to return to the team and the nation."
Miss Ottey, take care you win the battle to run the 100 metres and lose the war to be a truly great champion. Your manager, Mr. Zimmerman, is reported in The Gleaner of September 11 as saying, "Ottey deserves a chance".
Miss Ottey, the Jamaican team and nation deserve a chance. Broken promises suck the lifeblood of people. Don't break your almost-fulfilled promise to us to be a truly great champion. As a people, we can bear very few more broken promises.
I am, etc.,
J.P. EBANKS
Kingston 6
