Jamaica's Olympic tradition
published:
Tuesday | August 5, 2008
Veronica Campbell
THE OLYMPIC Games begins on Friday in Beijing, China. Track and field experts believe it will announce Jamaica's emergence as the sport's new superpower, with Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, Kerron Stewart, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Melaine Walker and Danny McFarlane all having genuine chances of winning gold medals.
The men's and women's relay teams are also in with a big shot of copping gold.
Here's a look back at Olympic Games in which Jamaican athletes struck gold. We also cite other notable events that impacted Jamaica in those years.
1948 (London, England): Jamaica's debut at the Olympics.
Medals: Arthur Wint (gold in 400 metres; silver in 800 metres).
Herb McKenley (silver in 400 metres).
Key events: Jamaica-born poet Claude McKay dies in Chicago, United States in February.
The University College of the West Indies (later University of the West Indies) opens at Mona, Jamaica.
1952 (Helsinki, Finland):
Medals: George Rhoden (gold medal in 400 metres).
Herb McKenley (silver medals in 100 metres, 400 metres); Arthur Wint (silver medal in 800 metres).
George Rhoden, Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley and Les Laing win the 4X400 metres relay.
Key events: Coronation for Queen Elizabeth II takes place in February.
Ian Fleming marries Anne Charteris at his Goldeneye retreat in Oracabessa, St Mary.
The People's National Party suspends Frank Hill, Ken Hill, Arthur Henry and Richard Hart (the Four Hs) for Communist beliefs.
1976 (Montreal, Canada):
Medals: Donald Quarrie (gold in 200 metres, silver in 100 metres).
Key events: British guitarist Eric Clapton's cover of Bob Marley's I Shot the Sheriff tops the Billboard pop chart in the United States.
Marley breaks through commercially in the US with the Rastaman Vibration album.
Fastbowler Michael Holding takes 14 wickets to give the West Indies victory over England at The Oval in August.
Marley, wife Rita and manager Don Taylor shot by gunmen at singer's St Andrew home in December.
Also in December, Michael Manley and the People's National Party retain power with landslide win over the Jamaica Labour Party in general election.
1996 (Atlanta, United States):
Medals: Deon Hemmings (gold in 400 metres hurdles)
Merlene Ottey (silver in 100 metres, 200 metres)
James Beckford (silver in long jump)
Bronze medals for 4X100 metres women, 4X400 metres men.
Key events: Shaggy wins Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for Boombastic.
Dancehall rivals Beenie Man and Bounty Killer release the outstanding Maestro and My Xperience albums, respectively.
The Reggae Boyz, Jamaica's football team, wins FIFA's Best Mover award.
2004 (Athens, Greece):
Medals: Veronica Campbell (gold in 200 metres, bronze in 100 metres).
Danny McFarlane (silver in 400 metres hurdles).
Gold medal for women's 4X100 metres relay.
Key events: Hugh Shearer, Jamaica's third prime minister, dies in July.
Hurricane Ivan struck the country in September, destroying homes, communities and the agriculture sector.
England complete 4-0 whitewash of the West Indies 4-0 at The Oval in August.
1976 Montreal, Canada: Medals: Donald Quarrie (gold in 200 metres, silver in 100 metres)
Key events: British guitarist Eric Clapton's cover of Bob Marley's I Shot the Sheriff tops the Billboard pop chart in the United States.
Marley breaks through commercially in the US with the Rastaman Vibration album.
Fast-bowler Michael Holding takes 14 wickets to give the West Indies victory over England at The Oval in August.
Marley, wife Rita and Manager Don Taylor shot by gunmen at singer's St Andrew home in December.
Also in December, Michael Manley and the People's National Party retain power with landslide win over the Jamaica Labour Party in a general election.
2004Athens, Greece:
Medals: Veronica Campbell (gold in 200 metres, bronze in 100 metres)
Danny McFarlane (silver in 400 metres hurdles)
Gold medal for women's 4X100 metres relay.
Key events: Hugh Shearer, Jamaica's third prime minister, dies in July.
Hurricane Ivan struck the country in September, destroying homes, communities and the agriculture sector.
England complete 4-0 whitewash of the West Indies at The Oval in August.
1996Atlanta, United States:
Medals: Deon Hemmings (gold in 400 metres hurdles)
Merlene Ottey (silver in 100 metres, 200 metres)
James Beckford (silver in long jump)
Bronze medals for 4X100 metres women, 4X400 metres men.
Key events: Shaggy wins Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for Boombastic.
Dancehall rivals Beenie Man and Bounty Killer release the outstanding Maestro and My Xperience albums, respectively.
The Reggae Boyz, Jamaica's football team, wins FIFA's Best Mover award.
GETTING UP OUT OF THE BLOCKS: Jamaica's Donald Quarrie (left), world record holder of the 200 metres caught in the act as he got out of the blocks at the National Stadium yesterday. The right photo shows six juniors of Benjamin Franklyn High of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who will run in the junior relay tomorrow, from left are: Thomas Raynor, Bernard Long, Gregory Moore, Bennette Long, Gregory Long, Clinton Young and Rocky Wiley. They are the Penn Relays champions of the 440 yards with a time of 42.2 and the mile with 3:19.8. They arrived yesterday with coach Albert Hill.
1952 Helsinki, Finland: Medals: George Rhoden (gold medal in 400 metres). Herb McKenley (silver medals in 100 metres, 400 metres); Arthur Wint (silver medal in 800 metres).
Arthur Wint, Les Laing, Herb McKenley and George Rhoden win the 4X400 metres relay.
Key events: Coronation for Queen Elizabeth II takes place in February.
Ian Fleming marries Anne Charteris at his Goldeneye retreat in Oracabessa, St Mary.
The People's National Party suspends Frank Hill, Ken Hill, Arthur Henry and Richard Hart (the Four Hs) for Communist beliefs.
1948 London, England: Jamaica's debut at the Olympics. Medals: Arthur Wint (gold in 400 metres; silver in 800 metres). Herb McKenley (silver in 400 metres)
Key events: Jamaica-born poet Claude McKay dies in Chicago, United States in February.
The University College of the West Indies (later University of the West Indies) opens at Mona, Jamaica.
