Lightning Bolt strikes again. 9.58! Unbelievable! Amazing! Total obliteration of another world record. With his victory 'our hearts are full' as Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller said in her congratulatory message on the weekend. The performance of Usain Bolt Sunday at the World Championships is truly an amazing feat. Acknowledged by the entire world and will be spoken of for a long time.

Bolt the legend. Usain St Leo Bolt has catapulted to the world stage. He now commands the attention of the world. His performance will long be written of in the history books. He has become not only a national but an international icon. At such a young age and in such a short time, Usain Bolt will comfortably fall in the category of a Bob Marley and Marcus Garvey. This is a huge achievement for a 22-year-old human being. We must treasure and protect this young man.

Impact on the national psyche

Another world record was broken. Usain Bolt, the great Jamaican, did his victory run. Our national pride soared as our black, green and gold flag was carried over his shoulders. What an awful responsibility for a young man, but he carried it well. He lived up to our every expectations. He lifted our hopes. He gave us joy. The world celebrated a historic win.

Our national anthem was played. Once again our flag was raised under the Berlin skies and a nation revelled in its glory. Such was the impact of Usain Bolt again, on our sometimes battered and shattered psyche.

Another opportunity

This is another opportunity for us to use Bolt's achievement to motivate andmobilise our people especially our young males. This country is plagued with violence, economic problems and frustration on the part of our youth. This is a wonderful opportunity to remind ourselves of the achievement of a young Jamaican, Usain Bolt, who is from a rural district, a humble family in

Trelawny and who through hard work, perseverance and discipline has moved to the top of his field. This is a remarkable and wonderful story. The story of a Jamaican.

Confidence, class, carriage

These are the qualities of this stellar athlete. He exudes calm and confidence. He executes his race with class. His carriage is one of fitness and peak form. This is a young man who in 2004 at his first Olympics failed to make it past the first rounds. At the time, he was plagued with injuries. Many people were worried for him. But through sheer determination and grit, the work of his coaching staff and the support of his family, he was able to overcome these challenges and to make a comeback. These are the stuff which life is made of. Great men come back from defeat every day.

Congrats to the entire team

Although we have focused on Usain Bolt. Let us remind our ourselves that we have sent an entire team to the Games. They all are doing us proud. The girls were great. Asafa Powell gained a bronze medal in the 100 metres. This is a well-needed victory for another of our star athlete who has had his fair share of challenges. We hope this will allow him to recover from the 'snowball effect' (where repeated failures affect self confidence and performance).

Once again, congrats to all those great Jamaican athletes who are participating in the Games. Well done, to the world.

Dr Wendel Abel is a consultant psychiatrist and head, Section of Psychiatry, Dept Of Community Health and Psychiatry, University of the West Indies; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.

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