IAAF boss praises Jamaica's performance

Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer

BEIJING: LAMINE DIACK, president of the IAAF, has described Jamaica's performance at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad as "wonderful".

Diack also said he was not surprised by the island's fantastic form on the track.

"It did not surprise me, because I was a 15-year-old in 1948 when Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley beat the Americans in the 400m," Diack said.

McKenley, who was favoured to win the event, finished second behind Wint.

Diack also made reference of the 1952 mile relay quartet, which included Wint and McKenley, Les Laing and George Rhoden, which beat the Americans.

Diack also spoke of Jamaica's high standard at the school level.

"I follow what you are doing in Jamaica with the development at the school system," he said while pointing out that "this is the only way to make our sport great".

As for Usain Bolt, Diack said nothing the young man did surprised him, apart from looking early in his career like a great quarter miler.

"I saw him in 2002 in Bahamas during the Carifta Games. Then, I told people you have a fantastic 400m runner. I did not expect (to see) him in 100m, in 200m like Michael Johnson.

No surprise

"So again, his performance doesn't surprise me ... because just last week Tyson Gay said if Asafa Powell, Bolt and himself are fit, then the winner will run under 9.7." said Diack.

"Usain did it and now we wonder how fast a human being will run in the future," he said. Diack was also unconcerned about Bolt's post-race celebrations which irked IOC president Jacques Rogge and some commentators on NBC.

"No, no, I did not mind," Diack said.

"It is normal actually for him not to come back (once he crossed the line)," he said.

Diack also called Bolt's 200 victory and the breaking of Michael Johnson's world record of 19.32 by .02 seconds the highlight of his Games.

"This 200, I was not expecting," he said. "Not this time. He was fantastic. We are very privileged to have this."

Diack said that Bolt, with his flashy personality and outsize performances, was exactly the right man to help the sport recover from a spate of doping scandals.

"He is good and great for our sport," Diack said. "He can help to build up our sport."

Additional reporting from AP