Jamaica’s overall medal exploits at the World Champs
It was another majestic performance by our athletes at the World Championships (WC), recently held in Moscow, Russia. Nine medals including six gold is a fantastic haul when one considers that some of our star athletes were missing from the action.
How did this performance stack up against those of the past? Where does it fit in historically? Here’s a look at some of the major events and the production levels since 1983.
100M MEN
The first medal, silver, came with the first finalist in 1987 – Raymond Stewart. Jamaica had to wait 18 years for another medal, when Michael Frater took silver behind Justin Gatlin.
Overall we have mined eight medals thus far; Ray Stewart in 1987, Michael Frater silver in 2005, Asafa Powell bronze in 2007, Usain Bolt gold and Powell bronze in 2009, Yohan Blake gold in 2011 and Bolt and Nesta Carter gold and bronze respectively in 2013.
Nine Jamaicans have advanced to the final of the event: Ray Stewart, Dwight Thomas, Michael Frater, Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Nickel Ashmeade and Carter, that is, one medal in the first 22 years and seven in the last eight.
In the Jamaica vs United States sprint battle, the Americans in the first 22 years the Americans have won a stunning 15 medals including seven gold. They have won only five in the last eight with two gold.
100M WOMEN
Merlene Ottey ran in the first six finals from 1983 to 1997. During that time she won two silver and two bronze medals.
There were no Jamaicans in in the final 1999 and 2001. Since 2005, Jamaicans have won six medals in this event, including three gold courtesy of Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
200M MEN
Christopher Williams was the first Jamaican to advance to the final of this event at the WC. He was also the first to win a medal a silver medal behind Greek Kostas Kederis in 2001.
Only six Jamaicans have advanced to the final of the 200m, Chris Williams, Usain Bolt, Marvin Anderson, Steve Mullings, Warren Weir and Nickel Ashmeade. Bolt has advanced to every final since 2005, winning three gold and a silver.
The United States had owned this event until the arrival of Usain Bolt. They have won eight of the 14 gold medals so far with Calvin Smith winning two and Michael Johnson two. Surprisingly, Carl Lewis did not win this event at the WC.
200M WOMEN
Undoubtedly, this is the most successful event for Jamaica at the WC. Merlene Ottey virtually owned this event throughout her career and was always on the podium from 1983 to 1997. She won two gold, one silver and three bronze medals in six appearances.
Jamaica picked up two medals in 1999 with Bev McDonald and Merlene Fraser while Juliet Campbell was eight.
After missing out on three consecutive occasions, 01, 03, 05, Jamaicans have been back on the podium since, thanks to Veronica Campbell-Brown and now Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
400M MEN
This is an American owned event. They have won it on 10 occasions and were only out of the medal on one occasion in 2001 after the great Michael Johnson retired. He had won four titles from 1993 to 1999.
The Caribbean has done well in the 400. Bert Cameron for Jamaica in ’83, Avard Moncur from the Bahamas in 2001 and Kirani James from Grenada in 2011 have been champions. Only one athlete outside of the USA and the Caribbean has won the event, Thomas Schonlebe of East Germany in 1987.
Jamaica started with a bang in 1983 when Bert Cameron won with 45.05. Since then only three bronze have been realised, two from Gregory Haughton and another from Michael Blackwood. Jamaicans have not medalled in this event since 2003.
400M WOMEN
Jamaicans have won six medals in this event. Sandie Richards and Juliet Campbell were the first finalists in this event in 1993. Richards got a bronze and Campbell was seventh. Richards picked up another silver in ’97 before Loraine Fenton won bronze in ’99 and silver in 2001. Novlene Williams took bronze in 2007 and Shericka Williams silver in 2009.
110M HURDLES MEN
Jamaica has never won a medal in this event at the WC. The closest a Jamaican has come is Maurice Wignall’s 5th in 2009. Only two other Jamaicans have ever advanced to the final – Dwight Thomas 7th in 2009 and Andrew Riley in 2011.
100M HURDLES WOMEN
Jamaica’s first finalist was Michelle Freeman in 1993. She finished 7th with 12.90.
The country’s first medallist was Bridgette Foster-Hylton in 2003 with silver in 12.57.
Jamaicans have won six medals in the event, culminating with a historic gold by Foster-Hylton in 2009. On the other hand, 2011 and 2013 are the only times that no Jamaican advanced to the final since 1993.
400M HURDLES MEN
Winthrop Graham was the first finalist for Jamaica in 1991, when he won silver behind Samuel Matete of Zambia with a fast 47.74. Two years later he won bronze. Jamaica has never won another medal in the WC since.
400M HURDLES WOMEN
Jamaican women have done well in this event at the WC. Deon Hemmings won two bronze and a silver while Melaine Walker won gold and silver. Hemmings got to four consecutive finals.
LONG JUMP MEN
Jamaica has produced one world class long jumper – James Beckford who established himself at these championships in 1995 with silver behind the great Cuban Ivan Pedroso. Beckford was 4th in 97, 7th in 2001 and had to wait until 2003 to get back unto the podium, finishing second to another great jumper, Dwight Phillips of the United States.
The only other Jamaican male to advance to the final of this event at the WC was Damar Forbes in 2013.
4X100M MEN
After finishing seventh in 1983, Jamaicans were on the podium four years later to pick up their first medal, bronze. It took Jamaica another 20 years to get back on the podium; silver. Since the arrival of Bolt, Jamaica has dominated, winning three consecutive gold.
4X100M WOMEN
Jamaica has seen spectacular returns in the event. The quartet of Lileith Hodges, Jackie Pusey, Juliet Cuthbert and Merlene Ottey created history by grabbing bronze in the first championships in 1983. Ten years later Jamaica got another bronze, silver in ’95 and ’97, bronze in ’99 and ’01 and silver in ’05 and ’07. Jamaica mined gold in 2009, silver in ’11 and returned with gold in 2013.
4X400M MEN
Jamaica started with bronze in 1991 then got silver in ’95, ’97, ’99, ’01 and ’03. There was bronze in ’05 and ’11 and elevation to silver in 2013.
4X400M WOMEN
Jamaica won their first medal, a bronze in 1997. Four years later they took gold and have been doing well since. In 2003 there was bronze and silver in 2005, ’07, ’09 and ’11 and was disqualified in the heats in 2013.