Letter of the Editor | Don’t attack the athletes when they don’t win

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Jamaicans are very passionate about sports, and especially track and field events. We love to see our athletes win. However, I think the World Athletics Championships, which concluded on Sunday, exposed our nasty and unforgiving side. We saw personal attacks on Natasha Morrison on Instagram, and also the invention of lies about Elaine Thompson-Herah around the relays, which was very inappropriate. It’s time for us as a people to be more aware of the rhetoric that we propagate, and remember that our one role in all of this is solely to support our athletes, who are doing their best.

We are a spoiled set of people. We are very used to winning, and when we don’t win, we drag and attack our athletes, and many of us become keyboard and backseat track coaches overnight. We need to take the time to consider that these athletes and coaches know best, and they know more than what we the public are aware of. Our athletes don’t need our two cents on who we think should’ve done what, or who should’ve run where, or why this person didn’t run. Since we are not the experts, nobody asked us. Let the professionals do what they need to do, they don’t need these strong opinions from unqualified spectators.

We must swiftly fix this attitude towards our athletes in time for the Paris Olympics next year. All when dem come dead last, we must cheer and be proud that they were even able to represent the country. Nasty comments will not do anything good for our athletes. Stop attacking our athletes when they don’t win.

KAYMAR BROWN