Sixty years since Helsinki

WORDS ARE not sufficient to describe the joyful emotions felt and shared with the rest of the world when Usain Bolt anchored the Jamaica relay team to its record-breaking win in the 4x100 metres on Sunday. I dare say that Daegu, Bejing, and Berlin will be forever grateful for the Jamaican performances that have given an extra lift to, and left a historic mark on, the standard of the games hosted by those cities. London can hardly wait for its turn next year.

The triumphs and heartbreaks of the 2011 meet have interesting parallels in the 1952 Olympiad in Helsinki, almost 60 years ago when the world first sat up and asked, "Where do these phenomenal athletes come from"?

For example, the shock and anguish of Bolt's false start and disqualification in the 100 metres must be comparable to the distress felt by Jamaicans when Herb McKenley was denied a gold medal in the Helsinki 100 metres after being declared winner on the first call.

It was one of the most dramatic finishes ever, with the top four in the race - McKenley, Trinidad's McDonald Bailey, and America's Lindy Remigino and Deon Smith - all credited with the same time, 10.4.

McKenley was actually being congratulated and photographed by the press corps when word came that the photo finish showed Remigino winning 'by an eyelash'. The irony is that Remigino had already congratulated McKenley. Herb was shocked and disappointed, as was the rest of the world. "The fairest thing would have been to declare a draw," he said, "but I will not protest."

Back home, it was a somewhat different picture. News had been relayed around 10:15 the Sunday morning by Helsinki radio that McKenley had won. People gathered in the streets for public rejoicing. When the official placing was announced we bawled out "tief", but the judges were over 2,000 miles away and safely out of arm's reach.

Jamaica's dominance felt

Still, Jamaica's dominance was being felt during those games, just as it was at Daegu. News reached us the day after the 100 that Jamaica had won the 400 with George Rhoden, 45.9, nosing out McKenley to give us first and second place. Arthur Wint ran fifth, so Jamaica, a tiny British outpost in the Caribbean, had three people in the final.

But much more was to come for Jamaica out of those memorable games. On the final day of the meet, July 27, the team of McKenley, Rhoden, Wint, and Les Laing stunned the world with a record-breaking victory in the 4x400 metres relay. Getting the baton some 10 yards behind the USA's Charlie Moore, McKenley ran the third leg in 44.6 seconds, the fastest ever recorded for that distance, and the greatest race ever run for Jamaica up to that time. He collared Moore at the baton change, handing over to Rhoden for the fourth leg while Moore handed over to Mal Whitfield. Jamaica clocked 3.39, chopping 4.3 seconds off the world and Olympic record. The four men prayed together on the field before and after the race.

There was jubilation back home. The Gleaner headline blazed 'Jamaica beats the world'. Congratulatory telegrams and cables raced across the Atlantic. The Governor gazetted a public holiday. His Honour Herbert Duffus fined 12 men £1 each for "celebrating Helsinki" in a bar at 71 Love Lane after closing hours.

There is another parallel to be noted. It is in the demeanour, graciousness and charm of our female athletes. The same qualities were noted in Kathleen Russell, Jamaica's champion female sprinter, and long jumper Hyacinth Walters, who made up the female contingent in 1952. Unfortunately, Walters failed to qualify while an injured Russell was hospitalised for four days after a back strain during the heats. So determined was this lady that she discharged herself from the hospital to go to the final event, which featured Jamaica in the 4x400. Jamaica is blessed. We see the same determination in our teams of today.

Next year will be 60 years since Helsinki. It will also mark our 50th anniversary. We will have much to celebrate at the London Olympics. But let us always remember the heroic exploits of our pioneer athletes who set the pace for the champions of today.

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