On the Cape Town coast — more specifically False Bay in South Africa — the Great White sharks have disappeared. 

It is a strange phenomenon for these once apex predators that ruled South African waters. In recent times Orcas, AKA Killer Whales, have shown up and the carcasses of Great Whites have turned up on shores with their livers removed. Now the Great Whites are gone and some say this is because the Killer Whales have announced their presence as the new apex predator.

Jamaica has a reputation for producing the best sprinters in the world in both the men’s and women’s categories. The Olympic Games galvanise the country and Jamaicans cheer on their athletes. Nothing less than success is expected in the 100 and 200 metres dash.

At Paris this year, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson were expected to yet again reaffirm their greatness before the world. The Americans let it be known that they would be challenging Jamaica’s dominance and that a new order would be set. They would regain the crown that was once theirs.

If there was a reason to subdue the Americans that was it. Jamaica would once again prove its dominance. It was not to be. Jamaica ignominiously surrendered glory. The Jamaican Sprint Queens did not turn up, citing injury — all three prior champions that is.

For athletes, the Olympics is the gold standard — it is what you work toward and prepare for. It is the pinnacle and there is no better medal to win. For sprinters, life comes down to a few moments and the Olympics is the biggest one. You prepare for years, you train hard and you meet your date with destiny.

Think of the great sports personalities this world has seen, Usain Bolt, Mohammed Ali, Pete Sampras, Steffi Graf, Michael Jordan, Floyd Mayweather — come the moment, they were there in the arena. Sure there is always the likelihood of injury but the best turn up and perform when they should. To have all three of Jamaican Sprint Queens back out due to injury is worrisome. More concerning is to see Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson withdrawing just before their showdown with the best. Did they fear facing off against Sha’Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas? Did they feel that they were not in tip-top condition and chose not to embarrass themselves? 

True champions leave it all on the field of battle. That’s how you are defined and remembered. Young Tia Clayton did Jamaica proud and has a good future ahead of her. With Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce now 37 and being 41 at the next Olympics (Los Angeles), Elaine Thompson-Herah will be 36 and Shericka Jackson being 34, many will surmise that their best years are behind them and they will pose little threat come the Los Angeles Games. All the more important why they had to perform in Paris — it was an opportunity to further cement their legendary status. This was their one moment in time… to race for destiny.

Before the women’s 100-metre semifinals, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ran a 10.92 qualifying race.  She could have gone faster in both the semi-finals and finals with a genuine shot of at least medalling. It is said that she sustained an injury and pulled out before the semi-final. No other explanation has been given. Shericka Jackson also pulled out of the 200 metres citing injury thereby dashing Jamaica’s hopes.

Jamaica was expected to win the 4×100 metre relay race boasting three champions in that event. Jamaica had medalled in every Olympic Games in this event since 1996 except for 2008. With the Sprint Queens not participating and expectations heaped on the inexperienced shoulders of Tia Clayton and sprinters having to be drafted in at the last minute, it turned out to be another disappointment. Jamaica came in at an unthinkable 5th position with Sha’Carri Richardson winning it for the United States on the final leg.

Come the 4x 400-metre women’s relay, matters couldn’t get more diabolical and summed up Team Jamaica this year. The baton was dropped and Jamaica was disqualified. The racing gods had no time for Jamaica this year, they didn’t bestow their blessings. When you think of those golden summers when Usain Bolt’s presence at the relays guaranteed a medal for Jamaica, it is hard to conceive that Jamaica did not even qualify for the Men’s 100-metre relay. Another shocker was Jamaica did not qualify for the men’s 200-metre race, an event where Jamaicans tend to dominate.

Jamaica left Paris with just six medals which indicates its track and field programme is regressing. By this year’s showing Jamaica cannot be considered the one to chase at the sprints — they have relinquished that crown.

Let’s take a look at the numbers. When Usain Bolt single-handedly dominated the Beijing Games, in 2008, Jamaica bagged 11 medals. It went better in London four years later with 13 medals. At Bolt’s last Olympic Games in Rio, Jamaica finished with 11 medals.  At Tokyo in 2021, Jamaica medal count fell to nine and in Paris 2024, that fell further to a lowly six with Jamaica ending up 44th in the medal table.

Something has gone awry. Progress has not been made. Was the Usain  Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce era a result of a one-in-a-generation talent that couldn’t be backed up? Can Jamaica continue to churn out world-beating sprinters? Is there an attitude problem with temperamental athletes deciding to pull out because they cannot cope with the rigours of competition and as they say, chose to punk out?

Novak Djokovic at age 37 won the Olympic Gold for tennis beating the young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz had beaten him last month at Wimbledon and it was said his reign at the top was over. But Djokovic dug deep and pulled off a spectacular win saying, “I put my heart, my soul, everything to win gold. I did it for my country first — for Serbia.” That was his mindset, that’s how he approached this challenge. There was no way he was going to cry off injured or not turn up. The glory is his.

All is not lost from Paris Olympics 2024 for Jamaica. The country will have to go into a regenerative period and re-evaluate its track and field programme. Some are making the case for the management of both the JOA and the JAAA to step away and for a new approach to be taken.

When shot-putter Danniel Thomas-Dodd spoke of the lack of support from the Jamaica Olympic Association and the JAAA for field events, that garnered plenty of attention. Instead of listening to what she had to say and taking her aside to address her concerns, JOA President Christopher Samuda demanded she retract her statement. This is a heavy-handed approach and totally unnecessary. Sort it out behind closed doors.

Attention must be paid to what Glen Mills and Stephen Francis have to say. Mills has drawn attention to the need to travel with more personnel at the Olympics and he makes a valid point. There seem to be major shortcomings with the management of national sports teams whether it be athletics, football and cricket. Last year the Reggae Girlz exposed their dissatisfaction with the JFF. West Indies cricket is a mess and the CEO recently stepped down.

Athletics has been an area of excellence for Jamaica and its reputation here should be both cherished and continued. It cannot be allowed to wither on the vine.

Here a collaborative effort is needed. Glen Mills, the Francis brothers, Usain Bolt, Bruce James, Juliet Cuthbert, a Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Veronica Campbell Brown’s talents must be utilised for their country’s good. Jamaica does possess people in this area who can keep those medals coming. Utilise them. 

Athletes should listen and be guided by their coaches. With the first flush of success, it is all too easy to forget those who took you there. Mills and the Francis brothers have proven to be among the best in the business. Their experience and accomplishments should not be overlooked. It’s great to land Prada contracts, Nike, Rolex, BMW but the moment you stop winning, all that begins to be taken away from you and given to winners. So if you love all that — love the limelight, the recognition — you need to work with people who can help put a gold medal around your neck. Don’t get ahead of yourself, don’t allow hubris to take you down the wrong path. 

Jamaica had some unexpected victories in the field events which goes to underscore that it is not just about the sprint events. There will be expectations now. Kishane Thompson is knocking on the door and came within a hair of winning the 100 metre final. He has a great future ahead of him. Oblique Seville has run 9.86 seconds in the 100 and 20.86 in the 200. More will be heard from him. Ackeem Blake has clocked 9.93 in the 100 metres. All this bodes well for the future. There is something to build upon. 

The Sprint Queens have left a big footprint for Tia Clayton and her sister Tina Clayton, Brianna Lyston ,Briana Williams and Alana Reid. Jamaican women have shown consistent dominance in the 100 metre and 200 metre races at the Olympics winning 15 medals in both events including all 4 golds since Beijing in 2008.  That’s a legacy, that’s a baton that has been passed to a new generation. 

Gabby Thomas from the United States was the undoubted Sprint Queen of the Paris Olympics picking up three gold medals. She won the 200 metres, the 4×100 metres relay and the 4×400 metres relay. A Harvard student, articulate, intelligent with good looks she is a dream for top sponsors.  Jamaican Sprint Queens can only look on and ponder what might have been. Will they get an opportunity to make things right? Time is a cruel thief for athletes. You have to seize not only the day but the moment. 

Noah Lyles, Gabby Thomas, Julien Alfred and Sha’Carri Richardson will now dominate the conversation when it comes to the stars of the sprint track. Let’s hope Jamaican sprinters can change that conversation at the Tokyo World Championships in 2025.