The Usain Bolt Factor: A potential bolt of inspiration

Usain Bolt

Irony unfolded at the World Championships at Moscow when Usain Bolt did what he generally does best – make records and in the process, break a few of them. Irony, because of the almost offhand manner in which the Jamaican accomplished the feat that had several athletes resorting to doping assistance.

Irony, because what these corrupted players weren’t able to do with performance enhancers, this one man achieved with nothing but hard work. And irony because where the former ended up on the path of shame and infamy, the latter had scripted his name to fame and unvarnished glory.

In a sport where doping is a continued pestilence, Usain Bolt’s achievements then need to be connoted as a much-needed bolt of lightning – pardon the pun – to save the sport from further slipping into a downward spiral. The crackdown, by way of tests may be wielded as a sword by the sport’s governing authorities but such crackdown on the eve of important tournaments doesn’t really say much – or do much – to preserve the sport’s sanctity.

To put it more simply, where the likes of Usain Bolt – who are clean as the proverbial whistle – turn out to be truly inspiring; the likes of a Asafa Powell or a Tyson Gay account for more fans to stop watching the sport, fearing the rampant prevalence and festering of underhanded tactics.

Not even Usain Bolt can claim exemption to such feeling then. Right before the start of the World Championship as athlete after athlete fell into disgrace, all eyes turned towards Bolt to accept his involvement in the utilisation of doping substances. At that moment, the whole believed that the secret to Bolt’s success would be unveiled in the form of his drug of choice. And that, he would be the biggest manipulator to make his name as an excellent-par athlete since the origin of the sport.

His vehement refuting was perceived as the over-zealous protestations of the guilty and his name was bandied about, completely tarred and feathered.

His achievements then take on an even larger significance. In the wake of all that Usain Bolt’s managed to achieve, the sport’s governing authority needs to use this as the medium in a bid to clean up the sport. Bolt’s successes may have already done enough for the crowds to turn back their attention to the world of athletics for now, but his successes need to be re-directed and marshalled further to help the sport maintain its singularity amongst the various other sporting branches.

An ambassador of the sport, the Jamaican may be, but in the present context of athletics, he also needs to be empowered as an ambassador for his fellow-athletes. The rationale of athletes imbibing performance enhancers can be attributed to their desire to excel and succeed – at all costs.

While stringent measures do need to be employed against those caught using these nefarious methods to boost their success stories, the adopting and continued practising of these measures wouldn’t really be doing enough. There will always be a loophole to exploit for those wanting to propel themselves to the heights of greatness even when least deserving of the honour. Since the window of opportunity available to athletes is always relatively smaller, the loopholes stand to become potentially wider.

While many such athletes, cutting corners and exploiting the rulebook wherever it suits them, may escape scrutiny while being active, it’s their so-called confession after their retirement that further shames them and the sport of which they were a part of.

Incorporating the success stories of Bolt would thus account for the athletes gaining the perspective of succeeding fairly. It would also help pave the way for the sport’s future on more concrete values inspiring not just aspiring athletes, but also legions of fans worldwide as the legends of the sport did back in their heydays.