Sprint legend Asafa Powell made bold comments about Jamaica’s unfavourable treatment of its athletes that have stirred an online discussion. Asafa stated that unless conditions improve, his children will not represent the country in track and field.
The statement stemmed from the reactions of Jamaicans who praised his young son’s performance in a recent race at his school’s sports day. Asafa’s son outshone other competitors when he quickly passed them on the field and won the race. In response to the video, many Jamaicans predicted he would follow in his father’s footsteps as the island’s next sprinting star.
However, Powell used the opportunity to express dissatisfaction with Jamaica’s long-standing lack of support for its athletes. “Honestly, guys, if the support system doesn’t change, my kids are not running for Jamaica,” Powell said in a video shared on his family’s YouTube post. “I’m sorry to say that… but it’s just facts. My wife is Canadian and Ghanaian, so there are options.”
The Olympian, who once held the 100m world record, further revealed that he had once been offered millions of US dollars to represent another country back in 2006. “I didn’t know what the future held [but] if I knew [then] what I know now, I would have taken up that opportunity,” he explained.
His comments reignited a long-standing conversation among Jamaicans about how athletes are treated during and after their careers. Some social media users shared his sentiment while others criticised Powell for seemingly turning his back on the country that made him a star. In the response, social media users justified Powell’s stance by pointing out the ongoing challenges athletes face in accessing funding, medical care, and development support.
“He’s been in the system… He knows how the track athletes are treated!” one commenter said. “The man wants to see improvement, that’s all.”
Another added, “Totally agree with you, Safa; things need to change not just in Jamaica but the Caribbean as a whole.”
Still, not everyone was supportive. One critic remarked, “Let them run for your wife’s countries. We will be okay.”
