Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell is the world record holder in 100m with a time of 9.74 seconds. He spoke to Joe Williams about the upcoming season, the presence of drugs in track and field and his life off the track.
For someone who wanted to become a footballer, you have done decently as a sprinter. Okay now, seriously when in high school did you even dream of being a 100 metres sprinter?
Because I was playing mostly football, I never really thought about track that much. I guess I would say by the end of high school when I started to get more involved in track and field events I realised I could become a sprinter.
By nature or otherwise, 100 metre sprinters are a touch arrogant. You seem to be too nice for the sport.
It’s because the way my family has brought me up as a child, it made me a very humble and easy-going person.
Now, with Justin Gatlin not running anymore, do you think you miss a rival who will push you harder to perform better?
No. Every year there is someone in the sport who will push you. You never know who will evolve and become your new rival.
Bass guitarist, drummer and what not. You seem to have very diverse interests. Does all this help you become a better athlete?
No, it doesn’t really help me. These things are just a part of my leisure time. These are things I grew up doing as a child.
Coming from a family of pastors do you pray when you are on the starting blocks? What is the significance of religion in your life?
At the starting blocks I always repeat a verse from the Bible. Philippians 4 verse13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me.” Religion has helped me to focus on what I have to do and it also helps me to be very humble in the sport and keep my eyes on the goal.
World’s fastest man, but no Olympic or world title. If at the end of your career you didn’t win an Olympic 100 metres gold, would you accept it?
What else can I do but accept it. Its apart of life. Not everyone can be a gold medalist.
How difficult is it to push the limits of human endurance, especially in the 100 metres event, when you are striving to be that 1/100 th of a second faster?
The 100m is a very technical event so other than you training very hard, you also have to make sure you get your race technically better each time. Each mistake you correct can help in making your time faster.
Do you think you can lower the World record again? Do you get a gut feeling at the end of a race that you have bettered your own mark or do you need to look at the clock?
Yes I think I can lower it again. After a race I need to always look at the clock. I never know how fast I am going.
Yours is a sport historically packed with drug cheats. How difficult is it to compete in a sport where you constantly wonder if your opponents are on performance enhancing drugs or not? Have you ever been beaten and then strongly believed that the athlete who beat you must be on some sort of performance enhancing drugs?
When I am on the track I don’t think about if people are taking drugs. I just focus on what I have to do on that day to run the best race I can. I let the drug testers take care of that because they always somehow catch the cheaters.
Do you think the scourge of performance enhancing drugs can wiped out from the sport?
No, people will always try to cheat no matter what the cost.
Who according to you is the greatest 100 metres sprinter ever and why?
I would say Maurice Greene because of his technical abilities and his consistency over the years he was number one.
Who is your sporting idol?
Frankie Fredricks
Which is the one sporting feat or record that you think has the greatest influence and why?
I think Jesse Owens
You have recorded the season’s fastest. What are your targets and what do you want to achieve.?
This season I would like to achieve the Olympic Gold and also run faster than 9.74. Basically doing better than I did last year.
What kind of person is the World’s Fastest Man off the track?
Off the track I’m the same humble and calm guy, but I do like to play around cars and hanging out with my friends. I also play games and making jokes. One thing to sum it up is that I’m very active and full of life.
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