Bolt, Fraser-Pryce head RJR Sports Foundation nominees

[Mosiah]

Bolt, Fraser-Pryce head RJR Sports Foundation nominees

6:35 pm, Mon December 3, 2012

Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce head the list of nominees for the respective male and female Athlete of the Year Awards as the lists were announced for the 2012 RJR Sports Foundation awards at Jamaica Pegasus on Monday.

Bolt, who underlined his status as arguably the greatest sprinter of all times by defending his titles at the 2012 London games, heads a list that includes world 100 metre champion and double Olympic sprint silver medalist, Yohan Blake; 200 metre bronze medalist, Warren Weir; 110 metre hurdles bronze medalist, Hansle Parchment; Nickel Ashmeade, along with cricketers, Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuel.

Fraser-Pryce heads female the list which includes Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kaliese Spencer, cricketer Stefanie Taylor, swimmer Alia Atkinson and boxer Alecia Ashley.

Cricketers Andre Russell and Marlon Samuels have been nominated for the People's Choice Award.

Boxer Nicholas Walters, who fights for the WBA world featherweight title on Saturday against Daulis Prescott of Colombia will be considered for the Sportsman of the Year award should he win the contest.

Head of the selection committee, Mike Fennel explains the reason for having a small list of seven nominees for the men and six for the women.

Chairman of the RJR Sports Foundation, Gary Allen, underlined the importance of the awards to the RJR Communications Group.

The winners will be announced on Friday January 11, 2013.

[Mosiah]

Bolt, who underlined his status as arguably the greatest sprinter of all times by defending his titles at the 2012 London games...

Why are we still saying "arguably"? If not Bolt, then who?!???

[Gamma]

who's we?

[Historian]

So why only Bolt?

Why are we still saying "arguably"? If not Bolt, then who?!???

Fine, but what about Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (as well) as far as the RJR Sports Foundations’ Award is concerned?

While Usain quite clearly dominated the world stage in this century, what about Shelly-Ann, whose achievements, without question, outranks those of any other Jamaican woman this year?

Just check the facts:

SHELLY-ANN FRASER-PRYCE (Olympic Games (London):

100-meter race gold, making her only the third woman in history to repeat as consecutive Olympic Games 100-meter champion (after, of course, the USA’s Wyomia Tyus in 1964 and 1968 and Gail Devers in 1992 and 1996)!

Then, as a newcomer to the 200-meter race, Shelly-Ann placed second behind Allyson Felix, the world’s fastest 200-meter sprinter. Shelly-Ann then later assisted the Jamaican team to a 4x100-meter Olympic Games record-breaking performance and a silver medal behind the world record-breaking USA team.

So as far as the topic is concerned, if I ask why is Usain Bolt the only query in this post then maybe some readers will understand.

But hey, this is Jamaica where the outstanding performances and contributions of women to our musical history – despite the challenges they had to face in the development period of rocksteady and reggae – has consistently been swept under the carpet, so to speak, so should we not expect the same from athletics?

[Mosiah]

In her two Olympics, Wyomia Tyus equaled and set world records. Shelly Ann did not.

Just saying, for me, it can be argued who is the best female sprinter of all time. That is not true for the men.

Clearly, you feel differently, Historian, and that's ok.

So, yes, there may be discrimination against women in music and athletics. I may even be guilty of it, but in this case - I think not!

[Sir X]

Well said Historian.

[Historian]

I understand you, boss

In her two Olympics, Wyomia Tyus equaled and set world records. Shelly Ann did not.

Just saying, for me, it can be argued who is the best female sprinter of all time. That is not true for the men.

Clearly, you feel differently, Historian, and that's ok.

So, yes, there may be discrimination against women in music and athletics. I may even be guilty of it, but in this case - I think not!

I agree that the fastest female of all times is debatable . However, I wouldn’t compare Wyomia Tyus’ world record equaling achievement in 1964 and her world record setting run in 1968 with Shelly-Ann Fraser’s efforts.

You see, Mo, the factor hindering people like Shelly-Ann from a realistic chance at a world record is an enigma by the name of Florence “Flo Jo” Griffith. Thanks to Flo Jo, genuine talents like Carmelita Jeter and Shelly-Ann Fraser and Veronica Campbell-Brown and Allyson Felix will be mere footnotes in sprinting at the world level.

[Mosiah]

I agree that the fastest female of all times is debatable

Well, that's a different argument. It is easy to say who is the fastest male or female. Even if we make an adjustment for Flo Jo and Marion, and the scores of tiefing East Germans, it would still be debatable if Shelly Ann is the greatest female sprinter of all time. She would not even be the fastest, unless wi going to discount Jeter's performances as tainted as well.

I think you will agree that greatest whatever does not necessarily mean the person with the world record. Right?

I'm saying Bolt is not only the fastest of all time (a DUH statement if there ever was one) but also the greatest sprinter, male or female, of all time! That is, or should be, beyond debate!