Powell with point to prove
August 9th 2007 11:02
Its amazing that only 4 years ago in Paris Powell was disqualified from a quarter final in circumstances better remembered for Jon Drummond's infamous 'I did not move' speech than the eventual winner.
Since 03 his rise has been spectacular yet certainly not without its ups and downs.
Going into the Athens Olympics Powell was ranked number one and many people's favourite to take the title.
Progressing through the rounds comfortably he found himself embroiled in a psychological battle with Maurice Greene, allowing the little fancied Justin Gatlin to steal the show.
Powell finished out of the medals and was branded a choker by the media.
In 2005 he sprung back to prominence setting a new world record of 9.77 on the same track that less than a year earlier had been the scene of his greatest defeat.
However the season would end on a sour note with a groin injury at the Crystal Palace Grand Prix ending his season and leaving the door open for Gatlin to claim the world title in Helsinki.
2006 started with the claiming of the Commonwealth title in Melbourne and then equalling his world record twice in Gateshead and Zurich.
But with no major championship to aim for accusations still abounded that he chokes at major championships and can only run fast when the pressure is off.
This season has been relatively quiet thus far. This is probably due to a succession of niggling injuries that have curtailed his racing on the circuit.
He pulled out of the Sheffield Grand Prix with a groin problem and was visibly troubled during the Jamaican national championships with a hamstring injury.
His return to competition last Tuesday in Stockholm - winning in 10.04 and beating world number 4 Derrick Atkins, was hardly a statement of intent and will not bother American Tyson Gay who posted the worlds leading time of 9.84 at his national championships last June.
Powell described his performance as a ‘bad race’ and he will surely have to find over two tenths of a second in the next month in order to best Gay but if anyone can do it it’s him.
He is the best technical exponent of sprinting the world has ever seen and when equalling his world record last year he managed to maintain his top speed for the last 40m perfectly – a feat never before achieved.
This may sound strange to most people but sprinters are usually at their top speed at around the 60-70m mark – after this point has been reached the body actually starts to tire and slows down.
Powell has the speed, strength and technique to buck the trend. He is a champion in all but title.
However he doesn’t have long to wait to rectify that.
(The men’s 100m final is at 22.20 on the 26th of August)
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