‘Mr Silk’ McLeod brings joy to Jamaica on Independence Day
AS Usain Bolt takes his leave of athletics and the desperate hunt grows to find charismatic new trailblazers for the sport, another young Jamaican, Omar McLeod, demonstrated in winning the 110 metres hurdles title on Monday why he may fit the bill.
He’s young, cool, bright, very fast and likes to style himself as “Mr Silk” with the smooth hurdling technique.
After a weekend where it was all doom and gloom back home after the 100 metres losses of Bolt and Elaine Thompson, 23-yearold Mcleod chose the perfect night to bound headlong to world championship glory and cheer his nation.
“Happy Independence Day, Jamaica! I love you guys!” he declared with a laugh, recognising that everyone was watching him on the island’s public holiday as he became the first man since American Allen Johnson in 1997 to pull off the Olympics/ World Championships 110m hurdles double in successive years.
“I’m elated, completely overcome with emotion and I especially wanted to dedicate this win to Usain. I felt it was up to me out there to bring the boost back to Jamaica and I think I’ve done that.”
Yet while he saluted his peerless hero Bolt, who was only able to win bronze in his final individual 100m, he also looked and sounded every inch the sort of talismanic figure who could ensure swiftly that Jamaica has a new male superstar to savour.
For after comfortably defeating what he considered the best 110m hurdles field in history in 13.04 seconds, the US- based speedster made it clear that he felt this was just the beginning of something even more spectacular. — Reuters