| What: |
“The world’s fastest human”
|
|
| Where: |
Manchester, Jamaica |
| When: |
Born December 16,
1967 |
| Why: |
Because he broke the world record |
Five-time world and Olympic champion, also known as “the world’s fastest human”, Donovan
Bailey set the world record in the 100 metre sprint at the 1996 Olympics with a race time
of 9.84 seconds. He was also the first Canadian since Percy Williams in 1928 to win the
Olympic 100 metre sprint. Ben Johnson won this same distinction in 1988, but tested positive
for using performance-enhancing drugs.
Donovan, the fourth of five boys, was born on December 16, 1967, to a machinist in Manchester,
Jamaica. He immigrated at age thirteen to Oakville, Ontario, and played basketball at
Queen Elizabeth High School.
After pursuing a diploma in Business Administration at Sheridan College, Bailey started
work in the brokerage and financial industry and later started his own business.
He became a part of the Canadian National Team in 1991, sprinting part-time. In 1993,
after placing in both the 100 and 200 metre sprints, he won himself a place on Canada’s
4x100 relay team for the World Championships in Stuttgart. However, he was later dropped
because of lack of experience.
After more serious competing in 1994, the next year marked his international debut at
the World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. In Gothenburg, he proceeded to win both
the 100 metre sprint and the 4x100 metre relay titles. He went on to run at the 1996
Olympics in Atlanta, where he set the world record in the 100 metre sprint with a race
time of 9.84 seconds. He also won the gold medal in the 4x100 metre relay, with a total
time of 37.69 seconds.
In 1997, Bailey placed a disappointing third in Lausanne, Switzerland. Maurice Greene
placed first in the pouring rain with a time of 9.90 seconds. Frankie Fredericks placed
second at 9.91 seconds, and Bailey followed with 9.97 seconds. He had faltered after 80
metres due to a hamstring injury.
Later that year Bailey was involved in a car crash when he slid on some black ice. His
white 1996 Mercedes C36 went out of control as he was travelling south toward the Queen
Elizabeth Way on Mississauga Road. The vehicle skidded sideways, hit a concrete pole,
then flipped onto its roof and caught fire. He crawled out from the passenger side
and a passerby drove him home. He was charged with careless driving and failure to
remain at the scene of the accident.
In 1997 he raced in a much-publicized challenge against Michael Johnson at the Toronto
SkyDome to see who was really top dog. At the 100-metre mark, Johnson had to abandon the
race due to his leg as Bailey rushed to the finish line, winning $1.5 million.
Bailey took two awards at the Canadian Sport Awards in 1997. He won the male athlete of
year and the Canadian men's 4x100 meter relay team won for the male team of the year.
After that season Bailey struggled with a ruptured achilles tendon injury and was never
again able to reach his previous performance level. The injury caused him to retire in 2001,
and he is now remembered as one of the greatest.
He now owns a company called DBX Management with one of his four brothers. The company
helps amateur athletes to promote themselves.
To date only two people hold the three titles of Olympic Champion, World Champion and
World Record Holder, and Donovan Bailey is the first.
He also has endorsements with Degree antiperspirant, Adidas, Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, and Air
Canada.
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