I wouldn’t take a Sports Ministers answer as gospel although a physical education program should be mandatory for children. Look at basketball and swimming where America still performed superbly. Ok basketball is practised in and out of school so look at volleyball where America was in both finals. Also a physical education program did not help Jamaica produce a champion cricket team (West Indies) which is Usain’s first love. Although having inspiring sprint champions at school and club level would contribute to their self belief the same couldn’t be said of their cricketers.
Whilst a good education program and foundation is a factor, and inspiration another contributing factor, they most probably pale in significance with good coaching plan, coaches, and psychological support that may have come from having other good sprinters around because I’m of the opinion (and maybe incorrectly) that Jamaica does not excel in that regard. For example look at the massive improvement in Great Britain at these Olympics who have recruited plenty of technical expertise in all those facets. A question “did most of the Jamaican sprinters in the finals come from two coaches?“. In addition, although there is no one secret did anyone take notice of a training picture of Usain doing a resisted sprint drill with exceptionally high knees? Also in that picture does the resistance band look slack which probably means the coach tightens it only at certain points in Usain’s stance? If I am barking up the wrong tree please enlighten me. In summary there are probably many reasons that contribute to the Jamaican team success, especially Usain, but don’t discount a clever coach that has fine tuned something.
(And Australia will beat Great Britain at the next Olympics!!)
