25 August,2015 08:27 AM IST | | Clayton Murzello
Michael Holding, another Jamaican known in this part of the sporting world apart from Usain Bolt, hailed his compatriot as an inspiration and yet another person Jamaica can be very proud of producing
Usain Bolt hugs his mother Jennifer after winning the 100m event. Inset: Michael Holding
Michael Holding, another Jamaican known in this part of the sporting world apart from Usain Bolt, hailed his compatriot as "an inspiration and yet another person Jamaica can be very proud of producing".
Michael Holding
Holding (61), who became a television commentator after hanging his fast bowling boots for the West Indies, missed watching Bolt run the 100m World Championships race live on television because of his media duties during the last day of this year's Ashes series in London yesterday.
"I wasn't able to see it live, but a friend of mine called immediately after the race to tell me what happened. I saw a replay afterwards," Holding told mid-day yesterday as he watched Bolt accepting his gold medal at Beijing's Bird Nest on his television set in the United Kingdom.
Usain Bolt hugs his mother Jennifer after winning the 100m event
"The presentation ceremony is taking place so he is on my screen right now." Bolt admitted on Sunday after he clocked 9.79 seconds to beat American Justin Gatlin (9.80 seconds): "It's all about running the race and getting it done. You can call that race rusty, I could have run faster."
"I totally agree," said Holding. "It wasn't the smoothest that I've seen Usain as he looked as if he was fighting to run which is not him. It just shows how good he is to be beating Gatlin without being at his best."
Asafa Powell was the second Jamaican in the 100m final, but finished seventh in the nine-man race.
