Asafa Powell at the Campidoglio, the Capitoline Hill, in Rome. (© Rome Golden Gala)
Rome, ItalyIAAF Diamond League Ambassador Asafa Powell will be the focus of attention when he lines up for the 100 metres at the Olympic Stadium on 10th June. Yesterday (24) the Jamaican sprinter, one of the much-awaited stars of the 30th Golden Gala – IAAF Diamond League, was the special guest at the Campidoglio, the Capitoline Hill in Rome.
Powell was welcomed by the Sport City Council Delegate Alessandro Cochi, FIDAL General Secretary Renato Montabone, and Meeting General Director Diego Nepi Molineris and Meeting Director Anna Riccardi.
Powell’s visit comes just a few days after the official announcement of Rome as the Italian candidate for the 2020 Olympic Games. “The International athletics meeting in the Italian Capital will be an important step on the road to the Olympic candidature for the Olympic Games,” said Cochi.
“Rome is a special place for me where I even lived in the past,” said Powell. “It is a wonderful city.”
“My season started well in Doha. In the past months I trained hard and I lost weight. I am now lighter, but I am more powerful. The season which has just started will be very exciting. Both Bolt and Gay are in very good form. We are ready. The track will then do the talking.”
Powell was ready to answer the questions of those who inevitably asked him to talk about multiple sprint world record holder Usain Bolt:
“Every sprinter who starts a race has a dream to pursue. It’s the same for me or Bolt. I believe in myself and, even though Bolt has run great times, I think I am able to improve them. There are no unbeatable athletes. I think the Diamond League is a great opportunity and I hope to take part in as many meetings as possible.”
“On Thursday I will run in Ostrava, then in Oslo and at the Golden Gala on 10th June. Then I will return to Jamaica for the National Championships and at the end of June I will return to Italy to train in Lignano Sabbiadoro, which has become my training - base for years.”
“What about the 200 metres? I have a strange relationship to this race. Every time I run this distance, something happens to me. However, I cannot rule out running over this distance again”.
Powell was inevitably thronged by tourists and curious people who did not spare him requests of photos and autographs at the exit of the Campidoglio. He is now going to take the flight to Ostrava. Rome waits for him on 10 June.
Powell’s history at the Golden Gala
On 10 June Asafa Powell will compete for the seventh time at the Olympic Stadium. The Jamaican sprinter has already taken part in six editions of the Golden Gala. In 2003 he made his first appearance in Rome running 10.10 (+0.3 m/s) behind Justin Gatlin (10.09). The following year he ran the 200 metres in 20.34 (-0.5 m/s) finishing behind Mauritius’ Stéphan Buckland (20.20). Since then he has only ever run the 100 metres in front of the Monte Mario stand. He clocked the fastest time in the Golden Gala on 14 July 2006 with 9”85 (wind +0.5 m/s). The following year he scored another win in 9.90 (+0.5 m/s). In 2008 an injury slowed him in the heats where he ran 10.19 (+0.5 m/s) and forced him to pull out of the final.
In 2009 it was the edition marked by the big clash against Tyson Gay. In the heat Powell ran in 9.98 (+0.4 m/s), his 50th time under the 10 seconds barrier in his career. In the final Powell finished second with 9.88 (+0.4 m/s) despite a very good flying speed in the second half of the race behind his US rival who clocked 9.77.
In 2010 Powell has already made his debut in the 100 metres in Doha during the first leg of the IAAF Diamond League where he dominated with two very fast but wind-assisted times of 9.75 (+2.6 m/s) in the heat and 9.81 in the final (+2.3 m/s).
Marco Sicari for the IAAF Diamond League
