SPORTS HERO
DON QUARRIE
By Michael Alexander
Caricom Regional Youth Ambassador
Regional Youth Ambassador Program
cryap2002@hotmail.com
http://www.caricom.org
Newsday
July 15, 2002
Page 54
Don Quarrie, a Jamaican National, was born in 1951. He is considered one of the most accomplished athletes and is known for his work as a sprinter in the track and field arena. He is proclaimed to be the best runner around the bend and admired for the discipline, which he demonstrates on and off the track.
In 1971, Quarrie broke the then world record for the 200 meters, with an absolute outstanding performance of 19.80 seconds, at Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia.
In 1976 he stole the gold medal in the 200 meters and the silver medal in the 100 meters at the Montreal Olympics Games. In 1980 he won the bronze medal in the 200 meters in Moscow. Don Quarrie has competed in five Olympic Games.
He is the only male sprinter to win medals in his third, fourth and fifth appearance at the Games, and the first to win a gold medal in his third appearance.