Do you know that feeling when you see a video or hear a song and immediately like the performer to the extent that you go out of your way to find more videos or songs of the person.
This was my experience but not for music or a movie, but for a track star. Weird? I hope not.
I was scrolling through my YouTube and watching videos of the 2024 Olympics in Paris when I stumbled upon the women's 4 x 100M relay race finals which was won by United States of America. I was amazed at how fast these women could run and when the batons were passed to the anchor runners, I couldn't help but notice the American runner, her speed was something else coupled with the grace with which she ran. She didn't get the baton first or second especially because their was a sluggish exchange but she crossed the finish line first and even had enough time to glance over her shoulders.
It was like moving poetry, her expressions screaming "confidence".
This prompted me to go search for more of her videos and I was even more impressed with her abilities and wins especially how she clinched the gold in the world championship 100m in 2023, edging both Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce and Sherika Jackson in the same race and went on to get the bronze medal in the final of same event.
I watched another relay she anchored in the world championship and even though she was being chased by one of the fastest women in the world in Sherika Jackson of Jamaica, she maintained composure and Sherika could not reduce the gap. The celebration just at the finish line spoke greatness
It's not just about her running, it's about how she executes it with class and confidence. Not to talk of the fashion she injects into her athleticism. Watching her run, you can't avoid noticing how fashionable she is and sometimes too colourful even. This sometimes gets the media talking but I still find it cool.
As a person who is into sports and had participated in numerous track and field events albeit in amateur competitions, I can only imagine and admire the commitment that goes on behind the scenes that enables her to achieve the insane heights she achieved.
Having watched that 4x100 relay and how she bosses it, I quickly searched out the 100m of the Paris events and was surprised she didn't get a gold medal. She actually came in second in that race missing out the first place to Julian Alfred the history maker from Saint Lucia who ran a very spectacular race from the gunshot to the finish line.
Another observation of mine which really impressed me about this young lady is the way she runs over and climbs into the crowd to hug her mum. It gets me emotional seeing it. And the way she says "I am not back, I am better" is filled with confidence.
I hope to see more of her races and victories. I think I may have watched all her past races already, so I am just looking forward to more of them.
So that's it for the celebrity I stand, I would love to meet her in person but for now, let he just be on my screen.
See ya😎
