Daegu Diary: Kudos to Jamaica's athletes

DAEGU, South Korea:

So folks we have come to the end of another IAAF World Championships and the Jamaicans - for the most part - delivered for us once again.

Sure, nine medals isn't the 13 that we got two years ago in Berlin, but the conditions here were a bit different. We had a lot of injuries to contend with and a lot of athletes who were just coming back from injuries and were not in the best possible shape.

Let's not forget also that this was our third best medal return from the World Championships, so let's be grateful.

The athletes tried their best and you can tell how much representing their countries mean to most of them. Sometimes we forget that they are humans too and we look at them as numbers - personal best, season's best, world rankings and so on, but let's never forget that they too have emotions, personal issues and ambitions. When they lose they cry, they suffer; when they win, like the rest of us, they rejoice.

So to our athletes, those still here in Daegu, those who have already left and those who did not make it this time around, we appreciate you.

Mixed zone

I must say too, that our athletes have really matured. We are seeing far less negative 'attitude' in the mixed zone and a greater acknowledgment that the people of Jamaica would love to hear from them through the media core at these meets.

Speaking about athletes in the media, I got a pleasant surprise on the final day. Two great Jamaicans graced the Daily Programme magazine that is issued to media and spectators at the venue.

On the cover, world 200m champion Usain Bolt, and a few pages inside was an image of newly crowned Jamaican media 800m champion, André Lowe, in full flight during the media race.

It was a nice cap to an excellent championship.

Anyway, that's it from the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, it was fun and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing some of my experiences with you.

Jagbyeol insa!!