Showboating and showmanship have always been a part of the 100 meters. Its just different from other events, and the athletes themselves different from other Olympians.

Its expected for the 100.

I agree, I’ve done the fist pump when I’ve won something big. I love celebrating…just not showing off or looking like it was showing someone up. From what you wrote, I can see that Bolt was more celebrating himself with a “high five.” Excellent, excellent recalibration for me.

In general, I agree that braggers are annoying. However, there are times when your feat is so great and so outstanding that you deserve the right to pat yourself on the back. How many of us have celebrated the same way in private when we landed a big account, solved a major problem at work or outperformed the competition? I know I have.

As someone with Jamaican roots myself, I encourage you to read my career blog where I explain why what others see as showing off, is really a way of giving one’s self a personal high five.

We cannot look at Bolt’s behavior in isolation of the culture from which he hails and the circumstances surrounding his win. I can guarantee that people in that tiny Caribbean country were bursting with pride, even as they waited for another tropical storm, Kaye, to beat them up again. (;>

At 21-years old Bolt was the first from his country to win Olympic gold in the 100meters, only 4 months after he started competing in that race. His specialty is the 200meters and his 6′5″ frame represents a total contradiction in the sprinting tradition.

I hate for his great achievement to be overlooked because he didn’t hold it in until he got back to his room and he celebrated while millions watched. I consider myself to be a true professional, but really can’t guarantee how I would react if that was me. I do know, however, that I would want star performers who are disciplined and willing to work hard on my team.

I completely agree with you that show boaters or mavericks with no “backative” (Jamaican word meaning no substance), are annoying, a drag on the team and usually self destruct.

Marcie

Alex, you make a mighty point. Isn’t that the truth that blamestorming is a corporate skill?

TC, yep, I’m with you and your coach — keep your head looking straight ahead. Fabulous.

“Why did you turn you head? Want to see if you need to run faster? Well, if you can run faster, then RUN FASTER, you don’t need to turn your head to figure that out!”

I never made that mistake again.

Those guys, to use your words, have no place on my team. So frequently, when something has gone wrong, the first priority is to correct the problem, and not to figure out who to behead. It’s counter productive and it just puffs up the person looking for the “culprit” (like your thumpers) and inevitably hurts the team, as well, for creating an atmosphere of certain folks being better than certain other folks.