Biography of Asafa Powell

It takes more than shear talent to be a break two world records and equal one twice.  It takes dedication, drive, and the ability to handle pressure when the whole world is watching your every move on the track.  It takes a champion.  That is what Asafa Powell, a humble 25 year old from St. Catherine Jamaica, is.

Asafa learned his great discipline from his parents, the Reverends William and Cislyn Powell. Their strict upbringing helped shape him and his five older brothers.  The Powells as a family have experienced their share of tragedy and suffering. Brother Michael was murdered in a cab in New York City. Brother Vaughn, collapsed and died on a football field in Georgia. Reverend Powell himself was shot in the jaw during a robbery attempt. But the family’s close bond and devout belief in God have kept them going even in times of great adversity and sadness.

While attending Charlemount High School, Asafa virtually ran past fellow runners in 100-, 200-, and 400-meter races. “My teacher, Mrs. Frazier, told me I could be a runner,” says Asafa. “Before that, I thought you could only be a footballer. The only thing I knew about running was that I could beat everyone – even the bigger boys.” While in high school, Asafa wrote his goal in his yearbook: To break the world record.

Out of respect for his parents, Asafa chose to attend a university in nearby Kingston, Jamaica, University of Technology – turning down offers from American universities. He lives and trains there under coach Stephen Francis, attending church every week, and staying in close contact with his parents, as well as surviving brothers Donovan (a former Olympian), Nigel, and Ricardo.

His reaction to breaking the world record? Typical Asafa. No crowd-pleasing antics or boasting. The polite, shy, deeply religious young man merely laughed and smiled – even during the few minutes it took for his world record time to be confirmed on the scoreboard.

“When I run, I don't think about my competition,” says the world record holder. “I just do what I have to do.”

The name “Asafa” means “rising to the occasion”. How appropriate, then, that we will undoubtedly see the name Asafa Powell in the sports records for many years to come.

In 2004 Asafa represented Jamaica for the first time in the Athens Olympic Games.  At only 22 years of age he made the finals and came in a respectable 5th place.  This was Asafa’s first taste of a major championship and the emerging star vowed to one day win gold.  This year will take him to Beijing, China where he is a favorite to win gold and prove against the world’s top competitors that he really is the world’s fastest man.