The Bolt Supremacy: Inside Jamaica’s Sprint Factory

Sports journalist Moore (Slaying the Badger) probes the mystery of why the world’s fastest runners hail from one of the smallest Caribbean islands, exploring whether it’s the environment, genetics, or illegal doping. The author, clearly a fan of Usain Bolt, examines the legendary Jamaican track star’s life, from his rural origins and strict training to his global dominance and eventual diagnosis of scoliosis. He also asks some thorny questions about several failed drug tests of key athletes, the effectiveness of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission, and mysterious sport guru Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfaht. Eventually, a skeptical Moore attributes the current run of Jamaican successes to the culture in the traditional Maroon stomping grounds of Cockpit Country, the titanic coaching legacy of Herb McKenley, and the top-grade local athletic schools, Calabar, Kingston College, and St. Jago. Fans of Moore’s impressive work will be a bit disappointed that this is not an earth-shattering volume—it’s too full of inconclusive answers and speculation—but it is entertaining. [em](May) [/em]