KINGSTON, Jamaica,  CMC – Former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell has rated his bronze medal performance at last month’s World Championships as his best-ever performance.

“It’s the best performance I have ever had in my life,” Powell said on his arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport on Saturday. He was one of three athletes returning to the country with World 100 metres hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Shericka Williams, the 400m silver medalist, also touching down.

According to Powell, a relaxed attitude allowed him to generate a lot of energy during the 2009 season, which was critical to his success. Powell said his coach Stephen Francis had advised him to be calm and the advice had worked for him during the season.

“I just decided to be myself in that 100 metres final,” Powell said.

“Had I done that from 2004, I would have been a gold medallist in the Olympics and a world champion.”

The 26-year-old said he had also learnt how to believe in himself, especially since “several people sent me messages saying keep going, you are the best, and we believe in you.”

“If so many people believe in me, it was just for me to believe in myself,” Powell noted.

Foster-Hylton, who won her first gold medal in a major competition in Berlin last month, was also upbeat over her season.