BIRMINGHAM, UK, CMC– Captain Michael Frater says he believes the world will be gunning for Jamaica at the summer Olympics in London as a result of his country’s exploits in Track and Field.
Frater, Jamaica’s men’s 4 x 100m relay squad member, says his country men and women are now being targeted especially after their success at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
A 50-member contingent, boasting a large Track and Field component, is representing Jamaica at the Games which begin in earnest with an opening ceremony on Friday.
“It’s us against the world. We are the target on everybody’s back” said Frater speaking at Jamaica’s training base at the University of Birmingham in central England.
“We are at such a high level where everyone wants to take us down,” he said while adding “they (Jamaica) took down the US in the last few years”.
In Beijing, Jamaica won 11 medals, including Usain Bolt’s sprint double in world record times and Shelly-Ann Fraser’s women’s 100m success.
Melaine Walker also won gold, the 400m hurdles, while the men’s 4x100m set a then world record mark of 37.10.
“We are ready to take on the world” declared Frater.
“After what we did in Beijing, dominated the sprints, we have continued to do so and the US want to get back at us.”
In June, former Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin warned Usain Bolt and his fellow Jamaicans that they will be pushed aside at the London Olympics.
Gatlin has been in fantastic form this season – running undefeated so far – as he raced to a personal best to win the 100m at U.S. trials.
“We’re going to go down there to take on the Jamaicans and anybody else who stands in our way,” said Gatlin.
“If it’s going to be three Jamaicans in our way or the whole world, that’s what it’s going to take to get gold” he added.
However, Frater pointed out, “we are not worried about Justin Gatlin or anyone else; we are all just going out there to do our thing.”
