In The Making of a Sprinting Superpower, Arnold Bertram presents an inspiring account of Jamaica’s climb to the pinnacle of success in track and field athletics — a journey spanning more than 100 years from the end of the 19th century to the present day.

In his preface, Bertram urges all Jamaicans, and in particular the elite sprinters of the modern era, to “develop an appreciation for the giants on whose shoulders they stand”. In subsequent chapters he expands on the monumental labours of these giants, who often had to struggle against overwhelming odds.

The reader is struck by the author’s deep respect for the sacrifices made by such trailblazers as GC Foster, Ted Lamont, Carl March, ‘Foggy’ Burrowes and Noel White, to whom this book is collectively dedicated. However, Bertram underscores the pioneering role of GC Foster who, as sprinter, coach, mentor and physiotherapist, led the national effort which carried Jamaica’s athletes to their landmark success at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.

Bertram’s perspective on the elements contributing to the prowess of Jamaican sprinters centres on genetic factors, on the daily habit of walking and running over rugged terrain, and on organic nutrition. He also cites the choice of energetic dancing as a preferred leisure activity. This combination of factors, he posits, laid the groundwork for the coaches and mentors charged with preparing athletes for excellence on the track.

Throughout the book, the reader is entertained with fascinating anecdotes of various sporting triumphs and inevitable disappointments experienced by our superstars, among whom Usain Bolt predictably holds pride of place. A detailed set of tables at the end will satisfy those who are curious about Jamaica’s performance at various international meets since 1948, including the Olympic Games.

It is a joy to read the thoughtful comparison drawn by Bertram between Bob Marley and Usain Bolt, the two most recognised Jamaicans in the world today. Whereas Marley’s consciousness was shaped by his early years in a deprived urban community and by the struggles of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, Bolt has grown up in a world dominated by a focus on the accumulation of wealth. Yet, in their ascent to the top, both men maintained “a generosity of spirit that is always becoming in superstars”.

The author reminds us of the odds against which Jamaican athletes had to compete during the Cold War when the superpowers introduced anabolic steroids and “over 100 other substances which were later banned” in order to maintain their dominance in the sporting arena. At the book launch on July 18, Bertram urged all Jamaicans to remember that the foundations for Jamaica’s rise to the top of the sprinting world had been painstakingly laid over the past 100 years. He also stressed that Jamaica’s status as a global sprinting superpower had been achieved long before the current allegations of “banned substances” that have shown up in tests carried out on a handful of Jamaican athletes.

Bertram’s enthusiasm for the subject matter and the depth of his research are obvious throughout the book. It is sure to be a favourite among devotees of track and field athletics, and will no doubt attract the attention of newcomers to the sport.