We Jamaicans were on our feet in the Olympic Stadium as Usain Bolt took the baton from Nickel Ashmeade level with the US and Japan for his last event, the Men’s 4x100m relay on Friday. Then he powered up into ‘Bolt gear’, flying past his competitors, to achieve his historic ‘Treble-Treble’ — three gold medals in three consecutive Olympic Games.

So how did he achieve this ‘Bolt gear’?

It started with loving, caring parenting by Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt, who lavished attention on their very energetic child. Their family doctor, Marco Brown, related how they brought in Usain for a check-up when he was about six years old, observing that he seemed never to be able to keep still. Dr Brown said the child was alert and healthy, so his recommendation was to get him involved in school sports to focus his energy.

In his autobiography, Usain wrote about their close family circle. Every Sunday he would visit his grandfather’s farm and enjoy lots of fresh cow’s milk. His grandmother was a praying woman, and he says that to this day, whenever he sets out from Trelawny to Kingston, she does not stop praying until he calls her to say he has arrived safely.

Usain says his parents insisted on discipline and good manners. Although his school was only half-hour away, his father would get him up by 5:30 am because punctuality was his watchword.

Both of his parents taught him to respectfully greet members of their Sherwood Content community. Then there was his observant principal at William Knibb, Margaret Lee, who, when Usain was 15, called an alumnus named Norman Peart and asked him to meet ‘this little one’ who she thought could do great things. Peart was amazed at Bolt’s height and progress, and sought the advice of then JAAA President Teddy McCook, who recommended that Usain be relocated to Kingston.

Norman Peart got a job transfer and became Bolt’s Kingston guardian, making daily phone calls to his anxious parents. “If he sneezed, they had to know,” he told me in a 2008 interview. It was great to see Peart at the Rio Olympic Stadium and to meet Bolt’s parents. “It is time for another interview, Jean!” said the elated Norman.

If every Jamaican child had an upbringing like Usain Bolt what a Jamaica we would have!

His parents are models, and his family circle has stayed tight and supportive. Unfortunately, even with ambitious parents, many of our children are denied a safe and stable life. If they live in garrison communities, where some politicians give dons sway, boys may be recruited for gangs and young girls for sexual abuse.

It is no coincidence that most of our gold medallists are from rural areas. God bless Maxine Simpson, mother of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who guarded her daughter and kept her focused on her studies in their Waterhouse community.

We give special respect to the parents, guardians, coaches and sponsors of our Olympians. Without their support we could not have put in those precious performances.

New approach to leadership

We are feeling a new resolve among those Jamaicans who have stayed and worked and reached out over the past decades. They are scrutinising our leaders and are resolute that they must be people of integrity. Our leaders are getting this message and we will not look back, but forward, allowing them to show us that they are stepping up to match the unstinting efforts of our athletes.

It was great to chat with Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett in Rio, who is pressing ahead with his plans to focus more on sports and entertainment to sweeten our product and create employment opportunities. Watch this space for a very special innovation.

Jamaica House — best in Rio!

The wonderful Jamaicans who were in our tour group met with hard-working Jamaican Ambassador to Brazil Alison Stone Roofe, Minister Counsellor Desreine Williams, and consultant Kris Samuel. The excitement of Brazilian guests was high at Jamaica House in Rio when Kymani Marley rocked the terrace of the Rio Jockey Club.

Ambassador Stone Roofe noted, “Jamaica has had diplomatic relations with Brazil since 1962. Our embassy was established here nearly five years ago, and clearly this has been our highest point. We public servants are working hard for what we believe in, so this has been gratifying. Kudos to Jason Hall, deputy director of tourism, and his team who brought it all together.“

Official Danny Donohue disclosed that Brazil’s most respected reporter, Gloria Maria — famous for her exclusive Michael Jackson interviews — honoured Jamaica House on

Globo TV by stating it was the best house of the Olympics.

This was a great example of public-private sector partnership, as major sponsors of Jamaica House included Digicel, Sandals and Appleton Estate.

We love Brazil!

Our tour guide Gustavo De Sá gave us colourful historic insights as we toured the great Rio landmarks. As we emerged from the train and looked up at the back of the Christ the Redeemer statue, my heart stopped. To witness this magnificent tribute to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, inspired hope and a special love for Brazil. My husband, Hubie, and I prayed quietly in the chapel situated in the base of the statue.

Gustavo explained the beginning of the favelas by unpaid soldiers who took land as compensation and said they were now being developed as vibrant sustainable communities.

A cable car ride took us to the breathtaking Sugar Loaf Mountain, where we could survey the entire city including their famous Copacabana Beach.

We enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the Olympic Boulevard, pulsating with samba sounds and lined with brilliant murals. We had not a single experience of harassment; something we could learn well from the Brazilians. We fell in love with the warm and welcoming people. Obrigado, Brazil!

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com