PARIS, France — Shanikie Osbourne, coach of talented Jamaican sprinter Bryan Levell, says he has nothing to fear when he lines up in the 200m against the world’s best athletes at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Osbourne, head coach of the newly formed Optimum Performance Track Club, told the
Jamaica Observer that Levell’s performances at the national championships in late June demonstrate he is ready to make a strong showing at the Olympics.

Levell, 20, was one of the standout performers at the national championships, winning the men’s 200m with a personal best time of 19.97 seconds. He also improved his personal best in the men’s 100m from 10.21s in 2023 to 9.98s when he finished fourth in the championships in June.

“Well, there is no need for him to have fear because he is running against normal people just the same,” said Osbourne. “Everybody has the same goals. It is just for him to go out and do what he can do, and whatever he does, we will just go back and work on what we can do again, and that’s just it.

“You train hard, you go out there, and you execute. Whatever the results are, you move on from there. We are trying to reach as far as we can and get the best results possible, but whatever he can do, he will do,” she said.

Levell’s time in the 200m ranks him as the fastest Jamaican man in the world this year and the only Jamaican to have broken the 20-second barrier this season. He is the 16th-fastest man globally, behind American world leader and world champion Noah Lyles who has a best time of 19.53.

The experienced Osbourne, a former coach at MVP Track and Field Club, highlighted that there is no pressure on Levell heading into the Olympic Games. She pointed out that the main focus is for him to execute the race to the best of his abilities, and she will be satisfied with whatever placement he achieves.

“He is fine and he is happy. It is everybody’s dream to make the Olympic team, and he is happy about that,” Osbourne noted. “It is what it is. You just have to go there and do what you can do. He is young and coming up so he has no pressure on him. I don’t pressure athletes anyway so he is fine mentally, so far.

“I feel good about it because my aim at all times is to ensure that I can give the athletes what they come to me for. I believe that if you come to me to achieve your goals, and most times the goal is to run fast or reach the highest level you can, I feel good when I can help the athlete achieve that,” she explained.

Osbourne attributes Levell’s success this season to his hard work, dedication in training, and his ability to stay focused and pay attention to details. She mentioned that the former Edwin Allen standout follows instructions and is very easy to work with.

“He trains diligently and just does what he is told to do. He is very easy to work with, listens well, and tries to do what you ask him to do, most times. That’s one of the reasons for his success,” she shared.

She said Levell is peaking at the right time and that if he maintains his composure and follows the race plan, the sky’s the limit for him at the Olympics.

“What we are doing is working. If he runs faster, so be it, but my goal is to prepare him to compete to the best of his abilities at the Olympics. This is always the aim for a coach — to get the athlete faster at all times,” she asserted.