Pollster Don Anderson pointed to the achievements of legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt as he urged this year’s graduates of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) to set their own ladder of excellence and seek to climb relentlessly and purposefully to the top as they face an increasingly challenging world.

Anderson was addressing the graduates after being conferred with the honorary Doctor of Laws degree (LLD) by The UWI in recognition of his service to the nation as an entrepreneur, market research practitioner and a sports administrator on October 31.

Anderson, who served as Jamaica’s chef de mission to five consecutive Olympic Games from Atlanta in 1996 through to London in 2012, drew reference to the fact that Bolt didn’t succumb to his failure at the Athens Olympics in 2004, but rather worked at his craft to become the greatest sprinter of all time.

Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medallist, currently holds the world records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m with times of 9.58 secs, 19.19 secs and 36.84 secs, respectively.

He is the only sprinter to win Olympic 100m and 200m titles at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012, and 2016). He gained worldwide fame for his double sprint victory in world record times at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which made him the first person to hold both records since fully automatic time became mandatory.

Bolt is also an 11-time world champion, winning consecutive World Championship 100m, 200m and 4×100 metres relay gold medals from 2009 to 2015, making him the most successful male athlete of the World Championships.

Anderson, head of Market Research Services Ltd, was one of four individuals conferred with the LLD by The UWI this year. The other three were music giant Monty Blake of Merritones Disco; Courtney Campbell, head of VMBS; and Dr Conrad Douglas, noted environmental consultant.