Don Quarrie

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Donald ("Don" ) O'Riley Quarrie (born February 25, 1951) is a Jamaican former athlete, one of the world's top sprinters during the 1970s.

Quarrie competed in five Olympic games. Quarrie has received recognition both on and off the field, a statue of him is proudly positioned at the entrance to Jamaica's National Stadium. There is also a school (Donald Quarrie High School) that bears his name in Eastern Kingston. Musical artists have also sung the praises for Don, "Tribute to Donald Quarrie" is a reggae song written by Joe Gibbs and The Guerillas. Many Jamaicans still refer to him in casual conversation, citing his speed in comparison to an event. Comments like, "I was running so fast, not even Don Quarrie could have caught me that night." are common among Jamaican Nationals.

[edit] Active career

Born in Kingston, Quarrie made the Jamaican 100 m team for the 1968 Summer Olympics as a 17-year-old, but he injured himself in training, and couldn't take part. The following year, he won a scholarship for the University of Nebraska, and moved to the United States. There, his sprinting capabilities slowly increased. At the 1970 Commonwealth Games, Quarrie won the gold medal in both the 100 and 200 m, surprising his more experienced competitors. Anchoring the Jamaican 4 x 100 m relay team, he pocketed a third Commonwealth title.

Quarrie repeated his sprint double the following year, at the Pan American Games in Cali. His time in the 200 m, a hand-timed 19.8, tied Tommie Smith's world record of 19.83, even though Quarrie's unofficial electronic time was 19.86. One of the favourites for the upcoming Munich Olympics, Quarrie again suffered from injuries at the Olympic Games. He did compete in the 200 m, but had to abandon his 200 m semi-final after pulling a muscle.

In 1974, Quarrie repeated his 1970 performance by grabbing the 100 and 200 m titles at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, becoming the first athlete to retain the title in either event. The next season, he again tied the 200 m world record, 19.8. He also tied the 100 m record with a hand-timed mark (9.9) in 1976, one of only a few athletes to have held these records simultaneously.

In 1976 after winning the AAA's 100/200 titles, Quarrie could finally compete at the Olympics without injuries. He first made the 100 m final, which he led until overtaken by Trinidadian Hasely Crawford. In the 200 m, Quarrie lead the pack coming out of the turn, and held off all challenges to take the title in 20.22.

At the 1978 Commonwealth Games, he won his third consecutive 100 m title, but was eliminated in the 200 m after a cramp attack. Quarrie's fourth Olympics, in Moscow saw him being eliminated in the 100 m semi-finals. His title defence also failed in the 200m, but he did make the final, and finished third, adding a bronze medal to his collection.

By 1984, Quarrie was no longer among the world's best in the individual sprint events, and it was therefore no surprise he was eliminated in the heats of the 200 m event at the Los Angeles Olympics. However, he won a fourth Olympic medal with the Jamaican relay team, which finished second behind the United States.

[edit] Coaching

In October 2006 Quarrie signed a deal with the Chinese Athletics Association to work as a consultant in the preparations for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. (IAAF.org)

Awards
Preceded by Paul Nash	Jamaica Sportsman of the Year 1970 – 1971	Succeeded by Lawrence Rowe
Preceded by Lawrence Rowe	Jamaica Sportsman of the Year 1975 – 1977	Succeeded by Mike McCallum
Sporting positions
Preceded by Unknown	Men's 200m Best Year Performance 1971	Succeeded by Valeriy Borzov
Preceded by Steve Williams	Men's 200m Best Year Performance 1974 – 1975	Succeeded by Millard Hampton