Power of the Powell sprint!

It’s been quarter of a century since that fateful day in Tokyo when Mike Powell flew. He flew high and long to a world record, which stands even to this day. Powell remembers it like yesterday but beyond the feat, he remembers the motivation and the desire to usurp one man: Carl Lewis. The legendary sports star was in the country on a promotion and shared anecdotes from his life.

“He was prepared but not for me. I was on a mission. That’s not how it was going to end anyway. It doesn’t’ matter, I was going to win. That competition, I was jumping for a purpose. Every other competition, be it the Olympics or nationals, it was only a competition. But the World Championship run was a statement about my life. Everybody who called me skinny, turned me down for a date, anyone who teased me by saying something. It was my moment of saying ‘yeah!’. That was for Carl too. He set the standard. I believe that I had to be that good that night,” remembered the legend.

Often in sport, there are characters who eclipse the sport and elevate it’s standard with gamesmanship, effort, upset victories and spectacular defeats. An emotionally-invested journey for all involved. And amidst all this, comes a few rivalries that define the sport. That makes the athlete run that much faster, push that much further and reach levels previously thought unreachable.  

Could Roger Federer have been so good if not for Rafael Nadal? Could Niki Lauda have pushed through the pain barrier after a near fatal crash had it not been for his competition with James Hunt? We will never know, but then again, would we really want to know otherwise? Would anyone want one without the other and spoil the legendary tale?

In track and field, the one that has stood the test of time is that between the legendary duo, Powell and Lewis. In what could be considered one of the greatest competition in the history of all sport, the two American legends leapt to previously uncharted territories with Powell, who never tasted success against his rival in the Olympics, claiming the gold and the record at a the World Championships.

But behind the masquerade of the sport there was a real rivalry. “Carl, he was the man, he was the guy in the sport. But to me, I looked at him like another guy to beat. He happens to be one of the best ever. We were going to get that record. Carl was so good, he forced me. I had to break a 20-year-old world record and beat a guy who hadn’t lost for 10 years and who just finished breaking the 100 m record. And when I broke the record, I didn’t know I was going to win! That’s how good he was because I thought for sure he was going nine meters. When he didn’t I was surprised,” he revealed.

In that heat of the battle, like the saying goes, you can’t see the forest for the trees. But looking back, all that transpired, seen and unseen by the fans across the world is engraved deeply for Powell. “It’s funny because we are friends now. I can say, Carl, ‘I hated you. I tried to demonise you because you are so good.’ But I really hated him. When the best is in your event, he was so arrogant too. It was easy for me not to like him, really easy. He was my idol at first but after I started competing, I thought I had to demonise this guy. If we were in the same room, I thought we were going to fight. That is how our competition worked. I’m crazy I guess. I am proud of it though,” said the 52-year-old.

Years later as he sits amidst the list of greatest athletes in the world and in spite of all the success and legendary status, it’s not been a career without regrets: The Olympic gold remains glaringly absent from his honours. But that thought no longer haunts the American. “I’m just thankful. I had a long and successful career. I’m thankful that you guys want to listen to me talk about something I did over 20 years ago. I’m amazed and feel like I’m blessed,” he remarked with a glint in his eyes. Perhaps it is poetic justice that it was his once rival who helped him find peace with his career.

“Carl asks me this all the time. He asked: ’Man you got that record.” And I go: ’Man you got nine gold medals, so give me a break. You want everything? So if you give me four of those medals and I get to choose the ones that I want, then I’ll exchange for that,’ he laughed. There is a cordial friendship there now, one that has evolved from the ashes of their rivalry and the desire to become the best. The rival kings have at last become allies. All hail the kings!