Toppa Top 10: Ten Caribbean Athletes at the Summer Olympics

Words by Emily Shapiro and Jesse Serwer—

You already know about the expectations for the Jamaican men’s track team coming into this summer. Usain Bolt and company head to London not as underdogs but as favorites, expected to improve upon their stunning success in Beijing four years ago on the occasion of their country’s 50th anniversary. The less heralded but no less dominant Jamaican women’s sprinters, led by 2008 gold medalists Shelly-Ann Fraser (now Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce) and Veronica Campbell-Brown, have something to prove, too. And there’s plenty of athletes from other Caribbean islands and other sports with big expectations this summer, too. Here’s a look at 10 we’ll be watching out for.

10. Darvin Edwards (St. Lucia, Men’s High Jump)

Darvin Edwards, the Olympic-bound high jumper from St. Lucia, suffered a major injury in 2009 that had folks wondering if he would be able to continue his career. After setting St. Lucia’s record for height before he even turned 20, Edwards injured his back and was left with a lengthy recovery period.  Back in action now for over a year, Edwards is set to prove himself this year in London.

9. Gabriel Mercedes (Dominican Republic, Taekwondo)

Yulis Gabriel Mercedes Reyes, or, more succinctly, Gabriel Mercedes, is one Dominican you do NOT want to mess with. He won the silver medal in the Beijing 2008 Olympics after tying with Mexico’s Guillermo Perez—his second place finish a result solely of the judge’s decision. The Monte Plata, DR, native is returning to meet his rival in London and bring home the gold in 2012.

8. Jehue Gordon (Trinidad & Tobago, 400-m Hurdles) and Javier Culson (Puerto Rico, 400-m hurdles)

Puerto Rico’s Culson, who won the silver in the 2009 and 2011 World Championships, and 2010 World Junior Champion Gordon both figure to factor into this year’s 400-meter hurdle competition.

7. Asafa Powell (Jamaica, Sprinter, 100 meters)

The 100-meter world record holder for three years, from 2005 to 2008, Powell has struggled mightily with confidence issues and injuries since then. The 29-year-old aims to prove this summer that he’s got that old spark back, and even has rival Usain Bolt in his sights.

6. Julio César la Cruz (Light heavyweight boxer, Cuba)

Cuban boxers have won 32 gold medals over the years, and the fighter most likely to add to that total this summer is light heavyweight Julio César la Cruz. A product of boxing hotbed Camagüey, César la Cruz won gold medals at the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Baku and the 2011 Pan American Games and, as evidenced in the clip above, comes into London with the backing of a highly enthusiastic fanbase.

5. Kirani James (Grenada, Sprinter, 200 and 400 meters)

At the young age of 14, Kirani James ran the fastest 400 meters ever in his age group. He broke the record again at 15 and has since continued success, winning gold and silver medals at the CARIFTA and Commonwealth games, becoming the youngest-ever sprinter to win a senior individual global title, at last year’s IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. “The Jaguar” now has the third fastest indoor time ever and a full scholarship to University of Alabama. Already being compared to Usain Bolt, James remains humble, recently commenting, “Usain is special in his own way, but I just want to be Kirani James from Grenada.” We look forward to his performance this summer.

4. Veronica Campbell-Brown (Jamaica, Sprinter, 100 and 200 meters)

Veronica Campbell-Brown ran the 200 meters in 21.74 seconds four years ago in Beijing, the fastest time in a decade, becoming the second woman in history to win two consecutive Olympic 200 meter events. Now 30, the five-time Olympic medalist will have to prove she hasn’t lost her edge.

3. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica, Sprinter, 100 meters)

Fraser-Pryce, then known as Shelly-Ann Fraser (she’s since married), emerged from anonymity at 2008′s Summer Olympics in Beijing to win Gold in the women’s 100-meter dash, placing the fastest run time in that event 20 years. All that, while still rocking braces.

2. Yohan Blake (Jamaica, Sprinter, 100 and 200 meters)

Usain Bolt’s training partner, the youngest sprinter to break the 10-second barrier in the 100-meter dash (at 19), is also his biggest threat. Blake won the 100-meter gold medal in the 2011 World Championships, after Bolt was disqualified with a false start—does he now have the confidence to overtake him on his own?

1. Usain Bolt (Jamaica, Sprinter, 100 and 200 meters)

Bolt will practically have to crack the sound barrier to turn heads and live up to expectations, after a 2008 Olympics in which he shattered records for both the 100- and 200-meter dash. Most mortals would crumble under the pressure of having to break their own world records, but the “world’s fastest man” remains the world’s coolest athlete, seemingly having the time of his life as he prepares for this summer’s showdown.