September 1, 2016 Page 3 Usain Bolts Toward Immortality By Adam Serrao As he waited in the tunnel underneath Olympic Stadium, the crowd could be heard from miles away, throbbing like a heartbeat. Everyone was there to see one person. Everyone was there to witness greatness. As the chanting started in the crowd, all eyes were fixed toward the tunnel, waiting to see his tall, daunting visage emerge. “USAIN BOLT, USAIN BOLT!” the crowd excitedly roared. They all knew what they wanted to see and all of a sudden, there he was, emerging as if a gladiator stepping into the arena. Usain Bolt has never been short on confidence, nor has he been shy on talent. As he emerged onto the track in Rio, dancing and smiling to the brim, he knew he was going to win, it was just a matter of how much he was going to win by. By taking home his ninth gold medal in this year’s Rio Olympics, Usain Bolt has done what he had originally set out to do. Usain Bolt has become a legend. Early on in his career, no one would have ever guessed that Bolt would have grown into the champion he has now become. In 2004, a young, 17-year-old Bolt traveled to Athens to participate in his first Olympics. As skinny and frail as they came, Bolt did Seniors exactly what everyone thought he would do. He aggravated an ankle injury, lost in the 200 meters, and went back home. That trip home proved to be a life changing one for Bolt. He didn’t take losing lightly, and from then on he would be motivated to become the world’s best ever. Fast forward to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Bolt was back, in his prime, and this time, he was ready to make an impact. With a remarkable time of 9.69 seconds in the 100 meters, he did just that by completely dusting the world record. Nine gold medals later and domination in three straight Olympics has made the sprinter out of Jamaica the legend that he has become today. “I would have never thought I could go back-to-back-to-back Olympics,” Bolt explained. “The first one, I was just happy. The second one was a challenge, and the third one is just unbelievable.” Over the course of the past three Olympics, Bolt has not only dominated the 100 meter race, but has also completely conquered the 200 meters and the 4x100 relay, as well. Basically, if he steps foot on the track, he is going to win a short distance race. When Bolt steps foot on the track, every single person who knows about it is going to stop and watch. Winning gold medals isn’t as effortless as Bolt makes it seem, though. The hard work and dedication that he puts into his training is what has made him the great athlete that he has become today. “Competition is the easy part,” Bolt said. “Behind the scenes, is where the work is done. I think a lot of people, they see you run and they say, ‘Oh, it looks so easy’. Before it gets to that point, it’s hard work. It’s day in and day out sacrifice, day in and day out, just dying.” The sacrifice has paid off. Not only has Bolt been the world’s fastest man for over 12 years now, but he has also become a legend that we will all likely one day tell our children and grandchildren about. “What else can I do to the world to prove I am the greatest? I’m trying to be one of the greatest,” Bolt said after winning his latest 200 meter gold in Rio. “Be among Ali and Pele. I hope after these Games, I will be in that bracket.” Bolt doesn’t only have nine gold medals to fall back on to symbolize his greatness. He has also broken a significant amount of world records, as well. 2008 proved to be Bolt’s coming out party. He set the world record in both the 100 and 200 meters that year, running the 100 in 9.72 seconds and the 200 in 19.3. Bolt later broke his own 100 meter world record twice, running it in 9.69 seconds in the Beijing Olympics and then again in 2009 by running it in 9.58 at the World Championships in Berlin. Bolt also broke his own 200 meter world record at the same World Championships, decreasing his time from 19.3 to 19.19. Bolt and the Jamaican relay team also hold the world record for fastest time in a 4x100 meter relay, setting it at 36.84 seconds at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Though Bolt has shown no signs of slowing down and could certainly add more gold medals to his mantle if he wanted to, he has assured the national media that his career in racing competitively is over. The sports world is so used to seeing our superstars hang on until they absolutely cannot play anymore, but for Bolt, it is important to go out on top. “I’ve proven to the world I’m the greatest,” he said. “I really put Jamaica on the map. I’ve really got people taking a look at where the talent is coming from. I’ve done all I can do.” It has now become Bolt’s time to sprint off into the shadows. The world’s fastest man has nothing left to prove and will now forever be a legend in the eyes of anyone who ever reflects upon his illustrious career. • The Truth About Alzheimer’s: Early Detection Makes a Difference (BPT) - It’s the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, affects more than 5 mil-lion Americans and one out of every three seniors will die from it. Yet misconceptions surround Alzheimer’s disease. Contrary to what many people think about Alzheimer’s, it’s not a normal part of grow-ing older. And while there’s not yet a way to prevent, cure or even slow the progression of the disease, people with Alzheimer’s can benefit from detecting it early. During June - Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month - the Alzheimer’s Association is encouraging everyone to learn the truth about Alzheimer’s disease. “Misunderstanding crucial facts about the disease can have consequences that can lead to stigma, delayed medical attention and inadequate support for caregivers,” says Ruth Drew, director of family and information services, Alzheimer’s Association. “Greater understanding of Alzheimer’s is urgently needed given the dramatic impact of the disease. It devastates too many families for it to remain a mystery. We need everyone to know the truth about Alzheimer’s so we can bridge current gaps and build greater support toward advancing treatments and finding a cure.” Debunking Common Myths Alzheimer’s is most often associated with memory loss, but the truth is the disease can appear through a variety of signs and symptoms. A progressive and fatal disease, Alzheimer’s attacks the brain, killing nerve cells and brain tissue, which affects a person’s ability to remember, think and plan. While the majority of people who have Alzheimer’s are seniors, it can also affect people in their 30s, 40s and 50s - a form of the disease known as younger-onset Al-zheimer’s. About 5 percent of people with the disease have younger-onset Alzheimer’s. Everyone is, technically, at risk of develop-ing Alzheimer’s, but certain groups have elevated risks; African-Americans are twice as likely as whites and Hispanics one and a half times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Nearly two-thirds of all people who have Alzheimer’s are women. Empowering Information Every 66 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer’s, according to the Al-zheimer’s Association. Detecting the disease early may help the person with Alzheimer’s, caregivers and loved ones in multiple ways. People who receive an early diagnosis may have more time to explore treatments that could help relieve some symptoms, and help them stay independent longer. They may be able to participate in a clinical drug trial to help advance Alzheimer’s research. Resources such as Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch can help you find current studies. Detecting Alzheimer’s early can also give people with the disease, their caregivers and loved ones more time to plan for the future. If you are diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, you may be able to participate in decisions about your care, living arrange-ments, and financial and legal matters. Only a doctor can accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, but the Alzheimer’s Association has developed 10 warning signs and symptoms that may help you decide it’s time to consult a physician, including: • Memory loss that disrupts daily life. • Challenges in planning and solving problems. • Difficulty completing familiar tasks. • Confusion over time or place. • Trouble understanding visual images or spatial relationships. • New problems with spoken or written words. • Misplacing things and not being able to find them by retracing your movements. • Decreased or poor judgment. • Withdrawal from others at work or in social situations. • Changes in mood or personality. “If a person is having trouble doing some-thing that they routinely did for years or they demonstrate a significant shift in personality that lasts over time - those are warning signs that need to be explored,” Drew says. “Too often people dismiss these changes as stress or having too much to do, but when they persist over time, it’s best to get it checked out. Ignoring the situation is the worst way of handling it.” To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and to find resources for caregivers, families and people living with the disease, visit www.alz.org, the website of the Alzheimer’s Association. •
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