Carl Lewis VS Usain Bolt- Is the pot Calling the Kettle Black?

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Fellow country man and athlete Chris Gayle said it!

What were his exact words?

"I'm going to say something controversial. Carl Lewis – I have no respect for him.The things he says about the track athletes are very downgrading. I think he's just looking for attention because nobody really talks about him. I've lost all respect for him. All respect."

What prompted these harsh words?

Well, it was what Carl Lewis had to say after 2008 Olympics,"When people ask me about Bolt, I say he could be the greatest athlete of all time," Lewis said. "But for someone to run 10.03 one year and 9.69 the next, if you don't question that in a sport that has the reputation it has right now, you're a fool. Period."

It seems, Bolt is not the one to let bygones be bygones. He has neither forgotten nor forgiven Lewis for suspecting him and his country and hinting their performance may have something to do with doping.

He thinks that all Lewis craving for is some attention. While there are many who feel that by erupting against Lewis, Bolt has somewhat tarnished his own image, Bolt may not be far wrong in suspecting Lewis’ motives.

So, now is it legend vs legend?

Not exactly. Though Bolt does consider himself to be a legend quite vocally, there are many who feel the status is a bit premature. But it surely is one great athlete against another.

With a career spanning from 1979 to 1996, Lewis is an Americanformer track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals including 9 gold, and 10 World Championships medals, including 8 gold.

Where as Bolt, at 25, is the first man to hold both the 100 meters and 200 meters world records. Along with his teammates, he also set the world record in the 4×100 meters relay and is also the first man ever to defend both the 100 m and 200 m title at consecutive Olympics. He is the five-time World and five-time Olympic gold medalist and holds the world record with 19.19 at the Berlin world championships in 2009.

However, as far as Jamaica is concerned there have been a lot of speculations regarding lax dope testing back home and history does seem to favor the speculation. But is it fair to judge one player based the misdeeds of another? A few days ago, Former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell complained of excessive drug testing inside the Olympic Village, after he was awaken from his sleep at night by doping officials for his third test in five days.

Lewis himself tested positive three times but was never suspended for his infractions, with the Seoul 1988 100m dash where he won gold, now known as the dirtiest race of all times.

So one wonders if it is the proverbial case of the pot calling the kettle black? Yes, Bolt retaliated quite publically and at the risk of tarnishing a bit of his recent glory, but who can blame him for defending his and his country’s honor?