Don Quarrie
Encyclopedia
Donald O'Riley Quarrie C.D
(born 25 February 1951) is a former Jamaica
n athlete, one of the world's top sprinters
during the 1970s.
Don Quarrie competed in five Olympic games. He 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. There are a number of reggae tunes titled "Tribute to Donald Quarrie", one by Joe Gibbs
and The Guerillas and one by Bongo Herman
. Many Jamaicans still refer to him in casual conversation, comparing his speed to that of everyday activities (as in, "not even Don Quarrie could catch me I was so fast").
, 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. He moved to the United States
and attended the University of Southern California
, graduating with a degree in Business and Public Administration. 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 led 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 defense 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.
Order of distinction
The Order of Distinction in Jamaica is the fifth in order of precedence of the Orders of Societies of Honour, which were instituted by an Act of Parliament – The National Honours and Awards Act.The Motto of the Order is "Distinction Through Service"....
(born 25 February 1951) is a former Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n athlete, one of the world's top sprinters
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
during the 1970s.
Don Quarrie competed in five Olympic games. He 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. There are a number of reggae tunes titled "Tribute to Donald Quarrie", one by Joe Gibbs
Joe Gibbs (record producer)
Joe Gibbs born Joel A. Gibson was a Jamaican reggae producer.-Biography:Joe Gibbs worked as an electronics engineer in the United States before his career in music started. Gibbs eventually returned to Kingston, Jamaica and opened an electrical repair shop with television repairs and sales as its...
and The Guerillas and one by Bongo Herman
Bongo Herman
Herman Davis , better known as Bongo Herman, is a Jamaican hand-drummer, percussionist and singer who has had a successful career stretching back to the early 1960s.-Biography:...
. Many Jamaicans still refer to him in casual conversation, comparing his speed to that of everyday activities (as in, "not even Don Quarrie could catch me I was so fast").
Active career
Born in Kingston, JamaicaKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Quarrie made the Jamaican 100 m team for the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
as a 17-year-old, but he injured himself in training, and couldn't take part. He moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and attended the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, graduating with a degree in Business and Public Administration. There, his sprinting capabilities slowly increased. At the 1970 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, 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
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
in Cali
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
. His time in the 200 m, a hand-timed 19.8, tied Tommie Smith
Tommie Smith
Tommie Smith is an African American former track & field athlete and wide receiver in the American Football League. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Smith won the 200-meter dash finals in 19.83 seconds – the first time the 20 second barrier was broken...
's world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
of 19.83, even though Quarrie's unofficial electronic time was 19.86. One of the favourites for the upcoming Munich Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, 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
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, 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
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
without injuries. He first made the 100 m final, which he led until overtaken by Trinidadian Hasely Crawford
Hasely Crawford
Hasely Joachim Crawford is a former athlete from Trinidad and Tobago. In 1976, he became the first Olympic champion of his country. A stadium was renamed in his honour in 2001.-Early Years:...
. In the 200 m, Quarrie led 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
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
, in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
saw him being eliminated in the 100 m semi-finals. His title defense 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
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
. However, he won a fourth Olympic medal with the Jamaican relay team, which finished second behind the United States.