(Le Floridien) — Miramar, the city governed by a mayor and four-member city commission, all with Jamaican roots, hosted a special community event last Saturday, July 15, in honor of Usain Bolt, known as the world’s fastest man. A bronze statue was unveiled commemorating the legendary athlete.
The unveiling was held at the Ansin Sports Complex with the honored 6’5’ Olympic sprinter and many city officials and community leaders in attendance.
Hundreds of residents of this city in southern Broward County, with one of the largest Jamaican populations in the United States, came out to support him.
The Jamaican-born athlete is the most decorated sprint runner of all time. He holds the world record in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4 × 100 meters relay.
Addressing the crowd, Vice Mayor Alexandra P. Davis who submitted the project to the commission and said, “I am so proud to be spearheading the erection of this statue in honor of the greatest sprinter of all time, Usain Bolt, in our city of Miramar. It’s the first, and won’t be the last, of all the art that’s going to go throughout this city, in our parks and elsewhere, for the community to enjoy. This statue will serve as a constant reminder to all aspiring athletes that ‘Anything is Possible, No Limits,’ as quoted by the man Usain, himself.”
Bolt took time to greet fans and chatted with many others at the stadium and later helped local officials unveiled the bronze statue.
“Get serious sooner. I think, when I was younger, I wasn’t as focused,” Bolt told the crowd. “It took me a while to understand the depth and the talent that I had and what I could actually do with that talent, so I’d tell my younger self to get serious quicker.”
The Usain Bolt statue was created by Jamaican artist and sculptor Basil Barrington Watson.
“It’s an honor to be in the city of Miramar,” said Watson. “For them to embrace my work and embrace Usain Bolt, I am excited about that.”
Watson also installed the “Hope Moving Forward” sculpture, a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. by the City of Atlanta in 2021 and who, more recently, sculpted the National Windrush Monument erected in London in 2022.
This is Usain Bolt’s second sculpture, the first one commissioned by the country of Jamaica entitled “To the World” in 2017.
The piece of art was transported from Atlanta to Miramar, where a public viewing took place. Usain Bolt is an inspiration to people around the world, not merely regarding athletic prowess, but how the human spirit can attain goals others previously thought could never be achieved.
The next time you’re in Miramar, check out this statue, this commemoration of excellence and the human spirit that can accomplish anything.
