Jamaica has little more than 2.6 million inhabitants and 55 medals in Olympic Games. In Athletics, 54. Its islander territory has eleven thousand km², a little smaller than the city of Paris. Kingston, the country’s capital, has a stadium with seating capacity for 40 thousand people. More than 150 high schools participate annually in Boys and Girls Champs, championship that gathers three thousand young people, is broadcasted by TV and overcrowds the national stadium. The hot dog costs about 200 Jamaican dollars.

Numbers and Maths never were the main strength of Melaine Walker, Olympic champion in the 400m hurdles in Beijing 2008. In Communications and Expression, she exceeds. While talking about the boys and girls competition, known worldwide as a revelation hub for the greatest names of the Jamaican Athletics – without exceptions –, she gets moved.

In Rio de Janeiro, competing in Brazil 2011 Athletics Grand Prix, the 23 years old Jamaican, talking quickly with a firm voice, commented on the structure that will receive the sport in 2016, remembered beautiful moments of Beijing and explained the secret of Jamaican Athletics athletes, gold medal winners of almost every kind of sprint competition in Olympic Games (men’s and women’s 100m and 200m, besides the men’s 4x100m relay).

Check out the interview:

You are at the stage of the Athletics competitions in 2016. What can you say about the João Havelange Olympic Stadium, about the track and the ambience?

The track is good. I didn’t know I would run so fast (Melaine set 54.09s in 400m hurdles, the best mark of the event in the world in 2011). The weather conditions are good, not so cold, not so hot, not so windy. It is a quiet place. I cannot complain, everything is great. In 2016, it will be fantastic. The more people coming to Brazil, the better.

Your country and Brazil have similar aspects. With what does the Rio 2016 Games contribute, in terms of inspiration, to the continent and to Jamaica?

Our people are similar to the Brazilian people. We play football in the streets, we run (giggles). We are similar people in a different environment.

It is a great thing that the Games can get to other sites. If the Games were in Jamaica, I would say “Gosh, that’s so boring!”, because you always want to go to and know different places, meet new friends, exchange experiences. Getting to know new people, taking them to your home, going to theirs, getting to know other cultures, understanding the things they believe in.

This happens when you travel, that is why I love to travel and get to know new people from all over the globe. It is fun when I am not capable of communicating with people. Sometimes, they don’t speak your language, and you have to stay in the “yes” or “no” mode of conversation (giggles).

Athletics is a passion that is built in school in Jamaican. Tell us about your experience in the Champs competitions.

If you are able to compete in Boys and Girls Champs, you are able to compete anywhere else. They are pretty much the same. The difference is that you are older now. But it is the same heartbeat, the same thrill, the kind that doesn't let you sleep, eat. You feel that when you are younger. Then, when you get older, you can control it, but deep inside, you still feel it.

That’s what Boys and Girls Champs does. You can participate in World Championships, Olympic Games… you will manage to deal with all of these. You will get over the pressure, you won’t be afraid. You already know what will happen and you are prepared for that. You can be successful or not, but it is part of Athletics.

The greatest names of Jamaican Athletics train in their own country. The fact that the idols are around stimulates young people. Since you were born in this environment, who were your references at the beginning of your career? As a renowned athlete, is it really crucial to train at your home country?

It doesn’t matter where you train. The important thing is to have a coach in which you trust. This is enough. That point on, all you have to do is to compete. About my idols, I have more than one person as an example for me. In each phase of your life, you search for references that might help you, in which you can inspire yourself. We, from Jamaica, have a lot of people that inspire us.

How Jamaican myths as Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, that experienced being the fastest men in the world, contribute to the sport?

There was a time when I thought Asafa Powell would never be beaten. We truly believed that. Then, Usain Bolt appeared (giggles). Now, we realise that someday someone will beat Bolt, what seems totally impossible now, but yes, it will happen. As of now, I can tell you that it will take a while. What Bolt and Powell have in common is a good mindset when entering the track. They are not there for the money, but for the passion.

Tell us about your experience in Beijing 2008 and the desired gold medal.

It was the best experience I’ve ever had. That people were extremely organised. I’ve never seen people like the Chinese. Everything was confortable, secure. They made us feel that everything we had to do was to eat, rest and compete.

My medal was so beautiful, I could show everyone what I have always said. Most of the athletes have championship medal, but I have got an Olympic gold. If I don’t win anything else in my life, I feel like the mission is accomplished. I have achieved everything I wanted. There are a lot of people fighting for this, and I am very proud of having achieved it.