Asafa Powell

Sprinter Asafa Powell may be known as one of the fastest men in the world, but during his childhood in Jamaica, he planned to be a mechanic. The son of two ministers, Powell was devoutly religious, and his life revolved chiefly around his church and his five brothers. One of those brothers, Donovan, offered Powell some inspiration when he became a finalist at the 1999 World Indoor Championships. Powell, then in high school, began running himself, and was picked up by coach Stephen Francis after finishing seventh at the ISSA High School Boys And Girls Championships in 2001. He would finish seventh in the semi-finals of the 100 meter event at the Commonwealth Games the following year. By 2006, he was taking home the gold after winning the Commonwealth Games' 100 meter race. This would prove to be a portent of the success to come, as Powell then won the gold medal for the the 4×100 meter relay at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Though a groin injury would disrupt Powell's chances of bringing home a similar victory from the 2012 Olympics in London, he came back with a vengeance, winning gold at the 2015 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Beijing.