Pablo McNeil

Pablo McNeil (born 12 September 1939) is a former Jamaican sprint athlete who is currently a sprinting coach. McNeil participated in the 1964 Summer Olympics and the 1968 Summer Olympics. McNeil reached the semifinal of the 100 metres in the 1964 Olympics, finishing sixth with a wind assisted run of 10.30 seconds. [ cite web |title=Athletics at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Games: Men's 100 metres |publisher=Sport-Reference |url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1964/ATH/mens-100-metres.html |accessdate=2008-09-07 ] He also ran as the first leg in the Jamaican 4x100 metres sprint relay team, placing fourth in the final with a time of 39.4 seconds. [ cite web |title=Athletics at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Games: Men's 4 × 100 metres Relay |publisher=Sport-Reference |url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1964/ATH/mens-4-x-100-metres-relay.html |accessdate=2008-09-07 ] At his final Olympics in 1968 McNeil competed in the 100 metres once again but failed to pass the first round. [ cite web |title=Athletics at the 1968 Ciudad de México Summer Games: Men's 100 metres |publisher=Sport-Reference |url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1968/ATH/mens-100-metres.html |accessdate=2008-09-07 ] McNeil's 100 metres personal best is a run of 10.54 seconds set in 1964. [ cite web |title=Pablo McNeil Profile |publisher=Sport-Reference |url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mc/pablo-mcneil-1.html |accessdate=2008-09-07 ]

Following his retirement from athletics, McNeil became a sprinting coach at William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny Parish, Jamaica, training youths such as Usain Bolt. McNeil convinced Bolt to give up cricket in favour of track sprinting. [ cite web |last=Linnell |first=Gary |title=Usain Bolt speeds up life in sleepy Jamaica |publisher="The Australian"|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/beijing_olympics/athleteprofile/0,27316,24219012-5016798,00.html |accessdate=2008-09-07 ] He coached the young Jamaican throughout his high school career and their partnership came to an end when Bolt was sent to Kingston to work with the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association at the age of 16. [ cite web |last=Stocks |first=Clare |title=Jamaicans hail sprint king Bolt |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-08-17 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7566388.stm |accessdate=2008-09-07 ] McNeil intends to write a book about his time as Bolt's trainer titled "The Bolt of Lightning and Me". He suffered a stroke in December 2007 and his vision is now impaired. cite web |last=Luton |first=Daraine |title=Pablo McNeil - the man who put the charge in Bolt |publisher="Jamaica Gleaner" |date=2008-08-18 |url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080818/lead/lead7.html |accessdate=2008-08-26 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20080604T210000-0500_136382_OBS_BOLT_S_FORMER_COACH_CHIDES_JOHNSON_FOR_ASAFA_COMMENTS_.asp McNeil chides Johnson for Asafa comments] , article from the "Jamaica Observer"
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/24/olympics2008.olympicsathletics McNeil on Usain Bolt] , article from "The Guardian"

Persondata
NAME = McNeil, Pablo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Jamaican Olympic sprint athlete and coach
DATE OF BIRTH = 12 September, 1939
PLACE OF BIRTH = Jamaica
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =