On July 26th, 1976, Donald O’Riley Quarrie CD, won the 200m race at the Montreal in 20.22 seconds. Quarrie ended a 24 year long absence of Jamaicans on the Olympic podium to receive a gold medal. In the 200m race, Quarrie led the pack coming out of the turn, and held off all challenges to take the title in 20.22. Quarrie was a five-time winner at the Jamaican Sportsperson of the Year and a statue of him is 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
On this day in Jamaican history: Donald Quarrie ends a Jamaican Olympics “drought”
