THERE HAS been much talk about the 'boastful' response of Usain Bolt to winning his first gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

Since that time, Bolt has done it again, winning his second gold medal and breaking his second world record.

I haven't heard too many complaints about boasting since yesterday's events unfolded but I am still angry at the fact that former athletes and Jamaicans were some of those rebuking the 21-year-old for his actions.

Obviously I'm not in agreement with them and I'll tell you why.

First of all, every athlete knows by the time they begin to seriously entertain thoughts of being involved professionally in their sport that confidence is, outside of hard work, dedication and talent, one of the most important ingredients for performing well.

Athletes also find out pretty soon how to go about psyching themselves up, giving themselves that edge.

I've never been one of those who have problems with United States athletes who tend to have that swagger or carry out those actions that look boastful and have a tendency to upset Jamaicans in particular.

Here is why: There are those very loveable athletes who, for some unknown reason, have that inner self-confidence and do not need any motivation to do well. They just know or feel they are better than anyone else.

Self-reassurance

A case in point is Zinedine Zidane, who quietly went about destroying his opponents without much of a fuss. Then there are those athletes who have to tell themselves all the time that this is so, or else their performances suffer.

Those athletes usually display their attempts at building confidence openly, much to the chagrin of others. That anger, as a matter of fact, can sometimes cause other athletes to lose focus and give the 'boastful' a significant advantage.

That is sports; it is up to other athletes to negate this psychological game by finding their own way of feeling confident.

"I am it," said Melaine Walker, speaking about the gold medal she had not yet won. That might seem like arrogance in everyday circumstances but it is a very necessary part of some athletes' diet.

Asafa Powell, a fairly humble, well-liked athlete, does not seem very confident. He almost seems to not realise how good he is. Maybe he needs a healthy dose of 'boastfulness' to propel him to the next level - performing on the big stage.

Maurice Greene, who has been lauded as one of the greatest 100-metre sprinters the world has seen was boastful. He would beat his chest or give the stare and perform other antics that did two things: distract his opponents while he stayed resolute and focused and allowed him to feel confident about the possibilities ahead of him.

Personality

Then, of course, there is the fact that sports are for spectators.

Pete Sampras was one of the greatest tennis players in the game's history, however, he was never more popular or more marketable than his arch nemesis, André Agassi.

The difference was that Agassi had personality, he got angry, he boasted, he showed his soft side, he kidded around, sometimes he was downright nasty, but that made people feel a connection with him.

Asafa will never be as marketable as Usain. Even if Bolt had disappointed, he would still have been a sponsor's dream.

A perfect example of this was his pose after the race with his newest Puma shoes which, according to the company, has had a significant sales boost.

That pose is on the cover page of a website called pumarunning.com, which is increasing in popularity by the minute.

It's quite simple, much of sports is showmanship. You and I can have the same performance but if mine is done in style, I'll be remembered longer than you will.

Send feedback to Paul-Andre.Walker@gleanerjm.com