“Genetics accounts for only 20 percent of an athlete’s ability. Nutrition, training method, and personal dedication are more important factors,”

says Errol Morrison, president of the University of Technology, Jamaica. As is widely known, Jamaica is the home country of Usain Bolt who holds the world record in the 100m sprint. The university is famed for producing world-class sprinters and Dr. Morrison has conducted research on the secret of his school’s success as a scientist. He arrived in Seoul on May 20 for a weeklong visit at the invitation of the Korea Foundation. His itinerary included a lecture presentation and visits to the National Training Center at Taeneung and the ancient capital of Gyeongju. I interviewed him on May 24 at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul.

First of all, would you tell us about your university?

The University of Technology (UTech) was established in 1958 to help Jamaica stand on its own feet by fostering manpower resources with technical skills, just ahead of its independence from the U.K. four years later. At that time, the school had only 50 students enrolled in four disciplines: physics, chemistry, engineering, and mathematics. Later, the school offered additional courses in computer science, business management, and linguistics. It became an accredited university by an act of parliament in 1995. As Jamaica’s only national university, it now offers over 100 courses with a student enrollment of more than 14,000.

It sounds somewhat strange that a technical university is engaged in sports science. Could you explain this situation?

After inviting Dennis Johnson, then world record holder in the 70-yard dash, to UTech in 1970, we set up an athletic department. At first, a focus was placed on cricket, soccer, golf, and badminton due to influences from the British colonial period. But other sports were gradually introduced as well. In its early days, UTech sought to nurture talented students in the fields of science and technology. But today we are better known for producing outstanding track and field athletes.

According to Dr. Morrison, UTech attracts students from neighboring Caribbean countries, particularly in the field of sports science. Morrison himself is a well-known figure, who is often interviewed by the foreign media trying to cover his country’s latest developments in track and field. He has been interviewed by a Korean TV network. As a national university however, UTech also makes efforts to contribute to the development of local communities by conducting research on the climate and geography of the country’s western regions from its second campus at Montego Bay.

Do you maintain any sports teams?

Yes, of course. The university currently has 15 teams including those for tennis, swimming, and volleyball. We also play a significant role in advancing the country’s sports sector through various activities, such as providing systemic training programs for high school students.

What was your major? And how did you get involved with sports science?

I studied physics and biochemistry in the U.K. before earning my Ph.D. from the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. And then I continued my research on diabetes. Then, in 1980, I happened to meet a Nigerian diplomat, which shifted my interest to the potential influence of yam on improving the performances of track and field athletes. Known as the “sweet potato in the wild,” yam is a root plant rich in botanical progesterone, which is said to be good for the heart, and used for regular consumption by people in Latin America and Africa.

Later, Morrison conducted a joint study with a professor at the University of Glasgow in the U.K. on the impact of genetic factors on athletes of African descent, and compiled the findings into a book titled “Black Superman” in 2006. He continued research on this subject and published an article titled “Bio-medical Mechanisms in Athletic Prowess” in an academic journal. Then, in 2007, he was appointed the president of UTech. As our conversation drifted to scientific matters, such as endocrinology and epithelial cells, I asked more basic questions.

What do you think is the secret behind the success of so many Jamaican track and field athletes?

It has very little to do with genes. Nor is it because yam is their staple food. A more important factor is motivation, an athlete’s personal determination to succeed.

It’s an unexpected reply from a sports scientist. Then, what has made Jamaica produce so many world-class tack and field athletes?

Jamaicans love soccer, too. But running is the most popular sport among them because everybody can enjoy it without expensive equipment and there are no complicated rules either. With so many people enthusiastically participating in the sport, it’s just natural that we produce top athletes, I think.

I understand this is your first visit to Korea.

Yes, this is my first time here. I have heard that Korea is one of the four Asian dragons. But I am surprised to see the country is far more advanced than I thought. I am also impressed by people who are kind and diligent.

What has been most impressive during your visit?

I visited the Daegu Stadium, the main venue of the IAAF World Championships, as well as the National Training Center and the Korea National Sports University. The facilities are all really great. I never saw any comparable facilities even in the U.K. while I was studying there.

Morrison gave a lecture on “The Secret of Jamaica’s Success in Field and Track” at the Korea National Sports University, where he also signed a memorandum of understanding on the exchange of students, teaching staff, and coaches between the two universities. He wrapped up the interview by saying: “This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Jamaica and Korea. I hope our bilateral relations will further develop through support for Korean Studies in Jamaica and our exchange of research findings in the sports field.”

Kim Sung-hee, Columnist