Basil Watson will be creating the sculpture, using Bolt’s signature “To The World” pose of resting on one knee and pointing to the sky. The statue is funded in part by the Art in Public Places Fund and Art in the Parks programs, and is expected to cost $250,000. The statue taps into Miramar’s connections to both the Caribbean and the world of high-level track and field. The city has a large population of Jamaican descent and regularly hosts competitive track events, including the Miramar Invitational, Coach O Invitational, and NACAC New Life Invitational. Miramar Commissioner Alexandra Davis, herself Jamaican-American, says the sculpture
“…will spur on economic development and serve as an inspiration for up-and-coming athletes of all ages and backgrounds”
Watson has experience creating similar commemorative works, having created a sculpture of Martin Luther King in Atlanta and the “Ring of Life” in London. An 11-time world champion and world record holder for the 100- and 200-meter sprint, Bolt transcended the world of track and field to become a global icon. Statues like this, alongside banner printing and other types of public art, are often commissioned to commemorate sporting greats.
The statue of Usain Bolt was announced in late November and is set to be erected by November 2022 outside Miramar’s Ansin Sports Complex.