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The future of track and field in the Caribbean is a very exciting prospect. This optimistic view of the sport in the region was expressed by Trinidad and Tobago's quadruple Olympic medallist, Ato Boldon, a day after he announced his retirement from track and field on Saturday.

"I think it's in very safe hands," Boldon remarked during an interview with CMC reporter Vanessa Hansen on the "Caribbean in Athens-tracking excellence" programme. "If you look at Usain Bolt, 19.93 as a junior, that's a time I didn't run until I was, wow, about 22.

"Between him, Asafa Powell, and some of the younger Jamaican sprinters, I think it's in very safe hands. I've always said that the Caribbean has as much talent as any other region. I proved that, Obadele proved that, and I think that these younger guys are going to continue to prove that. We have a wealth of track and field talent."

Revealing that Powell was his pick to win Sunday's 100 metre dash final, which was eventally won by the US' Justin Gatlin, Boldon said he felt disappointed at Powell's fifth place in the final.

"I think that Asafa, he just picked the wrong time to have a bad race, and one of my theories is that if you're undefeated all year, all that means is that you're due for a loss. And it just happened to him at the wrong time. I really felt badly for him."

About his decision to call it a day in terms of his career on the track, Boldon expressed pride in what he has accomplished.

"I think I did well. I know that I set the bar really high, and that's what I'm most proud of," he said.

"Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, and the guys that are coming along now. They're going to have to run fast to get my record, so I'm most proud of that, but more importantly I think that I was able to have an influence on the region and certainly in Trinidad and Tobago. That's the most important thing to me, because while I was in the spotlight, I think I used whatever voice I had to help and to do good."

Asked what he thought about George Bovell III's performance in becoming the first Olympic swimming medallist from the Caribbean, Boldon felt it would have a positive effect on swimmers in the region. "Absolutely thrilling. I think he's going to blaze huge trails in terms of people wanting to become swimmers in my country. We're not just runners, we can swim too."