The afterglow of the Rio Olympics is just beginning to wear off, as life gets back to normal and “back to school” preparations begin in Jamaica. Nevertheless, the country is still enjoying and discussing the exploits of its track athletes, and in particular their iconic sprinter Usain Bolt. Throughout the second week of the games, Jamaican social media was filled with celebratory tweets and photographs, focusing in particular on the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time) Usain Bolt, who achieved the “Triple Triple.” Sports journalist Andre Lowe wrote: Will we ever see a more dominant track and field athlete in the Olympic Games? Will we ever see another so capable of capturing the world's imagination? There can be no doubt that Usain Bolt is the greatest track and field athlete this world has ever seen, and, last night, the world watched as he won his ninth Olympic gold medal to secure a third consecutive triple gold-medal performance at the Olympic Games. It has never been done before. His nine gold medals take him to the top of the list of Olympic track and field athletes, and he signs off an Olympic career unlike any before. On the last day of the Olympics, Jamaicans showered 30th-birthday wishes on their hero. Bolt responded on Instagram, writing: Thanks for all the birthday wishes my peeps. I am beyond blessed to share my 30th birthday with you all. #Blessed Almost immediately afterwards, UK tabloids threatened to spoil the party by sharing photographs and video of Bolt partying with girls at a nightclub and then alleged selfies (possibly photoshopped) of him in bed with another girl in Rio—all allegedly on his birthday night. While Jamaicans largely ignored the reports, many younger Jamaicans were particularly irritated about the focus on Bolt's private life. One wrote to the newspaper the Gleaner: It is really disappointing that in 2016, an adult in full control of his faculties consensually kissing whomever he wants (and, perhaps, consensually engaging in intercourse with them) is a news item for more than 10 seconds. For some curious reason, we are obsessed with the sexuality and sexual activity of others instead of being invested in fixing the nation's problems. Priorities? First, Omar McLeod's Olympic moment was soured by conversations and an unfortunate tweet from LASCO's Twitter account regarding his sexual orientation. Whether he is gay or straight is of no concern to anyone, and certainly not right after he won Jamaica's first gold medal in the men's 110m hurdles. Now that the dust has mostly settled, persons are now turning up their noses at Olympic legend Usain Bolt for partying and womanising. This must be a joke. I have never understood how people in a country with such a high rate of crime and violence can afford to be so judgmental and self-righteous regarding issues of sexuality. This letter followed an earlier one expressing disapproval of Bolt's behaviour: The circulation of pictures and videos of Usain Bolt with numerous women in somewhat compromising positions over the past few days is nothing short of disgraceful. As someone who is emulated by so many youth in Jamaica – and around the world – his recent behaviour depicts so much that is wrong with our society. Role models carry a huge responsibility. Mr Bolt, despite all his money and fame, should be pulled aside and reminded of that fact. It is sad that when persons criticise out of love, they are labelled as being ‘bad-mind’ or ‘haters’. The author of this letter does not fit either category, but I simply don't want Usain to become the ‘Emperor’ in the story flaunting his ‘new clothes’ where no one can criticise or guide him when he is veering so desperately off path. Even former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, under whose watch Bolt received the Order of Jamaica in 2009, weighed in: Bolt's management would clearly have dropped the ball, but he himself would have to take responsibility for his actions. Hopefully, this will be a wake-up call for him. I know he is smart and responsible enough to understand that he carries on his shoulders and in his persona the pride and adulation of millions of Jamaicans here and abroad, and I know him well enough to assert that he would never want to let them down. […] This can pass and I am counting on him to make it pass. Veteran journalist Barbara Gloudon wrote on a wistful note in her weekly column: Our hero was winning all the way up to last Sunday night. His supporters were witnessing “nuff respect” from Rio to the end of the world, because the real Big Man never ‘ramp’ when it came to striking gold. Now, our hero has found himself mixed up in a tacky scandal, distracting from his great triumph, which he earned so well, just as we expected.