Powell into Allianz Memorial Van Damme Hall of Fame

Former men's 100 metres world record holder, Jamaica's Asafa Powell, was one of three athletes inducted into the Allianz Memorial Van Damme Hall of Fame at the gala dinner in Brussels, Belgium, Wednesday.

The two other athletes joining Powell were former Ukraine men's pole vaulter Sergey Bubka and Guadeloupe-born French sprinter Marie-Jose Perec.

The gala was two days before the Allianz Memorial Van Damme Diamond League Meet, which takes place on Friday. Powell was a regular fixture at the event for many years, competing in the men's 100 metres 2005-2017, winning five times.

Powell held the men's national record in the 100 metres with a time of 9.87 seconds, done in the Allianz Memorial Van Damme meet in 2004. Sprint legend Usain Bolt unseated him a year later at the meet, winning in 9.77 seconds to Powell's second-place time of 9.85 seconds.

Powell, who has gone sub-10 seconds 97 times in his career, is the second Jamaican to be inducted into the Allianz Memorial Van Damme Hall of Fame after Merlene Ottey in 2018.