Former 100-metre record holder and reigning sub-10 second kingpin Asafa Powell and Canadian model Alyshia Miller were married on Saturday, February 16 in a private ceremony in Montego Bay, Jamaica in the presence of close friends and family members.
Not long after the couple said their “I do’s” their wedding photographs began trending on social media and images from the wedding ceremony and reception were available on YouTube.
The Jamaican Diaspora, exemplified in tweets and Facebook and Instagram postings, have been extending congratulatory messages to the couple.
A tweet from Jenny in Miramar said, “Asafa never win a personal golden love medal.” Another tweet from South Florida read “Asafa deserve to be happy. God’s blessing to the new couple.” A comical message on Facebook read, “At last Asafa beat Usain (Bolt). Usain won’t be able to catch him at the altar.” But another, rather partisan tweet read, “Bwoy, me glad fi Asafa, but mi sorry is not a Jamaican chick.” Notwithstanding, most of the social media messages wished the couple happiness and success in their marriage.
The couple’s wedding followed their engagement in February last year. However the news of their engagement was kept silent until months later when Powell’s then fiancé posted the news on social media.
Powell held the 100-metre world record between June 2005 and May 2008, with times of 9.77 and 9.74 seconds.
He consistently broke the 10-second barrier in competition, with his personal best of 9.72 seconds ranking fourth on the all-time list of male 100-metre athletes.
Up to September 1, 2016, Powell had broken the 10-second barrier for the 100-metre event more times than anyone else – 97 times. He still holds the world record for the 100-yard dash, with a time of 9.09, set on May 27, 2010 in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
Powell also holds gold medals of a member of Jamaica’s 4 x 100 meters relay team won at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and the 2009 and 2015 World Championships in Berlin and Beijing respectively.
