Jamaican Firsts | Power of the people

Jamaican people are trendsetters and barrier-breakers - always have been, always will be. Here are some sons and daughters of the soil who made their mark at home and abroad. Tell us who else has broken barriers, at facebook.com/gleanerjamaica, or email us at editorial@gleanerjm.com.

Ionie Ramsay

The front page of The Gleaner on February 27, 1977, reported the historic achievement of policewoman Ionie Ramsay becoming the first female motorcyclist in the police force. She went on to have a long and storied career in the force, but perhaps her greatest moment was when she achieved this outstanding Jamaican first.

Jody-Anne Maxwell

If you're over a certain age, chances are you remember where you were and how you felt when Jody-Anne Maxwell spelt her way into the history books by becoming the first Jamaican - in fact, the first non-American - ever to win the prestigious Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee competition. She was only 12 years old when, in 1998, she became a national and international symbol of determination. Maxwell joined a distinguished list of Jamaicans who, by their actions, declared that no goal is out of reach if you're only willing to put in the work.

Asafa Powell

Let's face it, there are no words powerful enough to describe the achievements of Jamaican sprinters on the world stage. But let's take a moment to remember the first Jamaican sprinter to ever break the world record in the men's 100 metres. Asafa Powell showed the world and his fellow Jamaicans that no time was too fast to conquer. Even the legend Usain Bolt has said he was inspired by Powell's record-breaking run. This moment in 2005 perhaps set in motion some of the most remarkable achievements that followed on the track.

Mike McCallum

On October 20, 1984, it was reported that Mike McCallum was the new junior middleweight champion of the world, having the previous night won the title in New York. This was a remarkable moment in Jamaican sporting history, as McCallum became the first Jamaican to win a world title.