Parkite Sports Magazine (Vol.19 No.2 — January 2020)

The official magazine of the

queen ’s park cricket club

Vol.19 No.2 / Jan 2020

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PARKITE Sports / July 2019

PARKITE Sports / January 2020

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T h e o f f ic ia l m a g azin e of the

queen ’s park cricket club

Vol 19 No 2 • January 2020

94 Tragarete Road, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Tel. (868) 622-4325, 622-2295 • Fax (868) 622-3787 www.qpcc.com

Produced for QPCC by MEP Publishers (Media & Editorial Projects Limited)

6 Prospect Avenue, Maraval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Tel. (868) 622-3821 • Fax: (868) 628-0639 www.meppublishers.com • email: info@meppublishers.com

Editor Sheldon Waithe Consulting editor Jeremy Taylor General manager Halcyon Salazar Design Kriston Chen Online editor Caroline Taylor Advertising Evelyn Chung, Tracy Farrag, Joanne Pennie, Indra Ramcharan Production Jacqueline Smith Editorial assistants Shelly-Ann Inniss, Kristine De Abreu

DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed in PARKITE Sports are those of the authors, and not necessarily of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club, MEP Publishers, or their partners or associates.

COPYRIGHT PARKITE Sports magazine is published quarterly by the Queen’s Park Cricket Club. It is available online at www.qpcc.com. © 2020 QPCC. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.

Courtesy Donna Gibbon

Contents

The official magazine of the

queen ’s park cricket club

Vol.19 No.2 / Jan 2020

P.09

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR PHOTO GALLERY The Caribbean’s passion for sport is dramatised in these iconic images

feature article

P.16

P.10

SHAKA SPEAKS! The EPL stalwart, Soca Warriors ‘keeper and ESPN pundit speaks his mind in this exclusive interview

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PARKITE Sports / July 2019

On the cover:

Goalkeeper Shaka Hislop at 2006 FIFA World Cup Photo: dpa picture alliance/ Bernd Thissen

cricket profile

P.24 track & field

P.28 mixed martial arts

captain kieron The QPCC all-rounder’s white ball appointment is at the forefront of the Windies’ efforts to improve their ranking

the pocket rocket: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, The Fastest Woman in the World With her comeback complete, we profile the Caribbean’s Speed Queen

punching above its weight Mixed Martial Arts is one of the fastest growing sports globally, and the local scene proves that T&T is not being left behind

P.36 2020 olympics

P.40

keeping the faith The 2019 World Championship results disappointed T&T fans, but Tokyo 2020 could bring completely different outcomes. The Olympic countdown begins

blood, sweat & Gears

nostalgia

If winning is a habit, Roger Gibbon overcame every obstacle to ensure that his was never broken

P.42 health & FITNESS

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the ideal adult core: function and image Six pack secrets for your core (and Carnival!)

P.48

EDITOR’S NOTE

Forget all the “keep calm” messages of late. 2020 is here, and in sporting terms that means huge events, non-stop action, and every reason to be very excited indeed. While we are now accustomed to the sheer quantity of sports beamed into our lives every day, there comes a time every four years – led by the Olympic cycle – when there is a welcome overflow to further dazzle our senses and create memories that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Quite simply, 2020 represents a sporting overdose.

Tokyo offers the chance, once again, for the Caribbean to take on – and beat – the world. But, patriotic fervour aside, the Olympic Games bring out wider appreciation than any other event. You will root for a Japanese gymnast or a Brazilian pole-vaulter because something about them piqued your interest, or because they were the underdog. And you’ll smile as they overcome the odds and win a medal. That’s the oxymoron that is the Games; unwavering support for the cutthroat competition that secures the ultimate title, but also respect and even support for another nation – as long as they are not finishing ahead of us.

July’s Olympics are centre stage, but June sees not one but two major football competitions taking place concurrently. Euro 2020 occupies the earlier part of the day, and then the Copa America takes over in the afternoons and evenings. Forecasters should lower their expectations for productivity rates in early summer, for this is truly a football feast, second only to the World Cup. As if that wasn’t enough, 2020 is also the time to “rally round” as the Windies defend their Men’s T20 World Cup in October (the Women’s tournament takes place in February). A stern test awaits the new white ball captain, QPCC’s Kieron Pollard; and he gives us insight about his planned tenure in this issue of PARKITE Sports.

Keen observers will be anxiously following the overall fortunes of the team in all formats of the game, with the changes at the helm of Cricket West Indies expected to take positive effect.

Packed into these pages alongside Pollard, another sporting giant, Shaka Hislop, provides a stereotypically frank opinion about football in general and Caribbean football in particular. The world’s fastest woman, a troubled Brazilian genius, one of the fastest growing global sports, and T&T’s first international serial winner, complete the line-up.

PARKITE Sports has already kick-started the 2020 sports journey; sit back and enjoy. And a Happy New Year to you all!

Sheldon Waithe

PARKITE Sports / January 2020

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G A L L E R Y

Need for speed: new flying 200M world record holder Nicholas Paul follows Njisane Phillip en route to the Pan Am Games Team Sprint gold medal Image: Patrick Smith/Staff (Getty Images)

11

G A L L E R Y

Cricketing bliss: St Lucia Zouks’ Fawad Ahmed warms up on a perfect day for cricket at the Queen’s Park Cricket Club Image: Ashley Allen-CPL T20 / Handout (Getty Images)

G A L L E R Y

Chasing the dream: will Lionel Messi finally secure a Copa America title with Argentina in 2020?

Image: Chris Brunskill / Fantasista (Getty Images)

Phil Cole/Getty Images

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PARKITE Sports / January 2020

SHAKA SPEAKS!

Shaka Hislop played for some of the biggest clubs in English football before taking his seat in the ESPN studio as a football analyst.

A university graduate before embarking on a professional career, he has been outspoken on a number of issues including the treatment of T&T’s 2006 World Cup squad. Sheldon Waithe chats with him about his career, the Soca Warriors, VAR, and his picks for the 2019-20 season

I

never felt comfortable between the posts; I’m really a striker . . . goalkeeping was just a temporary gig!”

Neil Shaka Hislop insists that his first love was being an outfield player. But as temporary jobs go, his goalkeeping stint didn’t do too badly.

He has a slight limp from his last outing on the pitch – not in goal of course – and immediately warns of his capacity to speak ad infinitum, a trait he now draws on as a beloved pundit on ESPN. “I can real talk; everything with me has a back story.” And he is refreshingly open: “Ask me anything.”

Full football spectrum The self-proclaimed “reluctant role model” has done the full player spectrum: from College soccer in the US while he earned his degree, to promotion from the English Division 2, chasing the Premiership title in a memorable dogfight with Manchester United, an FA Cup final appearance, promotion to the Premiership from Division 1 and, to cap it all off, goalkeeping for his nation at the World Cup. He was at the forefront of the T&T players’ battle for proper payment after that World Cup, and is on FIFA’s technical committee. He launched “Show Racism The Red Card” in the UK, a topic that has PARKITE Sports / January 2020

17

Nicolas Asfouri/Getty Images

 A safe pair of hands across the length and breadth of English football

sadly become headline news once again across the football landscape.

It’s little wonder that he has a lot to tell.

Football or NASA? Shaka’s height dictated that he was put in goal for T&T’s first national under-12 squad, to play against Venezuela.

It was a squad bursting with talent, with the likes of Russell Latapy and Brian Lara, and was his first contact with coach Bertille St Clair.

Secondary school football was followed by a scholarship to Howard University and a budding internship with NASA. But there was an offer from Reading FC across the Atlantic, so a choice had to be made. “My mentor at NASA said ‘Give it a go, you don’t want to be an engineer wondering what if?’ So I gave it a go ... and it worked out.”

So began his path towards the top flight. “I had a nice progression. Reading was in the bottom half of the 2nd Division, not a lot of expectation, but even so I struggled in my first year. I stand by this: I signed a two-year contract, and if I hadn’t, I would not have gone back after the first year.” But reluctance turned to joy as he flourished, playing every match, and Reading were promoted.

“That changed everything for me.”

The top flight Kevin Keegan came calling and suddenly Shaka was part of a crack Newcastle United squad that were on 18

PARKITE Sports / January 2020

course for the EPL title. As before, he took some time to acclimatise. “I struggled to settle, it was a big step up, and all of a sudden there was expectation. When ManU pegged us back in that 95-96 season, I didn’t deal with that well emotionally.”

Then came perspective. “In my second season at Newcastle my eldest daughter was hospitalised; I was going from training or the game to the hospital. Again, it changed everything. All of a sudden I realised what was important.” For a player coping with the pressures of weekly matches, fans and media, “Home became my safe place where I could put everything away. Similarly, I could dislodge myself from issues at home and focus on the match.”

This leads to the subject of blocking out the crowd, chants, and coping with nerves. The goalkeeper’s position is somewhat isolated, leaving them more open to anxiety.

“I remember talking to my dad about it, and he said, ‘You have to be able to challenge your nervous energy’, there’s nothing wrong with being nervous. I also started chewing gum, I found it would help.”

Within the tribalism of various clubs across the breadth of England, he was adored. Chants claimed him as one of their own, ringing out “Shaka’s a Geordie!” or “Shaka The Hammer!”. “Whoever I played with, I tried to make myself a part of their community, and that is what started Show Racism The Red Card. It was my way of giving back; these people pay money to come and see me play, so I felt I owed them a debt.”

AFP/Getty Images

 “Leave me out at your peril!” Shaka with T&T coach Leo Beenhakker prior to T&T’s opening World Cup match

Raheem Sterling, spearheading the current football anti-racism campaign, harks back to Hislop’s pioneering role in tackling the issue. What is Shaka’s solution?

“Banning a club will never erase what is the underlying problem, which is racism in society. I don’t feel that the authorities have been innovative enough in their approach to the problem.

“What I would like to see happen is, say, a fine of $500,000 for a club found guilty; that’s an extortionate amount of money, but if you then say that you’ll suspend $400,000 if the club spends $150K on an educational

I was angry and I don’t play football angry

Michael Peckett/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

programme trying to address the issue within their fanbase, that would work a whole lot better that just increasing fines.”

2006 World Cup The pinnacle of Shaka’s playing career came in 2006 at Germany’s World Cup, but he believes that T&T was better placed to qualify in 2002. “The team was good but Jack [Warner] didn’t like [T&T coach] Bertille [St Clair] because Bertille was so outspoken. So he sent an ultimatum to Bertille that if he didn’t win the 2000 Gold Cup, he’s getting sacked. Ridiculous! Keep in mind that that 2000 semi-final appearance is still our best showing at a Gold Cup, and we lost on penalties. So he sacks Bertille, and that was the unravelling of that team.”

Four years later the quality still shone through, and the Soca Warriors qualified. Not playing at his best for West Ham, Shaka accepted his lack of form, up to a point. He was not the first choice of coach Leo Beenhakker, with whom he had “an exchange” in the days before the first match, and he was not in the best frame of mind. “I was angry, and I don’t play football angry. Then I made my mind up that I never thought

 Hislop launched the anti-racism educational charity in 1996 PARKITE Sports / January 2020

19

Courtesy ESPN

 The pundit: Hislop’s forthright attitude perfectly suits his ESPN role

that I would see a T&T team play at a World Cup, so I’m going into this with the position that I’m a fan with a great seat.”

Now relaxed, he awoke on match day and “ate one set of food, was kicking shots at [goalkeeper Clayton] Ince and thought, ‘I’m enjoying my day, yes’. Next thing Kelvin Jack [the first choice keeper] walks past and says ‘I can’t make’. It took a little while to register, then I saw him talking to Beenhakker; I stood up staring at him, staring at Leo and thinking ‘Leave me out at your peril!’

Our eyes met, he called me over and said, ‘You ready for this?’ I was like ‘Yes’. So that was it.”

Shaka was outstanding. It was his best performance for T&T, as he kept a clean sheet and Sweden at bay, an integral part of T&T defying the odds in one of its most memorable sporting performances.

Equally astounding was the team’s next outing versus England, where they held out for 83 minutes and gave as good as they got. There was something special in that dressing room. “Tactically Beenhakker got it right. We had Dwight [Yorke] sitting in between the two centre halves and at times stepping up, and a lot of what we did – how defensive or how attacking we were – was dictated

by Dwight. He has an incredible football intellect, and at that World Cup it was on full display.”

Fight for justice The post-tournament euphoria did not last long. The T&T players were offered approximately TT$5,000 20

PARKITE Sports / January 2020

If you made an agreement with the players, then honour it, and if you can’t then let’s negotiate: but you can’t bully the players each as their bonus for playing in the world’s biggest tournament. With his forthright attitude and acute sense of justice, Shaka led from the front in the fight for their just reward.

“Before the Bahrain game the senior players got together to decide what we were going to ask for as a deal. I thought if we got 10% of the commercial revenues, then we did well. Others wanted 30%, which I thought was crazy. I was outnumbered and I nearly died when Jack Warner agreed to the 30%.”

“After the tournament we kept chasing the spreadsheet of the revenue earned, and when we finally got it we thought either they’re lying or they’ve got the worst marketing department, if those are the kind of numbers they’re claiming they’ve earned. So we said ‘We’ll see you in court.’”

The protracted affair was not settled until 2013. “Not everyone was up for the fight, but I was getting ready to retire so had nothing to lose. When we eventually got the correct information and saw the numbers, we were

Courtesy ESPN

like ‘What the ...?’ We had no idea, no idea. Early in the discussions we suggested paying everyone TT$250,000 each and we’ll walk away, but then when we saw those figures, we were like ‘Nah!’” Eventually they settled on a figure that they felt was appropriate. “My point is, if you made an agreement with the players, then honour it, and if you can’t then let’s negotiate: but you can’t bully the players into taking a figure that you want.”

Future of Caribbean sport The country was not able to build on that World Cup appearance, but while most blamed the local governing body, Hislop believes that it extends further. “The CFU (Caribbean Football Union) position is around wielding power rather than developing the game. The fact that Caribbean nations have no regular league or exchange is testament to that. It’s the reason that no one from the Caribbean has come close to qualifying since.”

I think football deserves the right decision, not just the quick decision On the ESPN panel of football pundits, and with an expanding role at the Olympics and Pan Am Games, Shaka is well placed to comment on the overall development of sport in the region. “I think Caribbean sport is potentially the most exciting to cover, just because of who we are culturally and how much fun we have around our sport.

“I also feel that there is an inherent misunderstanding of the media’s role in sport. People feel that the media are just here to throw money at sport and buy rights, and they will use that money to grow the sport, putting the cart before the horse. In reality it’s the total opposite.

Companies don’t come in until those sports are viable.

“Unless you’re NFL, EPL or Wimbledon, people largely pay to be on the media platforms because that allows them to get money from sponsors. We need to improve the quality of the product in every regard and then attract media and sponsors.”

The Shaka Hislop story deserves to be told more often, for new generations to appreciate the aspects & rewards of hard work, the importance of balancing education with sport, a strong sense of right and wrong, and the willingness to fight for what you believe is right. To never lose sight of your core values regardless of the station you attain, to recognise the worth of giving back to the community, to draw on those principles from a strong family base and – if you’ve seen him on ESPN – to have fun along the way.

“I remember saying once that I’m a reluctant role model, and my wife saying ‘You can’t say that’. I accept that I’m a role model, given what I’ve achieved, but that’s not why I do it. It was never part of my motivation. I will do what I can when I can; if people reach out to me I will always support as best I can.”

He is correct, he can definitely talk; but when Shaka speaks, it’s always worth listening. S

Shaka talks VAR The introduction of the Video Assisted Referee (VAR) system into football has been contentious, to say the least! As a member of FIFA’s International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that determines the laws of the game, we wanted Shaka’s view.

I love it. Let me say that I also think the criticisms are reflective of how resistant to change we are.

The game is getting so fast and officiating errors have become so costly, a wrong decision can cost a club millions of dollars. So there was a need for the introduction of technology.

I didn’t understand why the Bundesliga and others jumped on it as quickly as they did: let some of the smaller leagues use it first, let the MLS use it, figure out the kinks, etc. But then, come the World Cup 2018, it worked really well.

I think it works well in a shorter tournament. In a longer league format the standard position was if a referee made a wrong decision it would come out in the wash; at some point you are going to be the beneficiary of a mistake, it balances itself out. As the protocols become clearer, not just for the players and fans but for the referees, I think it will get better. I think football deserves the right decision, not just the quick decision.

PARKITE Sports / January 2020

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AFP/Getty Images

Taking quickfire shots at Shaka Your favourite football team?

West Ham. Favourite sport outside of football?

Golf. No, I’m not giving you my handicap! I enjoy the camaraderie; the score is just to decide who buys the drinks.

We saw you and Usain Bolt together for a promotion recently, who was stronger?

Well we know who is faster.

That’s only because I pulled my hamstring. Hahaha.

Nah, he’s strong.

The one ex-player you would have liked in your dressing room? Zidane.

The one defender that you would have in front of you?

[Giorgio] Chiellini.

The best striker that you have faced?

Alan Shearer.

Your favourite save that you made?

West Ham at home to Aston Villa, we drew nil-nil. Lee Hendry came inside the box, shot one, and I was able to parry it: but it then fell for Paul Merson, and he was tapping into what he thought was an empty goal. I somehow got back and tipped it around the post.

Who’s winning this season’s Champions League?

I’ll go for Atletico Madrid.

Euro 2020?

Belgium.

EPL? Liverpool.

La Liga?

I’m torn between Atletico and Barcelona, but I’m going to go with Barcelona.

Serie A? Juventus.

Samuel Elias/Unsplash

And the next ESPN FC debate?

Me, of course!

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Rental Facilities

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Email: info@aeroservicescu.com • Facebook: facebook.com/AeroServicesCreditUnion Twitter: @ASCUMarketing

TEXT: nasser khan

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Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Queen’s Park Cricket Club’s Kieron Pollard was officially appointed as the new “white ball” captain for the West Indies One Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) squads on 9 September, 2019. Nasser Khan meets the new Windies skipper

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ince 2006, when he first donned T&T colours in the Stanford Tournament, the globe-trotting 32-year-old right-handed all-rounder has become one of the most sought-after players in the T20 format of the game. Apart from T&T and the West Indies, and more recently the Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL, he has played for a formidable array of teams and franchises around the world (see sidebar).

It was in Hyderabad, India, in October 2009, that Pollard’s life changed one night. When he came in to bat, T&T were struggling in what was thought to be a lost cause, needing 80 runs from seven overs to beat Australia’s New South Wales.

Less than half an hour later, T&T had won, with nine balls to spare! Pollard finished with 54 off 18 balls, including 47 off his last 11, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It was one of the most astonishing displays of hitting ever seen.

“The rewards came after that one innings,” he recalls.

“I got a call from the IPL … then came a contract in Australia, then an English contract.”

The Right Man

As Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt put it, “Mr Pollard, we believe, is the right man at the right time to move our development in white-ball cricket forward”.

On his appointment Pollard said, “I’m truly honoured to be appointed captain of the West Indies, and I would

Kieron Pollard’s teams & franchises Adelaide Strikers Australian Cricketers Association All-Stars Barbados Tridents Bravo XI Cape Cobras Dhaka Dynamites Dhaka Gladiators Karachi Kings Kerala Kings Melbourne Renegades Multan Sultans Mumbai Indians PCA Masters XI Peshawar Zalmi Pollard XI

RR Sarwan’s XI SC Joseph’s XI Somerset South Australia St Lucia Stars Stanford Superstars Toronto Nationals Trinbago Knight Riders Trinidad Trinidad & Tobago Trinidad & Tobago XI West Indies West Indies Under-19s WICB President’s Celebrity XI

Graham Crouch-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

 Pollard’s experience will serve him well with all facets of the Windies captaincy

like to thank Cricket West Indies’ Board of Directors for placing their faith and confidence in me. I can’t wait to work with the coaching staff and players as we start building towards future World Cups and give the fans more reasons to get behind the team.”

Asked about the future availability of players, based on previous allegations of victimisation and marginalisation, he said, “From the last sort of conversations before the last [50-over] World Cup, we were told that each and everybody was available for selection … I think the contributions of these guys should not be forgotten, especially if they are consistently still playing cricket. I do not see [any] reason why they shouldn’t be part or parcel of a West Indies team going forward.

“Again, I don’t want you to hold me to that, but it is a situation where the state where we are at right now, we need all hands on deck in order to go forward . . . Dwayne [Bravo], for example, he has publicly stated that he will come out of retirement from January in order to play T20 cricket, so that in itself is a booster for us. You see Sammy on the cricket field again, running around leading the Zouks, so again once all things being equal the pool is open.”

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West Indies Upcoming White Ball Series: v Ireland 7 - 19 January 2020 3 ODIs | 3 T20s v New Zealand 8 - 19 July 2020 3 ODIs | 3 T20s

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PARKITE Sports / January 2020

v South Africa 8 - 16 August 2020 5 T20s

KIERON POLLARD STATS ODI debut: West Indies v South Africa at St George’s, Apr 10, 2007 T20I debut: West Indies v Australia at Bridgetown, Jun 20, 2008 ODI

T20I

FC

LA

Matches

101

62

27

138

Runs scored

2289

903

1584

3134

Batting average

25.71

21.50

37.71

26.55

100s/50s

3/9

0/3

4/7

3/15

Top score

119

63*

174

119

Balls bowled

2044

510

811

2655

Wickets

50

23

14

85

Bowling average

39.12

30.86

31.14

28.78

5 wickets in innings

0

0

1

0

10 wickets in match

0

0

0

0

Best bowling

3/27

3/30

5/36

4/32

Catches/ stumpings

53/–

29/–

42/–

78/–

Source: Cricinfo, 4 August 2019

European Sports Photographic Agency/Alamy Stock Photo

What advice would you give to the young people of Trinidad and Tobago?

Hard work pays off, and don’t let anyone stop you from achieving your goals and in the process enjoy good and bad times you may encounter on your way to achieving your goals. Always remember to put God first.

What motto/credo do you live by and what is your recipe for success?

I believe that hard work pays off and everything happens for a reason and nothing happens before its time.

Who was your hero or “idol” growing up and why?

And who do you admire most today?

Brian Lara for his flamboyance, determination and the way he counteracted in pressured situations. Chris Gayle for the way he intimidates bowlers and the power he possesses. Dwayne Bravo for his energy, his instinctiveness and his “never say die” attitude. M.S

Dhoni for his calmness under pressure, relaxed attitude and an excellent cricket brain.

Of all your accolades, prizes and awards which do you rate as extremely special?

There have been a number but I must rate being named Sportsman of the Year 2006 for Queen’s Park Cricket Club as very special.

What goals and or ambitions do you still have?

I would want to make my Test debut, win a World Cup and own several successful businesses.

If you had an opportunity to meet anyone in the world, who would it be?

That would have to be the greatest basketball player ever, Michael Jordan. I would want to ask him about how he dominated a sport for so long and how he handled the pressures associated with that status.

the pocket rocket:

Shelly -Ann FraserPrycE the fastest woman in the world TEXT: vaughn stafford gray

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce set the pace (literally) for Caribbean female athletes, beginning the dominance of Jamaicans in women’s sprinting. Then she stopped to have a baby; now she’s back and on top of the world. Vaughn Stafford Gray takes an in-depth look at the always smiling, always affable Fraser-Pryce and her determination to reclaim that top step of the podium.

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PARKITE Sports / January 2020

Kyodo News/Getty Images

F

or 10.71 seconds on Sunday, September 29, 2019, the whole of Jamaica reverberated with excitement. The nation watched compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce storm down the track at the IAAF World Championships in the Qatari capital of Doha, and not only snatch the 100m gold medal but achieve a fourth individual world title, which was (fun fact) 0.01 seconds short of her personal best.

Many people were speechless. Between the shouts of joy, few sober words emerged. But overhearing an elderly man say “No sah, a dat gyal can run!” was, to put it mildly, memorable.

To say that by medalling at the World Championships Track & Field, treble Olympic champion and mother Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce proved naysayers wrong, is giving too much power to naysayers. Fraser-Pryce is, as the kids say, everything. When she emerges on the track, electric energy is immediately palpable. You can liken it to the force that possesses tennis fans when Serena Williams gets ready to serve.

A Fast Start

But where to begin?

How do you effectively write about a national treasure in 1,000 words? How do you wax poetic about a track and field athlete who, like no one since Marlene Ottey, has kept the world besotted with every life moment, every breaking record? How can a few pages encapsulate a dynamic woman who keeps us guessing as to her next moves, including what hair colour she’ll rock on the track?

When she emerges on the track, electric energy is immediately palpable The world is full of rags to success stories. However, Fraser-Pryce, who emerged from the bowels of a tough Kingston inner-city neighbourhood, Waterhouse, has stayed close to her upbringing. She has never shied away from her origin story and has eschewed all the you-madeit-out badges of “honour”.

She scored her way to Olympic glory at 21 (Beijing 2008), following that debut by medalling at the 2012 and 2016 Games, becoming the first woman in history to win three consecutive Olympic 100m medals.

On Sunday, September 29, in Doha, she received yet another title: the fastest woman in the world.

Global Icon

After Fraser-Pryce’s win in Qatar, her face and achievement dominated the news cycle. And not just in the Caribbean. Fraser-Pryce is global. Now, when someone utters the name “Shelly-Ann”, you don’t have to ask “which one?” There’s only one, just as there’s only one Usain.

And, like Bolt, Fraser-Pryce has parlayed her fame into altruism, activism and entrepreneurship.

In 2010, she was named Jamaica’s first UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador, and in this role championed the rights of mothers and children.

In one of her UNICEF blog posts entitled “All PARKITE Sports / January 2020

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Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

SHELLY-ANN FRASER-PRYCE STATS

D.O.B: 27 December 1986 Height: 5ft Gold

Silver

Bronze

Olympics

2

3

1

Commonwealth

1

-

-

Pan Am Games

1

-

-

World Championships

9

-

-

World Indoor Championships

1

-

-

Jamaican Mothers Deserve Baby-Friendly Hospitals”, Fraser-Pryce wrote: “When I had my child I was fortunate. There was a lactation specialist who came immediately to my room to talk to me about breastfeeding, about the advantages of the breast, engorged breasts, mastitis, latching and stuff like that ... That’s what we need with baby-friendly hospitals – having all that information in front of us so that we can make the right decisions.”

She’s also the founder of the Pocket Rocket Foundation, which works to alleviate the financial strain experienced by high school athletes whose families are financially strapped, and helps them to remain in school and continue with their training. In 2013 Fraser-Pryce capitalised on the popularity of her colourful hairstyles and launched a salon – Chic Hair Ja. Fraser-Pryce is a dynamic and multi-faceted woman.

Her megawatt smile and warm energy are indications of a woman who is content with herself. When she announced her maternity leave, the nation counted down the months until she gave birth to her son Zyon in August 2017.

Motherhood had its joys and lessons, but Fraser-Pryce, just like when she’s approaching the starting block, was determined to also excel at this.

Two-year-old son Zyon joined Fraser-Pryce on the Doha victory lap, as she celebrated eclipsing Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in the 100m finals. At the post-race media junket, Fraser-Pryce noted, “I can’t believe it. I worked so hard to be back … Zyon and my husband have been my strength. When everybody else doubted me, they never did. It’s down to them that I am 30

PARKITE Sports / January 2020

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

 The comeback is complete. Fraser-Pryce reclaims the World’s 100m in Doha, 2019

 Becoming the first woman to win three 100m World titles, 2015.

More would soon follow

Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Whenever we wonder if she can do it again, she smashes a record to smithereens and unknowingly makes us to examine ourselves, locate the molecule of doubt, extricate it, and beg forgiveness

 With her biggest fan, son Zyon

here again.”

And it is interesting to note that in 2018, a mere 11 months after giving birth, Fraser-Pryce already clocked 10.98 to rank 10th in the world.

Confidence is Key

Fraser-Pryce’s career over these last 12 years has been a carnival of athleticism and triumph. Whenever we wonder if she can do it again, she smashes a record to smithereens and unknowingly makes us to examine ourselves, locate the molecule of doubt, extricate it, and beg forgiveness. With every move that she makes, she does not disappoint.

One could say that Fraser-Pryce is an outlier. In the sports world, the most successful athletes have a hard-luck story. But there is something that separates Fraser-Pryce from her compatriots. What is it, you ask?

Confidence.

Yes, confidence.

Not the kind of confidence that teeters on bragging.

And not the kind of (false) conviction that oozes from the pores of a Silicon Valley start-up CEO who is hell-bent on “disrupting” some industry or another. Fraser-Pryce’s confidence can best be summed up by a mantra popularised by the author (and courage and vulnerability scholar) Brene Brown: “No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough.”

If there’s one thing that Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce intrinsically knows, whether she’s breaking world records, raising a family, running a foundation or being principal of a business, it’s that she is enough.

S

Once a prince, now a pretender TEXT: RENALDO MATADEEN

Neymar Jr. had the world at his talented feet. After a big money move to PSG, that world has unravelled. Transfer rumours abound, his unhappiness is clear, and his future is now uncertain after a rapid career descent following his move from the Barcelona dream team. Renaldo Matadeen asks: what can put Brazil’s golden child back on track?

 Is the football world still willing to listen to Neymar?

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I

s Neymar destined to be forever a bridesmaid and never a bride?

He was once touted as the golden child of the current generation, a new “Chosen One”, taking the mantle once held by greats such as Ronaldo (#9), Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and, of course, Pelé.

But while his ascent was rapid – he moved from Santos to Barcelona in 2013 to play alongside the revered Messi and Luis Suárez – so too has been his fall from grace in a drawn-out summer transfer saga at Paris Saint-Germain. Now, while he seems to be back on track for his club, one has to wonder how stunted his career has become, and with Brazil winning the 2019 Copa América without his services, whether not being the national centrepiece any more will diminish his legacy?

Neymar has had a storied career, and one which reeks of underachievement, although he has faced numerous injury crises over the years. Of course, it doesn’t help that he’s always travelling, partying, and obsessed with marketing and social media, lacking the discipline of Cristiano and Messi. It’s why these players, despite not winning a World Cup, are still recognised on the

He’s an immeasurable technical talent international and club stage for their consistency as leaders, dragging their teams by the bootstraps, with goals and unbridled passion.

It’s all too clear: stripped of the Brazil armband and reprimanded for fan confrontation at PSG, Neymar confirms his immaturity. Coupling that with his diving and rolling antics, even his own countrymen have repeated what critics have said: he’s an immeasurable technical talent but a spoilt brat, to say the least. No one’s questioning his physical skill; but in terms of the mental game, Neymar simply leaves a lot to be desired.

And while he’s racked up Europe’s top club accolades – like the Champions League with Barcelona – he only has a FIFA Confederations Cup gold in 2013 and an Olympic gold in 2016 to his international credit.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Still the Brazilian talisman?

It’s a far cry from the Brazilian superstars mentioned above, who marshalled World Cups. With Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Gabriel Jesus and even Richarlison now performing for the yellow-and-green, Neymar might soon find himself on the fringes with the 2022 World Cup approaching. He’ll always be in contention for a squad call-up, sure, but he isn’t a guaranteed starter any more. That’s because the current coach, Tite, wants scrappers and battlers in his team, ready to fight, not folks subscribing to “Joga bonito” but with no bite to their game. Pretty football doesn’t garner results, and after the 7-1 mauling at home against Germany in the 2014 World Cup, Tite knows something has to give to restore pride to the five-time world champs so they can cop their first world title since 2002.

And though we (even the doubters) once thought Neymar was the key, that’s not the case any more. He’ll be relied on, but he isn’t the talisman he once was.

One thing that stands out, though, is that he can be resilient if he so chooses. After failing to force a move back to Barcelona, the PSG star, who left Camp Nou for a world record fee of 222m in 2017, went on strike in France. He undoubtedly angered fans who still whistle him to this day, while team-mates such as Thomas Meunier drop sly comments about his character. They’re grateful to have him but, as when Dani Alves left, the less they see of that diva mentality, the better. Even PSG execs want more focus on football and less on off-field activities, so when Neymar isn’t training or injured or supposed to be resting, but gallivanting in America or at parties, you can understand the ire of those paying his salary or supporting PSG.

Not a boy any more

Which leaves folks wondering if he’ll follow Robinho, Adriano and even Ronaldinho, players who had the world at their feet but just didn’t go the distance. Poverty in Brazil is a hell of a thing, and these footballers often get caught up in the glam, especially when buoyed by shady agents, so some sympathy must be offered. That

PARKITE Sports / January 2020

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A fantastic talent, Neymar still attracts all the attention on the field

If Neymar doesn’t buck up, football will pass him by said, Neymar isn’t a boy anymore: he’s a captain and experienced. With rising stars like Mo Salah, Kevin de Bruyne and his club-mate Kylian Mbappé shining bright, Neymar is on the verge of becoming the player we’ll forget about. This became evident when Mbappé took the 2018 World Cup at under 20 years of age.

Think about that for a second. He’s easily where Neymar wanted to be at that age, and still growing.

Make no mistake, if Neymar doesn’t buck up, football will pass him by. He has conjured up late winners against Strasbourg and Lyon recently, reminding haters what he can do. Still, he’s 27 and Paris Ultras are showing contempt for him and his dad/agent Neymar Sr. for what they see as infantile behaviour, ingratitude and spitting on the club crest for wanting a rapid exit. Real Madrid were even in the mix and honestly, it’s hard to see any other club ponying up for him: it’s a huge fee to afford. So he might be stuck with PSG for a while, unless Barca coughs up more cash.

Ultimately, if he keeps letting his football do the talking, that will be the best news any objective football fan could ask for. And it’ll be a step forward towards becoming timeless, a South American legend like Pelé or Diego Maradona.

But sadly, all he is right now is a mere pretender who gives the impression that he’s bigger than the game. S

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

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NEYMAR JR. Career goals (club)

290

Career goals (country)

79

Domestic league titles

4

Domestic cup titles

9

Champions League titles

1

Club World Cup

1

Olympic medals

1 gold (2016) 1 silver (2012)

Confederations Cup

1

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PUNCHING ABOVE ITS WEIGHT TEXT: RENALDO MATADEEN

Mixed martial arts (MMA) has been on a meteoric rise, driven by the penetration into mainstream pop culture of globally recognised stars such as Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Jon Jones and Anderson Silva. It has challenged boxing as the world’s premier combat spectacle. Renaldo Matadeen delved into the local scene and found that in Trinidad and Tobago, MMA continues to punch above its weight, slowly making strides despite a lack of resources and support Red, white & black ‌ Dwayne Hinds (right) has set the path for other T&T fighters to follow 36

PARKITE Sports / January 2020

David Wirawan

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S

ince the early days in the 90s, when kickboxers and boxers were basically “trying a thing”, few would argue that the sport has come a long way. That’s what martial arts expert Bharat Ramoutar, the former coach of local female pioneer Ria Ramnarine, firmly contends.

Top local MMA fighter Joash Walkins, 29, believes T&T has the potential to produce world-class athletes, but admits it’s imperative for some things to change. “We could be a lot better in Trinidad, but we’re a little too divided amongst ourselves,” he says.

“If we had more unity within the sport, we could reach the top, because we have the potential. We have great potential here, we are natural athletes.”

Walkins, nicknamed “The Honey Badger” for his resilience, has a 13-1 MMA record. But he considers himself a “back-ah-yard world-class athlete” because the specialist training his opponents enjoy – physio, personal chef etc.

– are luxuries he can only dream of. He pays tribute to local stalwart Dwayne Hinds, whom he credits for making him an all-round fighter, something athletes at the Rough House establishment would surely testify to.

Hinds, a former Caribbean champion, went undefeated in 10 fights from 2009 to 2013 before losing for the first time in 2014 and then retiring. His influence, however, can be seen in the multitude of guys choosing the sport as a career.

“He’s my brother and my role model,” adds Walkins, who currently runs his own martial arts school, teaching kickboxing and grappling. “He’s the guy that brought me to this level from 2012 to now. He’s an expert at wrestling, and I learned a lot of grappling knowledge from him. He’s truly a grappling icon.”

Bharat Ramoutar, founder of Fine Line Fight Factory in Chaguanas, recalls how difficult it was at first to get people to buy into the sport in the Caribbean. He also pays tribute to Hinds. “While he didn’t win any big titles – he won a couple of regional titles, I think – he was our most experienced MMA fighter. He had a good record before he was defeated. He was like the flagship at MMA at the time, and everybody looked up to him. I remember matching him against a Canadian fighter and he did really good. He was one of the guys we thought would have gone on to do big things.”

We have athletes that can reach the UFC level, and very soon. Keron Bourne is striving to become the first athlete to bridge that gap Local heroes, future champions

Bharat Ramoutar marvels at the tremendous ability of some of today’s athletes. “We have this guy Omar Smith, from Rough House, I think he has a brilliant future.

He’s a good striker, he’s a Pan Am kickboxing champion, and in MMA he recently won a title against a guy from Ireland. He’s young and aggressive and his coach is really

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

 Jamaica’s Uriah Hall (left) is already in the UFC, the rest of the region is eager to follow.

doing a good job.”

Ramoutar cites Keron “Natural Bourne Killer” Bourne, 35, and Joash Walkins as the pride of local fighters. Local promoter and MMA president Jason Fraser, who has been pushing the sport for over five years, agrees that the nation is capable of producing top-quality fighters, but also that that extra bit of support is required.

“If the sport is given the desired respect and support, we can produce a lot of champions,” Fraser says. “We need equality in sport in T&T, and a tier system based on performance, because we do well every time and we haven’t received the kind of respect or support that we deserve. In six years, we have won a total of 133 medals, and the last two local events were broadcast live on television across 34 Caribbean countries.”

Fraser’s dedication and involvement in the sports of MMA and Sambo began six years ago. “T&T is the first country in the Caribbean to be a part of the international federation,” he points out, “and I am the development representative for the Caribbean. ‘Ruff ‘n Tuff’ MMA League was born as part of that, they have done many events in T&T, and we have now expanded in the Caribbean.”

T&T in the UFC?

Jason Fraser, who currently holds administrative and developmental positions regionally and internationally in both sports, is in no doubt about the large pool of talented athletes available locally. Nor is international referee and former UFC fighter Herb Dean, who was amazed by the skill level here when he visited last year.

As an optimistic Fraser puts it, “We have athletes that

Ronda Rousey will be arriving on our shores soon to do a reality show. MMA royalty on local soil could be just the impetus for the sport locally, as the Pan Am Championships come here in 2021 can reach the UFC level and very soon. Keron Bourne is striving to become the first athlete to bridge that gap.”

Success is impossible without challenges, and MMA, competing against popular sports such as cricket and football, still struggles to attain the necessary financial backing. “Funding has always been a problem,” Fraser says, “but we have managed to endure by hosting boat rides and other fundraising initiatives. However, the Russian Federation, through the international federation, has been our major sponsor, and we are very grateful to them.

“We also need a home for combat sports, because we have a lot of martial artists in this country. A national training or high performance centre is needed.”

He hints that ex-WWE star Ronda Rousey, whose mother visited T&T in 2017 and whose great-grandfather was born in Trinidad, will be arriving on our shores soon to do a reality show. MMA royalty on local soil could be just the right impetus for the sport locally, as the Pan Am Championships come here in 2021, bringing some of the best in the region for an ultimate showdown.

Let’s hope our boys are at the forefront, delivering gold on home soil and reminding doubters that we can take MMA to the big stage. S PARKITE Sports / January 2020

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KEEPING THE FAITH The 2019 Pan American Games and World Athletics Championships were the best indicators for T&T’s fortunes at next year’s Olympics. How did our athletes fare at these events, and will it mean more medals in Tokyo or fewer? Sheldon Waithe begins our Tokyo2020 Countdown So what went wrong? Indeed, did anything actually go wrong, or was the dearth of track and field medals at the 2019 Pan Am Games and World Athletics Championships simply due to T&T athletes finetuning themselves for the biggest one of all, Tokyo 2020? Perhaps a medal-fest was the expectation of a success-hungry public eager for the annual injection of international sporting success that makes people thump their chests and evoke patriotism.

The Pan Ams were the precursor, followed by the World Championships that were supposed to instil confidence a year ahead of the Olympics. This was the chance to confirm that T&T’s 400m relay team was the best in the world, evidenced by its scintillating victory at the World Relays in May in defence of its world championship title from 2017. This was the opportunity for Jereem “The Dream” Richards to live up to his nickname with a medal in the 200m and continue the trajectory that picked up Commonwealth gold in 2018.

With her recent form, this was to be Michelle LeeAhye’s global elite affirmation with a place on the 100m podium.

But at the Worlds’ conclusion, T&T were nowhere on the medals table, because they won no medals. Cue criticism from some quarters, genuine concern from others. These were after all the nation’s elite sportsmen and women, funded to a certain extent by the public purse, honing their form in athletics’ prestigious Diamond League, with the expectation that they would peak at the Worlds in Qatar.

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At the Worlds’ conclusion, T&T were nowhere on the medals table, because they won no medals.

They have not lost their potential overnight: some form maybe, but not the class to go out and medal Sub-par Peru performance

T&T has been spoilt of late, counting success at regional and hemispheric Games in terms of gold medals, which can blur the success leading to the other two steps on the podium. So when the team secured four silvers and a bronze at Peru’s Pan Ams, fans winced, with good cause.

Relatively speaking, and with all due respect, the Pan Am track and field competition has become a secondtier event. It’s where nations send a mixture of first team members as medal bankers and eager substitutes to blood for the future. So T&T’s own bankers such as Machel Cedenio were expected to cruise round the track at 90% capacity, secure gold and warm up for Qatar.

Cedenio, Keshorn Walcott and Richards all got

medals, just not gold. There is an argument for trying to avoid peaking twice over eight weeks, but Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s performances over the same period (gold Pan Am 200m, gold World Championships 100m) made a mockery of that. Truthfully, with the exception of Lee-Ahye – who met stiff competition from the Jamaican powerhouses present in Peru – and given the level of their opponents, T&T should have won at least two gold medals from track and field.

There is the view that it is better to get it wrong now, correct the mistakes, and taper plans perfectly for Tokyo Qatar collapse?

A closer look at the overall results shows that T&T athletes made it to five of the Worlds finals (men’s 200m, 400m, 4x400 relay, javelin; women’s 4x100m relay). That’s not a bad return for a country with 1.5 million people, but not for one with an excellent athletic pedigree.

We can be fickle and harsh in equal measure with our stars, quick to espouse hypotheses of doom and gloom, eager to say where it all went wrong – and of course jump to the conclusion that maybe they’re past their best, or worse, spoilt. Lack of hunger was not the reason for the failure to get a medal at the Worlds. It may have been peaking too early or too late, or exhaustion from long seasons on the international circuit. We just do not know.

But it certainly was not for lack of hunger.

Looking towards Tokyo

This current crop of athletes has seen Walcott’s Olympic gold, Jehue Gordon’s victorious dip across the line in 2013, and the aforementioned 4x400 relay success.

They want that success as well. They have not lost their potential overnight: some form maybe, but not the class to go out and medal.

The relay squad will bounce back, especially with former stalwarts Lalonde Gordon and Jarrin Solomon knocking on the door for inclusion in that Olympic team.

Lee-Ahye is now at the sprinter’s prime age of 27 and will take all the troubles of the past year and convert them into speed in 2020. Cedenio and Richards simply have too much talent to not eventually add an Olympic medal to their wares (they have medals from all the other relevant championships). And Walcott has medalled at both Olympics that he has attended.

There is the view that it is better to get it wrong now, correct the mistakes, and taper plans perfectly for Tokyo.

If you think about it, the last time T&T performed this poorly at the World Championships was in 2011 (1 bronze, Kelly-Ann Baptiste), one year before its most successful Olympics ever. Keep the faith. S

Blood sweat &gears

N OST A L G I A

All images courtesy Donna Gibbon

Roger Gibbon was winning at will in the mid to late 60s, taking double Commonwealth & Pan Am gold, with a World’s bronze thrown in for good measure.

A seeming cert for an Olympic medal in 1968, a miscalculation in his preparation denied him his dream. With little financial support he promptly retired with that one Olympic regret, at the age of 24. Sheldon Waithe looks back at the remarkable career of one of the Caribbean’s most decorated athletes

 Local hero “The last race I rode at the Oval, it must’ve been fifteen thousand people there”

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A majestic performance to ignite the innings: Collis King reigned at Lord's, the home of cricket

PARKITE Sports / January 2020

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A

N OST A L G I A

s Nicholas Paul streaks across the line to light up the Bolivian results board with a new Flying 200M world record, thoughts turn to “the little country that could”. T&T’s cyclists are excelling on the global stage in spite of constraints on their preparation, equipment and funding, in a sport where a thousandth of a second makes the difference between a medal and a “hard luck” pat on the back.

There is a considerable degree of support now, though.

T&T’s current elite cyclists are full-time athletes with a full-time coach, and they have a velodrome to train on. But think back a bit: imagine donning the red, white and black skinsuit at the biggest Games, with no velodrome to practice on, living a monastic training existence that reminded your family daily of a tragic loss, lining up against competitors with ten times the infrastructure; and then, regardless of all this, coming home with a bucketful of medals.

Defying the odds takes “bad mind”, and once he lined up on the track, Roger “Golden Boy” Gibbon had that in abundance.

Serial winner

Roger Gibbon was a serial winner. Whether he was blazing the grass track at the Queen’s Park Oval in front of packed stands (“The last race I rode at the Oval ... it must’ve been fifteen thousand people there”) or on the indoor wooden bowls of Europe, he was in high demand across the globe.

For a training monster like Gibbon – “seven days a week, Christmas Day, Carnival Day, Easter Day, rainy day” – a packed calendar suited him perfectly. There were no training races: if he was on the start line, he was there not only to win but also to win smart. “I wasn’t winning my races by five lengths, I would just beat you on the line because I have more races to come in the day.”

In that pre-globalisation era, training information was limited, so when Gibbon arrived at his first major competition, the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, his knowledge was as green as the host’s flag, and so was his experience. “It was the first time that I rode on a banked concrete track, it was a major factor. You would be pedalling and your foot hits the banking and before you knew it you were at the bottom of the track. Before the actual races I would have a few burns all over.”

But he observed the rigorous regimes of the opposition and adopted them. “I was never advised on what to do and what not to do. I did what I thought was best; go out there and ride harder than anybody else.”

Where track sprinters now spend half of their training time in the gym, Gibbon recalls: “I never put a weight on my shoulder. I didn’t know what would help. I never had a coach for one single day.” Gleaning information from others proved ineffective: foreign coaches probably thought that if this upstart was this good, armed with just raw talent and bad mind, he would wipe the floor with their riders if he could maximise his preparation.

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 Always ahead of the pack, Gibbon blitzes the international field at Palo Seco

ROGER GIBBON STATS

CAC Games

Commonwealth Games Pan Am Games

World Championships

Gold

Silver

3

1

1962 Kilometre TT 1966 Kilometre TT 1966 Sprint

1962 Sprint

2

Bronze -

-

-

1966 Kilometre TT 1966 Sprint

3

1

1963 Sprint 1967 Sprint 1967 Kilometre TT

1963 Kilometre TT

-

-

1 1967 Kilometre TT

PARKITE Sports / January 2020

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 To the victor, the spoils

Era of dominance

In most cases, Gibbon did just that, embarking on a post-Perth run that saw him dominate regional racing and reap almost immediate rewards for his rigorous training, with a gold medal in the sprint at the 1963 Pan Am Games in Brazil, and silver in the kilometre time trial. Despite T&T’s burgeoning fete scene, Gibbon eschewed the partying and liming. “It goes back to commitment. It depends on where you want to see yourself and what sacrifices you are prepared to make; then the discipline will follow.”

And his purpose was clear. “I used to love to hear the anthem play, go onto the podium and see your flag raised, I loved all of that.”

He maintained his supreme focus in spite of tragedy – losing a sibling due to the same training that fuelled his desire to be the best. “On that afternoon, he and I left home together, there was a flood by Trincity, I decided to turn around and go home. He continued through the water ... and he never reached home. It must’ve been traumatising my parents every time I left

 Gibbon’s competitive place of residence, the top step of the podium (1966 CAC Games)

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It depends on where you want to see yourself and what sacrifices you are prepared to make; then the discipline will follow

Had I flown in the day before the kilo I would have owned the world record and the gold medal, I was better than the winner home to go riding.”

Tokyo 1964 was a further step up the ladder, cementing his place among the world’s elite (and against athletes who did not hold down full-time jobs), placing eighth in the kilometre time trial. The Golden Boy now shone brightly, hitting the European circuit, extending his craft and leading the way for T&T at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica with golds in the sprint and kilo – “my favourite because my mother and wife-to-be were there.”

His invincibility extended to the 1967 Pan Am Games with a further two golds in the same events. And he was not done yet, travelling to the World Championships in Holland, on crazily good form, to take bronze in the kilo.

Gibbon then undertook a reconnaissance trip to the scene of his next target, the velodrome to be used at the 1968 Olympics. He rode a kilo TT and broke the world record by a full second, though it was not ratified, being outside competition. He was now the outstanding favourite for the Olympic kilo.

Olympic error

There’s an unmistakable poignancy when he speaks about 1968 and the effects of altitude. “If I had to do it all over again, I would arrive in Mexico City the day

before the kilometre. Had I flown in the day before the kilo I would have owned the world record and the gold medal. I was better than the winner. I missed an Olympic medal by three hundredths of a second.”

He finished in fifth place, blacking out as all the competitors did after crossing the line in the rarefied Mexican air.

For seven years he had been an international cyclist defying the odds, making sacrifices as well as headlines.

Now 24, he made the decision to retire, and was as resolute as his trajectory to the top. “With all the fame you possess, you still have to pay for groceries. I was racing abroad and existing on $5 a day, including meals!” Did anyone try to change his decision? “No, because I didn’t discuss it with anybody.” That single-mindedness again.

T&T still has not won the Olympic cycling medal that Gibbon sought, and it has taken the accumulated haul of five different T&T cyclists to get close to his total Games record (none have replicated his Commonwealth gold).

“Golden Boy” ensured that the little country that could, actually did. He blazed the trail that other T&T cyclists have followed with aplomb; and it would be the most fitting outcome if T&T finally achieves that cycling medal in Tokyo next summer, the place where Roger Gibbon first put his tyre on the Olympic start line. S

&

F IT N E SS Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock.com

H E A L TH

The ideal adult core: function and image

Dexter Simon provides some six-pack secrets to enhance your chosen sports. And with Carnival on the horizon, we better all pay attention!

Our body is held together by a centralised system called the core.

It’s important to have a healthy core of both front and back supporting muscles.

Let’s look at some key applications to improve function, along with some things that you must never do if you want the best image for your core and abdominal region.

Weights: yes or no?

The most common mistake is using weights for your core when you are overweight and have fat around your stomach area.

We often think that weights will make us “get abs”. This is not so at all. We all have abs below our fat; the idea is to shed the fat with proper diet and cardiovascular activity, to allow the abs to show If we use weight on our oblique muscles and core area, we only thicken the muscles and give ourselves a bulky look. Developing the abdominal muscles while they’re covered in fat makes us look even wider and more out of shape.

Another common mistake involves doing standing oblique work with weights and cable work on a machine, along with hanging weighted leg lifts.

These make the fat more pronounced, and you look bigger and thicker at the sides and front. What you want is a lean, tapered look that’s low in fat and with as little muscle build-up as possible to promote the best-looking abdominal region.

The lowdown

• Abdominals are muscles like all others, and they need rest, so working them every day will be counter-productive. They need to rest and recover to get lean and strong.

• The best rep range is 20-25 for most core exercise x 4-5 sets.

• Core strength: the core wraps around to support the lower back. This is a different application to develop strength. Static exercises like plank and side plank are best to strengthen this area. These can be done on a progressive programme starting with 4 sets of 15 seconds with 30 seconds rest between; add 15 seconds every week with a maximum of 1 minute recovery.

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• The application of strength for the core will vary depending on the individual’s specific state, sport and aims.

• A combination of abdominal work and core work is ideal for an optimal functioning core region, and it will produce the best visual impact.

• The hips play a major part in the overall function in this regard, and are supported by the glutes. These areas also require some integration into your programme to get the ideal shape and stability for impact sport and high-level endurance athletes.

Best workout

A typical optimal workout should look like this: • • • • • •

Hanging abs Bicycles Plank Side plank Incline lower abs Seated broomstick twist

This can be done 3-4 times a week, followed by 45-60 minutes of non-impact cardio (stationary bike only) 7 days a week for 12 weeks.

For more details on the optimal abdominal plan and core workouts with cardio support, visit dextersimon.com or What’sApp me at (868) 620-6388.