“Instead of making money from track and field, I’ve been putting money into it. Track is my habit and I work to fund my habit, but it is taking a toll on me now.”
These are the words of Guyana’s top international athlete Aliann Pompey who is back home for a short stay and took time out for an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport.
Pompey has been carrying Guyana’s flag along with middle distance queen Marian Burnett for several years now with little or no input from their motherland. Despite these setbacks, the track stars continue to carry the workload of Guyana’s track and field with a great measure of success.
Below is the full text of the interview.
S.S: Aliann Pompey, welcome home and I guess you are happy to be back home.
A.P: Yes, it’s been three years since I was last home so it’s a great feeling to be back in Guyana. I am trying to fit a lot of things into my stay and it’s been a bit tiring, but enjoyable.
S.S: Tell me about your plans for the tracks and how much longer we will have Aliann running for Guyana?
A.P: I intend to take it season by season; my goal is to compete for the next two years with my mind set on the Olympics in London next year. After that, it just depends on how my body feels and how it can hold up.
S.S: Are you encouraged from the support you are getting from Guyana and overseas?
A.P: Support from whom? That’s news to me; I support myself I am working.
S.S: So you do not have a sponsor?
A.P: I don’t have any sponsor.
S.S: So it must be very tough being an athlete then?
A.P: It’s extremely difficult, you know, the last few years running have put me in a deficit because I don’t have a sponsor any longer. So all the things that I need I have to work and fund it for myself and it’s just gotten a lot harder. The last two years or so I would say, instead of making money from track and field I’ve been putting a lot of money into it. So I think that’s one of the factors that would determine how much longer I will be able to compete, because if this situation continues it will not make any sense I continue.
S.S: So the scenario is, you work to fund yourself?
A.P:Yes, its like track is my habit and I am working to fund my habit.
S.S: From the Guyana side, are you getting any support?
A.P: Right now I am not, and I hope that changes, I have said before that, when I was young and fresh I thought that, once I achieve a certain level in athletics, the funding will come, but it really hasn’t. Now I am at the point where I need that funding in order to continue, so the situation has kind of turned around on me and my childhood dreams may not come through.
S.S: This will definitely be bad news for young athletes, because if they read about you dedicating your life to the sport with little returns, they will surely rethink their plans.
A.P: It depends on what they expect to get out of athletics; I think coming into it I had realistic expectations of what I was in for but it is a little bit different since my expectations was never to bleed the Government dry nor be in a position where I need that kind of support. I thought that I would go out and do well, bring pride to my country and other people like Adidas, Nike or others will support me but for some reason it didn’t work out that way.
S.S: But in Jamaica and Trinidad there are some athletes who are not as good as you are, but yet they get sponsorship with the clip of a finger. What’s the difference with our athletes, is it the lack of representation?
A.P: I think it’s a number of things, in Trinidad and Jamaica within the sport itself you have a built in infrastructure whereby the government and companies sponsor teams and athletes and the system is in place for younger athletes to take over when the older ones exit the sport. Trinidad for example look after their athletes after they would have served the country with distinction, look at Ato Boldon and others. So athletes like Richard Thompson and Marc Burns are getting support now, but are sure there is more to come when their career is over. So it’s a long term investment for them, but the question people ask me a lot when I am seeking sponsorship overseas is when Guyana is done with me on the international scene, what is there for me and what plans are in stream for future athletes to be developed? I really don’t have an answer for that and I am not sure who does.
So this is a situation facing myself and other athletes like Marian Burnett and others. Companies should start looking for long term relationship with athletes and not just one off sponsorship. Guyana is a bit far behind, but I hope our government and all other authorities take a serious look at these issues affecting athletes.
S.S: It must be tough for you, knowing that some of your regional compatriots are getting the support they need.
A.P: It is, but I may be a little bit naïve in saying it, but I think we can get there and I think we will. It might not happen soon, or during my career, I am not sure when, but I truly believe it will happen and I certainly want to be part of that movement.
S.S: What advice would you give to young athletes?
A.P: Just do it! By the time they are ready to fully launch their career I sincerely hope that things are different for them and if there is something that I can do to accelerate that process I’ll try to do it.
S.S: Will we ever see you run in Guyana?
A.P: Hopefully, It’s my other dream.
Right now I am not being supported by my Guyana, nor any sponsor overseas.
I dedicated my life to athletics, and……
