Set aside for a moment the brilliance of Javon Roberts, Tianna Springer, Anisha Gibbons and the rest of the medal winning track athletes, Raekwon Noel’s blockbuster five-gold haul in swimming took the cake in an outstanding Easter weekend of exploits for young Guyanese athletes. It was not only heroic but one of the all-time best performances by any Guyanese in international individual competitions.
Unfair it would be to compare Noel’s exploits to much more difficult senior level competition, being a Regional junior level feat, but Noel’s bag of medals feat stands head and shoulders above any medal winning effort by any Guyanese representative in an Olympic discipline since this country’s debut participation at the 1948 Games.
In erasing four national senior swimming records in the process, the youngster should’ve been treated like royalty in the swimming fraternity, but lo and behold, the Guyana Swimming Association (GASA) has been deafening in its silence up to the time of writing yesterday.
Instead of falling over itself in jubilation and bombarding the media with press releases to let the nation know of the best singular feat recorded by a Guyanese in international competition, it seems the association is waiting to be rapped on the knuckles by the new Guyana Olympics Association (GOA) executive in order to spring into action. Those close supporters and genuine fans who care though, are reveling in young Noel’s excellence, reminding us of the heroics multi-goal medal performances of American superstars Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz at past Olympics.
It couldn’t be a case of swimming being a minority sport or that President Dwayne Scott and crew at the GASA feels no one would care much about the sport.
Rather those who know the dysfunction that passes for sports administration in Guyana should not be surprised much.
Yes, Noel has stated that he was not in receipt of even a one word text message or a 10-paragraph email or even a phone call of congratulation from the President or any executive member, heralding his record breaking achievements, one whole day afterwards.
In Guyana It is no secret that sport is for the most part used by some administrators for personal gain without much consideration in working in the interest of the competitors and by extension the country. And judging from an ignominious track record, the swimming association seems to be no exception. From all indications Noel is not in the bosom of association decision makers. He is not coached by an influential coach who would derive personal benefits from his exploits or a member of a favoured club.
On the contrary, the youngster spends lots of time in the United States and was given a royal run around before finally being selected on the national team, despite out-performing all-comers in the Mashramani meet where he by far exceeded the qualifying standards.
Were it not for strong representation by influential members of society, Noel’s selection might’ve been ignored and his accomplishments lost to Guyana and the Regional swimming fraternity where in Curacao, he was the toast of foreign officials, fans and the media. If those folks are aware of the shocking negative reaction of the swimming authorities of his home country, they will think of it as a ridiculous April 1st All Fools Day prank.
Could you believe such despicable behavior of our administrators happening in Jamaica?
One reason our northern Caricom cousin is such a successful nation in the world of sport, is not due entirely to the talent of its people, rather it’s the tremendous pride of country and support they give to feats accomplished by Jamaicans.
In Guyana we don’t have to go far for a rare similar example. In Berbice, Hilbert Foster, the county’s cricket board President never wastes a second in lauding the achievements of the Ancient County players even if it’s a national team selection or Shimron Hetmyer clinching another US million-dollar contract to play IPL cricket.
Guyana’s best cricketers continue to be had from Berbice because of such administrative support and excellence.
Fortunately, Noel will not have to depend much on the GASA to accelerate his career development. In New Jersey where he is based, the kid is being exposed to modern training methods and facilities through his US- based Coach Lou Petto at the South Jersey Aquatic Club.
Also being a straight A student in academics at Highland High School, he won a college scholarship to Indiana University, a top five swimming institution in the country where the great Mark Spitz attended. It must not be forgotten though, that the 17-year-old started his swimming career in Guyana where he was taken in hand by local coach Jaime Skeete over the years and who accompanied him to Curacao.
Over the years Guyanese have experienced the vanishing of young track and field talent after success at CAEIFTA and beyond.
The likes of Kadecia Baird and Cassie George readily come to mind and while we hope this year’s gold medalists Roberts, Gibbons and Springer along with the others who attained success in The Bahamas and last year in Jamaica, combining for two of Guyana’s best placings at the Games, continue to make Guyana proud when they transition to the senior ranks, Noel is certain about his future goals.
Although being born in the United States, Noel is fully committed to Guyana as he explained that his next quest is attaining qualification for the senior World Swimming Championships in July. It will be precursor for his intention to debut at next year’s Olympics in Paris. If successful in flying the Golden Arrowhead at the world’s most prestigious sports event, it will be a remarkable improvement spurt, given that he never medaled at CARIFTA in two previous competitions and wasn’t expected to win more than medal in one of the seven events he entered. It is a testament to his mental toughness and as well as a change in training methods that’ve placed Guyana on the Regional swimming map with last weekend’s exploits.
So far the GOA has started on the right track in living up to expectations with its substantially monetary support to the CARIFTA teams. Thus it will be motivated to go beyond the extra mile in aiding Guyana’s quest for future success internationally. In the meantime we await a public declaration by the GASA to put the country first in its handling of the sport.
