Barbados World Champion says, ‘It is time’

Barbados World Hurdles Champion, Ryan Brathwaite believes it is time for Barbados to get serious about sports.

Brathwaite won the gold medal in 2009 in the 110 metres hurdles, set a new National Record of 13.14 seconds and was fifth in the Olympic final in 2012.

However he said one of the major challenges throughout his career and for many Barbadian athletes and sports people is the lack of support.

“You need to have the support when it comes to sports and I realise that there is a lack of support in Barbados… and not just with the financial aspect but overall.

“Especially when you are a professional athlete – you need the support team, you need someone there that can advise you. You need a financial advisor, a coach or otherwise – he is the one who will keep you focused. Someone that can actually help with the business side of it, someone who can maintain that focus,” Brathwaite said.

He recalled some good years in competition, which started with him winning the World Championships in 2009 and going through to the Olympic race finals in 2012.

“Then a lot of stuff changed, low performances and injuries,” all combined to see him drop from the performances he was once giving.

Then in 2017 came surgery, “I had surgery, I have had a heel bone replacement and now I have an artificial heel bone in the right foot,” Brathwaite said.

He has since retired from competition in 2018/2019 but said that from where he sits looking on, the whole sports industry is very under par with their performances.

“We have to have a strategy plan,” said the former athlete who also mentioned he was assisting Lester Vaughan coach Alwyn Babb. “The best way to do it will be to start from the outside and come in. You need to connect with people who have the connections and make it happen,” he added.

Brathwaite believes there is a lack of communication in Barbados when it comes to sports.

“I think that we should sit down and plan – not just with one side of it - but with all parties.”

He mentioned that it starts from the athlete and what they need and how one can get it done, rather than “let’s do this and do that”.

“You have a lot of experienced athletes out there with international businesses that can actually come in and help or even consult.

“I think the best advice is to sit down and listen to the athletes especially those who have transitioned from seniors to professionals.

“The Associations, the Federations the National Sports Council, the Barbados Olympic Association they need to really sit down and discuss properly what is happening and get advice from persons who are really into the sports industry and get it done!” said Brathwaite.