No easy task!

-Track and field coach urges Guyanese public to be patient with our athletes

Bags were packed and the time finally came  for the 2012 Guyanese contingent for the London Olympics to depart  Olympic House for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 11:00hrs on Wednesday.

For track and field coach, Lyndon Wilson, the appointed coach of the track and field Olympic team, his goal was about to be realized.

“For me this is a dream come through, I have always wanted to coach an Olympian and be a coach at the Olympics, so it’s just a dream come through for me,” Wilson told Stabroek Sport at Olympic House.

Turning his attention to what needs to be done by the track and field team, Wilson noted that it will be no easy task for the Guyanese.

“All three of our athletes qualified for the games with the ‘B’ standard time so that means that we have to do a lot to succeed. Aliann (Pompey) is very experienced at these games while (Winston) George and (Jeremy) Bascom are making their first attempts.

The Guyana team at yesterday’s opening ceremony. Chef-de-mission, Dr. Karen Pilgrim is at right.

“I am going there to ensure these athletes put their best foot forward, I just think that the Guyanese public needs to be patient with these athletes as they are many more Olympics to come,” Wilson told Stabroek Sport.

Meanwhile, local swimmer Nail Roberts, who will be taking his second crack at the Olympics (his first shot was in Beijing four years ago) told Stabroek Sport that this time around his mind will be clearer because he knows the magnitude of the games.

“This time around I’m doing a different event in the 100 metres freestyle compared to Beijing where I did the 50 metres freestyle but this is so because in the 100 metres freestyle is where I broke down time at the World Championships in Shanghai.

“I know the magnitude of these games and compared to last time when I was nervous, this time I will just jump in the pool and swim,” Roberts told Stabroek Sport.

George, who is now the first local track and field athlete to qualify for the Olympics in recent times and who was the flag bearer at the opening ceremony yesterday stated that at the moment he was happy and said he felt normal.

“Well, right now I’m feeling normal, I just want to get to London and then everything might kick in, but I’m happy and looking forward to putting my country on the map,” George related to Stabroek Sport before departing.

Judoka Raul Lall was also in a bit of a trance before leaving for the prestigious meet but concluded that he was just proud of himself for being a part of the team.

“I feel proud that I’m going to represent Guyana and I feel that I’m in peak form to do myself and my country proud,” Lall told Stabroek Sport.