Guyana’s Golden Girls, Anisha Gibbons and Attoya Harvey have aspirations of representing the nation on the global stage, the Olympics included following outstanding performances at the just-concluded CARIFTA Games in Jamaica.
Harvey, a middle distance maestro, earned gold in the 1500m as part of her three-medal haul at the 49th edition of the Regional showpiece which was staged during the Easter weekend.
The 16-year-old Running Brave Athletic Club standout, created history by becoming the first local athlete to complete a set of medals during her debut at the annual fixture.
Climbing the podium steps on three occasions, Harvey finished with the silver in the 3000m and bronze in the 800m during the largest athletics competition for U17 and U20 athletes.
Gibbons also created history and cemented her status as the Region’s javelin ruler, adding another gold medal to her resume in the ‘Land of Wood and Water’. She is the first Guyanese to record back-to-back gold medal performances in the javelin at the CARIFTA Games.
Upon their return from the competition which has fostered several of the Caribbean’s top athletes, including Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Debbie Ferguson, Yohan Blake, Kirani James, Shauna Miller-Uibo, Shericka Jackson and many others, the pair made their intentions known that their ultimate goal is to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the pinnacle of athletics.
However, in order for the pair and other athletes to achieve such feats, heavy investment will be needed. It is quite evident that these athletes are fearless and are not bothered by competition. They have the ‘clutch’ gene. The intangibles and the talent is there.
They have the passion, the confidence, the resilience and grit to perform. But talent can only get an athlete so far.
For these athletes to continue in an upward trajectory and take the leap to become elite, they would need the tutoring of elite coaches and being extensively exposed to high levels of competitions of a regular basis.
While Gibbons, 17, and Harvey may not be ready to don the national colors at the next Olympic Games in Paris, France in two years, 2028 awaits.
The path to becoming an Olympian requires a mixture of important ingredients that may vary according to the sport and the individual athlete. Ultimately, for many, the path is navigated through deliberate play and involvement in their discipline developed through a commitment of deliberate practice and reinforced by support, resources, motivation and effort.
I reiterate, heavy investments will have to be made in our athletes in order for Guyana to end the now four-decade medal drought at the Olympics.
