James puts Grenada on world map
Pacific island teenager clinches 400-metre gold medal
A l a r i c G o m e s
He is now ready to take on the world - but Kirani James’s gold medal in the men’s 400 metres is one way of attracting world attention to his tiny island of Grenada.
Growing up in a tiny fishing village called Gouyave (meaning guava) on the west coast of Grenada in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, the youngest 400-metre Olympic champion James has taken upon himself the onerous task of exhibiting his island to the world with their first-ever Olympic medal.
“As a professional athlete it is my job to go out there and compete against the world. And when one gets wins like this one, the world stands up and takes notice. They see where I come from and they are interested in knowing about me and my country,” James said after winning the race ahead of Luguelin — the second of three teenagers in the race — and Lalonde Gor- don of neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago. Coming from such a humble background, James showed impressive form and an appetite in winning mid-distant races in his early teens. He got picked up by the University of Alabama soon enough and his talent flourished.
“My father was once a fisherman, but now he is a labourer. The village is so tiny that everyone knows each other and right now, there must a huge, huge street party going on,” Kirani told media at the post- race conference. “All families go through some problem or trouble at some point. It happened to me, but it just helped me become a better person. And it has brought my family, my community and my country closer through what I have been doing,” Kirani added.
Right track
For the past 32 years, it is the Americans who have thrived in the 400-metre with Michael Johnson holding both the Olympic and World records set in the late 1990s. However, the London final did not have even one runner from the US, making James’ triumph a rare one.
“This shows I am on the right track. Anyone would want to be in the same shoes as Michael Johnson,” he admitted.
“I am what I am today because of the way I grew. I have remained a realist and the more success one achieves on the track, one will get even more success off it,” he added.
He doesn’t have too lofty an aim either. “My goal is just to go out there and do my best representing my country. This medal is a huge step for my country. I have won a medal, but Grenada is on the map,” he said.