'Believe in yourself and get an education', Grenada's Olympic Games 400m champ Kirani James told BVI athletes
FEBRUARY 3—Fellow Caribbean athlete, London 2012 Olympic Games and Daegu 2011 IAAF World 400m champion Kirani James, underscored the importance of getting an education, when he shared his testimony with 76 young British Virgin Islands athletes during the Tahesia Harrigan-Scott Speed and Technical Clinic on Feb 2.
James was joined by his coach and 1976 Montreal Olympic Games 4x100m Relay gold medalist Harvey Glance, Athens 2004 Long Jump champion and 4-times IAAF World Long Jump champion Dwight Phillips, and J.J. Johnson, 2003 Paris IAAF 4x100m Relay gold medalist.
While underscoring education’s importance, James told the athletes to always surround themselves with positive people.
“The more you surround yourself with positive people, the better you’re going to become,” said James, the ninth fastest all time 400m runner with his 43.94 second time to win in London last year. He added that being around Glance, Phillips and Joey Scott, facilitates being humble, motivated and on the right track.
“Also, believe in yourself in whatever you want to do—in athletics, in life, in everything you want to become—it always starts with you. You have to be motivated and excited about yourself before anyone else is excited about you and believe in you.”
James, a business major at Alabama where Harrigan-Scott graduated in 2006, advised the young athletes to find a balance in their lives. He said they must have equal interest in school as in athletics. “You can’t go anywhere without a proper education these days,” said James who established the BVI All Comers as a 16 year old when he ran 46.85 seconds in the 400m here in 2008.
“There are lots of opportunities for athletes to get a proper education through track and field. When I started out in track, it wasn’t because I wanted to be a good athlete or get to the Olympics. Getting a proper education was the main motivation I had,” said James, one of nine athletes to have won the IAAF World Youth, IAAF World Jr. and IAAF World Sr. titles.
“I worked hard everyday, thinking that if I can do well enough in track, I could get a scholarship and get a proper education,” James pointed out. “ School is just as equally important as anything else in life. In this day and age, you can’t do anything without a proper education—not event to be a successful track athlete. It’s always good to be educated and know what you are talking about.”