Credit due!! Origin of Jamaica's swim success!!

[Stonigut]

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2.../sports16.html

[Karl]

Respek due, Neville Alexander!
Good post, Stoni.

[Mosiah]

Government's Investment In Atkinson Pays Off, Says Marsh

Published: Monday | December 8, 2014 4 Comments

Alia Atkinson of Jamaica celebrates after winning and equalling the world record in the 100 metres breaststroke during the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Doha, Qatar on Saturday. - AP
Alia Atkinson of Jamaica celebrates after winning and equalling the world record in the 100 metres breaststroke during the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Doha, Qatar on Saturday. - AP
André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Alia Atkinson's historic world record-equalling gold medal performance in the women's 100 metres breaststroke final at the FINA World Short Course Championships in Doha on Saturday is being hailed as a testament of perseverance and validation of the Government's decision two years ago to directly invest in her development and preparation ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Atkinson became the first Jamaican to win a world swimming title when she bettered Ruta Meilutyte to the wall, in the process matching her world record of 1:02.36, to win the 100m breaststroke. Meilutyte was clocked at 1:02.46 for second place as Atkinson improved on her silver medals in the 50m breaststroke in 2012 and 2014 and the 100m breaststroke in 2012.

She also became the first black woman to hold a world short course record since Enith Brigitha of the Netherlands 40 years ago.

In 2012, after an impressive showing by the swimmer at the London Olympic Games - where she finished fourth in the 100m breaststroke - Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller announced that the Government would commit to helping secure the nearly $20 million needed for Atkinson to prepare for the Rio Olympics.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...s/sports1.html

[Gamma]

the government has stepped up in recent itmes to assist Alia. It is paying off. The prime Minister stepped up and made that commitment and it is bearing fruit.

[Assasin]

yep she did.

[Islandman]

True, give credit when it is due. Good call Madame PM!

[Stonigut]

Cannot do this thing without some bread, good call.

[Mosiah]

I remember her impassioned, but not grovelly, plea for support after the Olympics. She promised she would be competing with the very best if she received some support and, boy, did she keep her promise! Super happy for her!

We have debated this issue on the forum in the past - what sports should receive government support and how much, and what sports should remain a personal thing where the athlete supports himself.

Should we have supported Justin Brown with his tennis? Since announcing he would play for Great Britain because of lack of support from Tennis Jamaica, he has beaten Wawrinka and Nadal, grand slam champions!

Badminton has been begging for more support to push Gareth Henry and others who have shown much potential. Nigella Saunders, in my view, could have competed with the best in the world had she been given more support.

But the money isn't there to support all the sports in the way they should be supported. The debate will continue, but Alia has made a case for all the minor sports.

[Willi]

Not Hinglan...GERMANY!

Deutschland!

[Bricktop]

The Alia Atkinsons and Brad Hamiltons who the country depends on to make its mark on the world scene don't know from where their opportunities are derived.

how him know dat?

[Assasin]

Like many things with government, it is always a judgement call. When they gets it wrong we cuss them but when they gets it right we should give them their props. Money limited and they have to make the call what will give us the best results, short and long term.

[Mosiah]

Not Hinglan...GERMANY!

Deutschland!

No, he first stated he would play for England then opted for Germany.

[Willi]

But him mummah nuh German?

Nuh wan owl VW bus him used to has as Trans-p?

[Mosiah]

Grandparent a British.

[Jangle]

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2.../sports16.html

Stoni I am disappointed in you. When I saw your post I thought you were posting this article which explains the young lady's swimming prowess
Sports in her blood


Gary Spaulding, Senior STAR Writer

Alia Atkinson - File

It is little wonder that Alia Atkinson who placed fourth in the women's 100 metres breaststroke at the London Olympics yesterday is so fiercely competitive.

After all, she was spawned in the stomach of a potent sports family on both paternal and maternal sides and groomed as a giant of a champion not unlike her father.

Sports enthusiasts who lived throughout the late 1960s and 1970s may recall that it was Alia's father, Tweedsmuir Atkinson, a former Calabar High School student, who held the record in both the Class One discus and shot put. He won the shot put/ discus double at Boys' Champs in 1969, setting a record in the latter. He was Calabar's head boy in 1968-69, and was the school's goalkeeper in the Manning Cup.

By the account of those who know him well, Tweedsmuir, like his daughter, does not speak much - they simply act.

Tweedsmuir went to the University of the West Indies to install his name in the record book for the throws including the unpopular hammer throw.

When Stanley Goodrich emerged at Calabar in the late 1970s to set new mark in the discus, it was Tweedsmuir Atkinson's record that he broke.

http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/2012...s/sports2.html