With the recent conclusion of the World Under 20 Championships in Nairobi Kenya; following on the heels of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the issue of transition of our Junior athletes to the senior ranks has been brought back into focus with good reason. Jamaica won 11 medals at the World U20 Championships and the senior team won 9 medals at the Tokyo Olympics.
A Global Phenomenon
The key question is “how can we preserve our Elite Junior athletes and what can be done to see them through to Paris 2024 and beyond?” The issue of transition is a global phenomenon and all nations grapple with the same issue. Of the 60 female individual event medal winners from the 2014 World U20 Championships held in Eugene Oregon, a total of 9 athletes (or 15%) represented their respective countries at either the Rio 2016 or the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. On the male side, there were 63 male individual event medal winners and only 7 of them (or 11.1%) represented their respective countries at either the Rio 2016 or the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. These numbers are staggering and surprisingly low considering the quality performances required to earn a Medal at the World Under 20 Championships. It would only be natural to believe that your medal winners would be great prospects for success at the next level.
The data obtained from World Athletics suggest that the failed transition is not a Jamaican problem. However, we should make every attempt to solve the issue without beating up on ourselves too much.
The Escalator
If you travel through large Airports or visit Shopping Malls, the option usually exists for you to either use an escalator or an elevator to move from one level to the next. Escalators take up more space, they move a bit slower, and usually take a while for you to get to the top top top, with several turns. The elevator can take you from the ground floor to the roof in one swoop. Very direct, even though you might have to wait a bit for the lift. I want to suggest, that the transition of our elite juniors to being successful seniors is more like the escalator experience than the elevator. It takes time, patience and a plan.
Assuming that all the technical things (including the Sports Performance Testing) are in place, the facilities and the funding are secured, the following will be required for a successful transition of our elite juniors:
1) Proper Guidance – The junior athletes need proper guidance as they explore the various options presented at the end of their junior career. Some believe that each athlete is on his or her own path, but this approach is akin to re-inventing the wheel and many have not learned from the mistakes of their predecessors. The options are known and the athlete should be deliberately prepared for those once they show some potential at age 16.
2) Managed Goals and Expectations – Not every athlete will break the world record. In fact, such a feat is not required for success at the senior level, thought it will lead to better financial rewards. Big goals can actually lead to greater commitment and dedication, but these must be realistic and achievable within a reasonable time frame. Expectations that are too high can lead to disappointment, frustration and subsequently an early exit from the sport. Managing expectations in context is a key strategy in extending the athlete’s participation in the sport beyond the peak age for their particular event. A change of event may also be on the cards.
3) Lifestyle as a Professional – It is often said that “success” comes before “work” only in the dictionary. Some junior athletes see the bling and the lifestyle without knowing what is required by the professional athlete. In fact, they often forget what they had to do to get to where they are and many do not work even as hard. Understanding the need to invest in and educate oneself in the business side of the sport is the source of many failed transition attempts. Poor attitudes play a negative role, and often times the unreceptive athlete is left to his or her own devices. Knowing the roles and responsibilities of the athlete vs the athlete support personnel is to be understood upfront and previous mistakes or missteps understood and documented.
Proper Systems Needed
The path to a successful transition ought to be defined and individualized for each elite junior athlete. The proper support systems must be in place for the medical, the sports performance, the academic, the psychological and the financial needs of the athlete, to make a more successful transition. Throw some patience in the mix with regular encouragement and mentorship and the success at the senior level will be a possibility. This we certainly can do once individuals aren’t positioning themselves to take the credit and the glory.
Great article. I hope we are able to make this a reality. Keeping doing your part coach.
Thanks David. It is good to know that it’s not simply a Jamaican problem.
Very interesting article.
These are some facts.
In regard to this system I totally agreed. In my junior days my work ethic and drive for track and field was undeniable. However, due to family background and the wide spread use of elevator system as I transition to a senior athlete my drive for the sport was diminished. The training of a junior and senior athlete is completely different along with mental that comes with the sport. Junior athletes should be preserve cause the greatest gift have a harder story. The management of the junior Athletes is very poor and it wide spread need to discover the next bolt. Which cause the coaches to stress and inevitable over train athletes and cause injury. People should take a step back and even look at usain bolt short as he went missing after 2004 athen and only pop up in 2008. According to coach mills he not only had to retrain usain body but also his mental health. This is the same for juniors. Jamaican coaches and athlete are completely engross is the dog eat young mentality due to high value and influx of talent within our country.
With reputation that Jamaica has in track and field is it despicable that the infracture for athletes is non existent. For the springing factory that jamaica is believed to have we need to develop and manufacture our product.
These are comments from an athlete that represents Jamaica as a junior along with her twin sister and neither of them transitioned