Kirani James Grenada S New Black Gold

Kirani James – Grenada’s new ‘black gold’

By: Nicole Best, Freelance Journalist

Pull Quotes: `I’m comfortable in my own skin and I don’t need to be called the Usain Bolt of the 400 metres; I prefer the Kirani James of Grenada.’ – Kirani James

`Kirani’s destined for greatness; an unbelievable athlete. And, better still, he’s a phenomenal person.’- Coach Harvey Glance

There was a time in the history of Grenada; the Spice Isle of the Caribbean, that nutmeg was called ‘black gold’ because it represented the wealth of the island and its people. It was what the world equated with the country Grenada.

Today, when you say Grenada, you say Kirani James – The Jaguar; Grenada’s new black gold.

Born of very humble beginnings in a remote village called Gun Battle, in the now infamous fishing village of the western town of Gouyave, this lanky, unassuming youth shot to the world athletic stage, like a bolt of lightning, upsetting greats like LaShawn Merritt and shattering long standing records like the 10- year old record at his Alabama University of 46.46secs which was set by Cori Loving.

James was born into a sporting family - his father, Dorrani Marshall, was a national Basketball player and his elder brother Gary James was an all-round athlete. So, it was not surprising that he found his niche in sport. He started off in basketball and enjoyed it immensely, but his boyhood coach, Albert Joseph, realized at an early age that the ‘jaguar’, though skilled was not going to make his name in basketball, like his father. So from the age of 12, Coach Albert encouraged him to take a more serious approach to athletics.

His resolve to become a professional athlete seemed set when, in 2006, at the age of 13, he won the under-15 400m dash and placed second in the 200m at the Teachers Credit Union Games in Saint Lucia.

“The stereotype with the Jamaicas and the Trinidads is that they always do good; but I realized that even though I’m from a small island, I did that good and I can compete with the best of the Caribbean and ultimately the best in the world,” James said. “I mean from there my whole mind-set just changed, and I started taking track and field very seriously.”

And take it seriously he did. During his high school career, which spanned from 2005 to 2009, James copped 20 gold medals at his school’s annual athletic meets. He followed up those winnings at the annual Intercollegiate Games winning a total of nine gold medals in five years. He still holds seven records at the Intercollegiate Games. During that time, the quiet, pensive and deeply reflective James continued to make his mark in regional and international track and field. In 2007, 2008 and 2009 he won the 200m and 400m in the Under-17 category at the CARIFTA games. In the same period, he also won the World Youth Championships in the Czech Republic, Poland and Italy; and the Commonwealth Youth Games in India. For two years in succession, he was named National Sportsman of the Year. Recently, a waterfront street in St. George’s -Lagoon Road - was renamed `The Kirani James Boulevard’ in his honour.

James’ successes have been recorded both on and off the track. He graduated from the Grenada Boy’s Secondary School with nine subjects (distinctions in two of them). He received nine special awards including the awards for “Student who demonstrated academically ‘No Reward Without Labour’”, “Deportment”, “Most Disciplined Student” and “Most Outstanding Sportsman”.

Despite all these achievements at such an early age, James remains humble, giving praise to God for his talent and recognition to his family and close friends for their influence in his life.

“My family, they always support me in what I want to do. I have a lot of teachers from primary school, secondary school…that help me along the way,” James said in a recent interview, adding, “I’m happy to have all of them in my life guiding me”.

From the onset of his international fame, he has been called the “Usain Bolt of the 400metres”. But James refuses to be compared to Usain Bolt, even after shattering many of the Jamaican’s teen-aged records. He said he’s met Bolt before and likes him as a person, but doesn’t want to be him.

“I don’t like the comparison,” he says. “I like him but he’s a completely different individual to me. He has different traits that make him special so I don’t really compare myself to him.”

“I’m comfortable in my own skin and I don’t need to be called the Usain Bolt of the 400 metres; I prefer the Kirani James of Grenada.”

And as it stands, that’s what he is. He has been given many names such as “the jaguar” for his stealth and quiet speed.

His current coach Harvey Glance, a former US Olympic sprint relay champion who equaled the world record back in 1976, described Kirani as a “freak of nature”.

“He’s got what I call very quiet and sneaky speed,” Glance said. “It don’t look like he’s running, but you look at the clock and go, ‘Whoa, where did that come from?”’

Glance holds James in high regard, speaking well of his levels of commitment, maturity and focus.

“He’s not a cocky person and does not want the limelight particularly, but he is remarkably driven. It baffles me to this day, the maturity he shows and the discipline he has.

“It’s so easy to get cocky and out of shape, but he’s so focused on the cause, it makes me believe his potential is limitless.” “Kirani’s destined for greatness; an unbelievable athlete,” says Glance. “And, better still, he’s a phenomenal person.”

Here in Grenada, he has also been nicknamed `Changing Gears’ because of his ability to increase his speed at crucial times in the race.

“He just switches gears. He just switches into another phase, a most important phase, the drive phase it’s called in athletics” said Allan Duncan, a qualified Physical Education Specialist and athletics coach.

“Not many athletes have that and he is exhibiting that at this particular stage and that is his strength. This just does not happen like that. It has to do with your body type, your training, your diet and most importantly, hereditary,” Duncan added.

Kirani’s continued successes have not only inspired fellow aspiring Grenadian athletes but also government and law enforcement officials.

Upon his historic win in Daegu, Korea in August 2011, the then Police Commissioner James Clarkson, in deciding to give permission for a mini carnival-like celebration on the streets of his hometown Gouyave - which would have caused serious interruption in traffic for at least four hours - said Kirani’s accomplishment was even more important than Spanish conquistador, Christopher Columbus discovering the island.

“This is, to my mind, the most important event that ever happened to our country, even more important than Christopher Columbus landing,” said former Police Commissioner James Clarkson.

Tourism Minister Peter David was also high in praise of James accomplishments in Daegu adding that “It’s a golden opportunity for sports and tourism in our nation. There is no price that we can put on Kirani’s victory.”

But Kirani’s string of victories was not without much sacrifice and at least one upset – when he failed to claim a medal at the Indoor Championships in Istanbul seven months after his Daegu victory.

Many speculated as to the reason why he came in sixth in the 400meter race in Istanbul, Turkey. His coach and mentor Harvey Glance has chalked it up to fatigue, adding that “If we don’t prepare the way we need to prepare then it would be a one-year wonder”.

James has had to balance training, studies (as he is a full-time business Masters Student at Alabama University), as well as his celebrity and sponsorship obligations in his homeland.

“It’s quite hectic balancing,” James said. “Some people say being a student-athlete is hard, but being a student-professional athlete is harder.”

Despite the challenges and the crushing defeat at Istanbul, the spirits of the Gouyave teenage sensation are not daunted. He sees his inability to medal in Istanbul as “God’s” way of guiding him to the right path. “I always think God lets certain things happen for a reason, in this case for me to reassess some things in my current life and prioritize,” James said in an interview following the loss.

Now he is focused more than ever ahead of his showing at the London 2012 Olympics. James says he is keenly following the training and advice of his coach and though he has his eye set on the gold, he will be happy just to do his best.

“My main goal is to go out there and represent my country well and my family well; everything else is always going to be secondary,” James said.

The world now waits with baited breath to see if Kirani James, Grenada’s new black gold will bring home double gold from the 2012 London Olympics carded for July 27-August 12.

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Caption: Kirani James, second from left, competes in the Intercollegiate Games, 2008. (Photo by Modern Photo Studio)

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Caption: Humble and focused: Kirani James (Photo by Modern Photo Studio)

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Caption: Historic win: Kirani cops gold in Daegu

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Caption: Prime Minister Tillman Thomas of Grenada congratulates gold medallist Kirani James in the presence of other second and third place winners at an athletic meet in Grenada. (Photo by Modern Photo Studio)