National swimmer and Olympian Cherelle Thompson, like so many other athletes, has experienced first-hand, the physical, mental and emotional toll the covid19 pandemic has taken on the professional sporting industry.
With so many restrictions placed on the use of training facilities and the cancellation of numerous competitions, Thompson told WMN she is very concerned about the fallout it has had, especially among the young swimmers.
But, she believes in spite of what she may be experiencing right now, she has a duty to give back what 20 years in the sport has given to her – the experience, knowledge and discipline to try to weather any storm.
Beginning on February 5, Thompson will host the Rise and Thrive Swimmers Book Club for swimmers 13-17 in Trinidad and Tobago and throughout the Caribbean.
“This is my way of giving back to the sport and trying to find a way within the constraints of the pandemic to connect with the young people. When I am ready to retire I want to be confident that I have given back to the sport, in and out of the pool, by passing on the baton to the younger ones.”
[caption id="attachment_937136" align="alignnone" width="683"] Olympian Cherelle Thompson who has a degree in kinesiology is a second year medical student at UWI. - MARVIN HAMILTON[/caption]
The club members will meet on Google Classroom on Saturdays from 8-9 pm for eight weeks. Members will be required to read a chapter of Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey each week, and will discuss and share ideas on what they have read at the meeting.
“These seven key principles can be applied to any stage in their lives, in and out of swimming…We will also have group activities related to the chapter, in a fun and relaxed environment. The only cost they will have to incur is the cost of the book. RIK (book store) has graciously agreed to give a discount on the book to participants.”
Thompson, a member of Eagles Aquatics International Swim Club, said she got the idea for the book club when she came across a piece of paper on which she had jotted notes when she had read the book as a teen.
“Two key points that stood out to me then was about being able to recognise the things over which we have control and the things we do not – the circle of control and circle of concern.
“Essentially, right now we don’t have control with what is happening with competitions, online classes, etc. This is a bit of a challenge for even me as an athlete and a student, so I imagine it is the same for younger swimmers. What we can control are our responses and our attitudes.”
She said the aim of the club is to offer support to the young swimmers, and to keep them motivated and confident in themselves and their future endeavours despite the pandemic setbacks. Thompson said there is usually a high attrition rate for swimmers after 17, and she expects it to be even worse given the current climate.
“Athletes tend to fall away in 15-18 age group. Although there i
