Trinidad and Tobago multisport athlete Tyra Gittens believes she may have fared better in the finals of the Olympic women’s long jump if her Texas A&M University coach Sean Brady was included in Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic delegation.
Gittens, a heptathlete, still finished tenth on debut at the Tokyo Games.
TT Olympic chef de mission Lovie Santana said that owing to the team’s quota for officials, and a need for additional medical staff, some athletes had to utilise the services of the coaches provided by their respective national sporting bodies.
In this case, Gittens had to work with the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) jumps coach Wendell Williams, who unfortunately contracted covid19 and was in an isolation facility while she competed in the finals.
Gittens said she found out belatedly about Brady not getting accredited to join her.
After she received confirmation of her Olympic berth in mid-May, Gittens began filling out the required paperwork for Brady to head to Tokyo.
[caption id="attachment_907510" align="alignnone" width="600"] Texas A&M coach Sean Brady -[/caption]
Gittens said she received her plane ticket to Tokyo one week prior to her departure from the US and then contacted a “delegation manager” to inquire about her coach’s travel arrangements.
“I just wanted to make sure, because I received my ticket and none for my coach. The response I got was: 'Oh, you didn’t know (Brady was not included)?'
"And no, I didn’t know.
“So they were never going to tell me. I was going to be in the airport trying to figure out all of that."
She said Williams getting covid19 made a bad situation worse.
Men's long jumper Andwuelle Wright and hurdler Sparkle McKnight also tested positive and missed their respective events.
In the qualifying round of competition, Gittens booked a spot in the final by achieving a 6.72m distance in the opening round. In the medal event, she could only produce a 6.60m leap, short of her personal best and national record of 6.96m.
“If my coach was there, I honestly believe I would have made the top six at least.
"I did do my best when I was out there but once we found out that he couldn’t join me in Tokyo, we really worked on me going through the rounds without him at my side – and that was tough."
Gittens said although she was happy with her debut, she was not satisfied.
"I don’t make excuses for when I compete because that’s not the athlete I am. But me not having a coach really backfired. That’s why I’m happy with my tenth place.”
Gittens said she had no issue working with Williams, but Brady knew her strengths, weaknesses and how to get the best out of her.
[caption id="attachment_907508" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Tyra Gittens, of Trinidad and Tobago, competes in the women's long jump final at the 2020 Summer Olympics. - AP[/caption]
Asked about Brady not being part of the TT contingent, Santana said,
