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Ryan counters Blackmore’s claim makes revelation in exclusive interview
By Edison Jefford
After Claude Blackmore denied the appointment of Manhattan College’s Assistant Coach, Joe Ryan (JR), as National Coach for the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Kaieteur News (KN) was granted an exclusive interview with Ryan Friday.
Blackmore, the President of the Athletics Association of Guyana, came out on Monday denying the selection of Ryan as National Coach. But as the following interview will show, Blackmore’s claims were not only inaccurate, but also deceptive.
The responses of the Manhattan College’s Assistant Coach to the questions KN posed are below:
KN: What was your reaction (s) to the appointment as Guyana’s National Coach to the 2008 Olympic Games?
JR: I was pleased and honoured to get the assignment. I have had a number of athletes compete during the last four Olympic Games so the opportunity to be present there with one of my own athletes is gratifying and much appreciated.
KN: Were you always interested in coaching Guyana’s team?
JR: Mr. Blackmore graciously accredited me as the Guyanese coach at the last three World Track and Field Championships (Edmonton 2001, Paris 2003, and Helsinki 2005), which I attended; this is not a new experience for me.
KN: What you think was the process that led to your appointment?
JR: I have been coaching Aliann Pompey for about 12 years now and I believe the [Guyana] Olympic Committee wanted to recognize my commitment and support of Pompey through her many successes at collegiate and international level competitions.
Mr. Mark Elliott, Marian Brunette’s coach, was given the opportunity in 2004 in recognition of his own outstanding coaching credentials. I believe the Committee used the same logic in my case. I want to also add that I am grateful to the selectors for selecting a native Irishman.
KN: How do you plan to impact Guyana’s team at the Olympic Games?
JR: My job at the Games will be to assist and prepare athletes to perform at their best. My experience with modern Olympic athletes is that the real hard work is done before arrival at the Olympic Village.
The job of the coach is to take care of the athletes at the games by minimizing distractions, dealing with technical matters as needed, liaising with team officials, and co-ordinating remaining training that needs to be done in collaboration with the individual athlete’s personal coach.
KN: Do you seriously believe Guyanese track athletes can medal at the Olympics?
JR: In sport, as a coach, I believe on any given day that superior athletes have a chance of doing well. That must be the perspective of a coach and that is what I truly believe. Beyond that I will leave predictions to the pundits and observers of the sport.
KN: What experiences do you bring to the table on this appointment?
JR: I have been in the sport for 38 years as an athlete and coach. I competed throughout Europe and the United States as an international for my native Ireland at the junior and senior levels; I established national records along the way in the ‘70s and early ‘80s.
For the past 20 years, I have coached at Manhattan College in New York. Manhattan is one of the premier track programs in Eastern track and has a long and proud tradition in collegiate and international athletics.
I have coached athletes at all levels from collegiate to international competition including the Olympic Games. These experiences have given me a global perspective on the sport as well as an understanding of athletes notwithstanding their level.
KN: Any plans to visit Guyana in the near future, maybe prior to the Olympics?
JR: Not at this time! I am preparing Pompey as well as taking care of my other commitments.
I will be in Europe in July to attend some track meets where Pompey will be competing and I have been invited to the Irish National Championships in Dublin late July.
I will be in Dublin to celebrate the 30th anniversary of my winning the 200m national champion title along with notable figures of Irish athletics such as Eamonn Coghlan, John Treacy and Ray Flynn. I will return in late July and fly out to Beijing on August 5.
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