Athletic coach dreams big

Mar 09, 2012 Sports

Launches Athletic Academy Sports Medicine Centre

In 1994, Wayne Walcott, a qualified athletic coach, led by an ambition to heighten the fortunes of local athletes, travelled to Rio de Janiero, Brazil for a two weeks training course. Under the caption, ‘Preventative Sports Physiotherapy and Models of Training for High Performance Athletes,’ the course exposed Walcott to the intricacies of the sport which armed him with the knowledge and expertise to prepare local athletes for high performance duties even as they engage in the requisite developmental training techniques.
Ever since returning to Guyana, Walcott had toyed with the idea of establishing an entity where he could render efficient service to his fellow athletes in their effort to launch into the international athletic sphere. That opportunity eventually manifested itself and Walcott has recently joined forces with renowned medical practitioner, Max Hanoman and is scheduled to launch the ‘Bedford Athletic Academy Sports Medicine Centre’ by month end. Walcott said that the venture will also receive expert support from Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Guyana, Emmanuel Cummings. Several other notable sports administrators have agreed to serve on the executive committee including executive member of the GOA and cycling administrator, Hector Edwards who is the Treasurer and General Secretary, Sabrina Walcott.
Already, the athletic coach has secured a building in Laluni Street, Queenstown and is in the process of putting the final ramifications in place for the commencement of a structured programme.
Walcott explained that his first venture will be the launching of a 4 years programme aimed at preparing local athletes for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. He further assured that affiliates of other sports disciplines will find the programme beneficial. “The general objective is to tap in on underdeveloped talent and create opportunities for local athletes to realize their full potential,” said Mr. Walcott.
He further said that he wishes to utilize his knowledge and experience to shape the culture of local athletes. The coach explained that when certain technological advancements are available locally our athletes will be able to access it at a cheaper rate rather than them having to travel to other countries in the Caribbean and further afield where the cost is prohibitive.
Walcott said that shortly after completing the course he undertook a mandate to share his knowledge and expertise with local coaches and relevant professionals and the new facility will provide an excellent opportunity for him to do so. He said that he had formed allegiances with several notable persons in the field including the Chief Coach in the University of Tennessee USA, Dean Haynes, who had committed to the initiation of exchange programmes between local athletes and those from his institution. Walcott said that he had submitted a report of his sojourn in Brazil to officials of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA). He had also suggested the employment of initiatives to utilize his newly acquired knowledge but is still to receive a response.
Undeterred, the athletic coach accepted an offer in 2006 by the CEO of the American Athletics Federation, Craig A Masback, to field a team to the Penns relay in Philadelphia. He said that plans fell through after he was unable to convince officials of the local Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) who by extension failed to advise officials of the American Embassy and he was unable to acquire the requisite travel document. Admitting that he is made of sterner stuff, Walcott persevered and is assured of the success of this new venture. “It’s determination of this nature that makes the difference between local and international accomplishments,” he proclaimed.

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