Alia Atkinson, the fourth-place finisher in the Olympic final of the 100 breast, won that event today with a 1:08.64 representing South Florida Aquatics. The Jamaican has been faster this season with a 1:08.51 win at the Arena Grand Prix in Orlando. Two other Olympians were also in the top three: Sweden’s Rebecca Ejdervik, representing Hurricane, was second with a 1:09.95, and Canadian Martha McCabe was third with a 1:10.03.
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As the Government makes the final steps towards fulfilling a promise made to Jamaican swimming star Alia Atkinson, the 24-year-old has moved to defend the decision made to fund her $20-million 2016 Olympics training programme. Following a fourth-place, national record-smashing performance in the 100m breaststroke at last year’s Olympic Games in London, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller assured that the Government would help to fund Atkinson’s training expenses all the way through to the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. However, with the sport being dominated on many fronts by much younger swimmers, some have questioned the prudence of Simpson Miller’s pledge, calling instead for greater focus and support towards the island’s youth talent through the implementation of proper programmes and structure. Prime minister surprised Atkinson, who had brief discussions with Simpson Miller and minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for sport, Natalie Neita-Headley after the recent RJR Sports Foundation National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards, told The Gleaner that Simpson Miller expressed surprise that things weren’t already in place for the funding. “She (Simpson Miller) was surprised that she hadn’t heard anything from her staff, so she said she […]
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