'A big motivation' - Skeen draws inspiration from Youth Olympic title

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

JAMAICA'S newest sprint sensation, Odean Skeen, says his historic gold medal achievements at the inaugural World Youth Olympic Games in Singapore will serve as an inspiration for greater successes in the future.

The 16-year-old garnered two gold medals at the meet - the 100 metres title in a personal best 10.42 seconds; and as a member of the victorious Americas medley relay team, on which he ran the second leg (200m).

Along with other members of the Jamaican delegation, he flew into Kingston's Norman Manley Inter-national Airport close to 4 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Shortly afterwards, he got a big surprise from his parents as he was taken straight to Cherry Gardens to celebrate his 16th birthday, which had passed only hours earlier.

"I got a really big surprise as I thought I was going to a function put on by the athletic association, but when I reached there and saw most of my teammates from Wolmer's Boys it made me feel like crying," said Skeen.

Global titles

He further noted his happiness to join the ranks of Dexter Lee (World Junior and World Youth - 100m) and Usain Bolt (World Junior - 200m), who have won junior global titles.

"For me, it feels great and it is an honour to be in such company and this will surely be a big motivation for me in the future," he told The Gleaner in an interview.

Skeen, who has been unbeaten all season in both the 100 and 200 metres, was very excited about his performances.

"I am very pleased with my performances and it was a great feeling standing on the podium collecting my medals ... it was a great experience for me," said Skeen.

"First, I would like to thank God, my prep school coaches - Richard Johnson and Corey Bennett; my present coaches - Christopher Harley and David Riley; along with my family, who have all given me great support so far," he continued.

"When I arrived in Singapore the pressure on me was very big as there was a big hype about myself and the athlete from Great Britain (David Bolarinwa), as we were the two top athletes in the 100 metres.

"I was a bit nervous at first because I heard that he had done 10.39 coming into the meet, but after the preliminary round I was very confident that he could not have beaten me.

"I was confident because I got a bad start and did 10.63 seconds and I was very easy and when I looked at him he was running near his best as he was pumping his arms real fast and he only did 10.62 seconds," observed Skeen.

"I told my mother in a telephone call that I was going to win the race and she was not to worry, as we spoke nearly every day while I was in Singapore as she was always motivating me."

The young Wolmerian said from the start of the 100 metres final he knew he had it won.

"My start was much better in the final and from there on I knew I had the race won. Although the Japanese guy was leading I did not panic because I knew that my good top-end speed would have taken me in front.

"When I realised that I had won the race and gave the country its first medal of the meet I was overcome with happiness and I shed tears of joy and even some of my teammates were crying because they were happy for me," said Skeen.

Important role

He stated that the presence of his high school coach at the meet played an important role in him winning the gold medal.

"The presence of coach Riley being there helped me a lot because sometimes in training I would get lazy, but with him being there he was able to push me."

Asked about running so fast at the end of a very long season, Skeen replied: "I was not surprised by my fast time so late in the season as my pre-season preparation was very good and that prepared me well to run fast towards the end of the season."

He is now looking forward to the upcoming season, where he will compete in Class One at Boys and Girls' Championships.

"I know that I will be a target person now and although I will be competing in Class One for the first time, I have no fear for the big boys as I have beaten them in the past and I know I can continue doing so and running fast times", concluded Skeen, who also has his eyes set on the World Youth 100 metres title in France next year.