In an exclusive interview with Sportsmax.TV, MVP Track Club's iconic coach, Stephen Francis, has firmly closed the door on the possibility of five-time Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah returning to the club.
Thompson-Herah's career has faced a downward spiral since her departure in October 2021, and despite public opinion suggesting a reunion could revive her floundering fortunes, Francis emphatically stated that she would not be welcomed back. To be clear, despite her current struggles, Thompson-Herah has never publicly expressed any interest in returning to MVP.
Thompson-Herah's extraordinary accomplishments at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where she secured the sprint double with record-breaking performances, solidified her status as one of the greatest sprinters in history. However, her decision to leave MVP Track Club shortly after her Olympic triumphs left many questioning her motives and the impact it would have on her career.
Explaining her departure back then, Thompson-Herah highlighted her desire for personal growth and the need to take charge of her own destiny. She expressed gratitude for the support she received in her earlier years but emphasized the importance of making choices that aligned with her best interests. "What I want for myself, to better myself, was not provided. So, I have to find ways to get it done," she said, reflecting on her decision to move on.
Coach Stephen Francis, a renowned figure in the track and field world, responded to inquiries from Sportsmax.TV about Thompson-Herah's potential return to MVP Track Club. His answer left no room for ambiguity. "No. The way she left and the comments that she made and the fact that she has yet to accredit any member of the MVP staff who paid her a lot of attention and went through a lot of sacrifice to get her healthy enough to run and to do what she did in 2021," Francis stated, clearly outlining his reasons for refusing her return.
Francis continued, expressing his disappointment that Thompson-Herah failed to acknowledge the efforts of the MVP staff, instead attributing her success solely to her husband and other factors. "She didn't say anything about that from MVP. No, that never sits well with us. Even if she had said, ‘Thanks, to MVP. You know, I'm really grateful, we would have been fine. But right now I would take back any of my former athletes but not her, No," he emphasized.
The public had hoped that a reunion between Thompson-Herah and MVP Track Club would reignite the spark that had propelled her to Olympic glory. However, Francis's unwavering stance has shattered those hopes. With Thompson-Herah's career floundering in recent years, the absence of her former coach's guidance and support poses significant challenges for her future endeavors, especially in light of her recent signing with Puma.
Thompson-Herah now faces an uphill battle as she seeks to reclaim her position at the top of the sprinting world. Without the familiar structure of MVP Track Club and the guidance of Coach Francis, she will need to dig deep to find the motivation and resources necessary to revive her career.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Dominican Republic’s Luguelin Santos stripped of world junior title for age-manipulation violations
Dominican sprinter Luguelin Santos has been stripped of his World Junior Championships gold medal from 2012 and handed a three-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for age-manipulation violations. The AIU revealed this decision on Friday, uncovering Santos's admission to competing with a falsified date of birth during the 2012 World Junior Championships in Barcelona.
Luguelin Santos, now 31 years old, had clinched the 400-metre gold at the 2012 World Junior Championships when he was just 18. However, the AIU's investigation exposed that Santos had utilized a passport with a manipulated birthdate, claiming to be born on November 12, 1993, when, in reality, his birthdate is November 12, 1992. Consequently, Santos was ineligible to participate in the 2012 World Juniors, as per the competition rules requiring junior athletes to be either 18 or 19 years old on December 31 of the competition year.
The AIU, in a statement, clarified the gravity of the violation, stating, "Thus, he was ineligible to participate in the World Juniors 2012." The age-manipulation incident tarnished Santos's victory at the championship, leading to the unprecedented decision to strip him of the gold medal.
Santos, a two-time Youth Olympic champion, had furthered his career by claiming a silver medal in the 400m event at the 2012 London Olympics. However, Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU, emphasized that unlike doping violations, age-manipulation sanctions do not warrant the annulment of Olympic results. Clothier explained, "There is no basis on which to annul his Olympic result as that was not an age-group event and no violation was committed there."
Woman International Master Deborah Richards-Porter humbled to have WIM Lady's Tournament played in her honour in Kingston this weekend
In a celebration of female prowess on the chessboard, the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston is set to host the WIM Deborah Richards-Porter Lady's Chess Tournament on December 2 and 3, 2023. This all-woman chess event, now in its 10th year, pays tribute to the legendary Deborah Richards Porter, a 10-time national champion and trailblazer in the world of chess.
Richards-Porter said she is humbled that the event is being held in her honour.
“So coming from a time when I was playing and there were hardly any females playing, to having a situation now where there are a lot more girls, it's very heartwarming to see Jamaica get to this point whereby we have this many females playing,” she told Sportsmax.TV.
“And so to have worked tirelessly over the years to accomplish everything that's I’ve accomplished with the help of so many people to now have a tournament in my name it's a very humbling experience.”
She expressed the aspiration that the tournament will help bring even more female players to the game.
“I do hope that this sort of event will help empower females, not just those who are playing but also the parents, the moms, the dads, aunties of girls who want to go into sports or want to go into activities that are traditionally male oriented, to help to push and boost their daughters and to help to foster an idea or thinking their daughters, their nieces to know you are not limited because you're a female.
“You can also do it. Whatever you want to achieve, you can achieve it because you don't put any limits on yourself. And so that's what I want this tournament to symbolize more than anything else.”
Ian Wilkinson, Chairman of the Jamaica Chess Federation’s Women's Chess Committee, shed light on the significance of naming the tournament after Richards Porter. He emphasized the significance of honouring Richards Porters, stating, “She is a living legend, a real deal, who has achieved milestones that no other female player in the English-speaking Caribbean has accomplished. The tournament is a fitting tribute to recognize her outstanding contributions to the world of chess.”
Richards Porter left an indelible mark on the chess world. Her remarkable career includes winning 10 consecutive Jamaica Women's Championships, setting a record that remains unmatched. Debunking stereotypes and breaking barriers, she emerged as the first female in the English-speaking Caribbean to attain the Woman International Master (WIM) title in chess.
Wilkinson further delved into her achievements, stating, “In 2014, she won the woman sub-zonals event in Barbados. Her achievements include multiple Olympia representations and a Woman FIDE Master title. She has truly earned the status of a living legend, making her a real deal in the world of chess.”
With over 50 players already registered, the tournament anticipates additional registrations before the fierce competition commences.
Wilkinson expressed his enthusiasm for women's chess, stating, “I find the women's games more exciting than the men games. You've got 10 women's games; chances are you’re going to have the eight victories and two draws. The women's game is more exciting; there is this traditional bias against it. So, I took it upon myself to bring more attention to women's chess both locally and internationally.”
The WIM Deborah Richards-Porter Lady's Tournament Tournament showcases various categories catering to a diverse range of players, including open sections for adult females, amateur players in different age groups, primary school, and prep school sections. The tournament features a rapid event on Saturday and an international online blitz event on Sunday, drawing interest from chess enthusiasts worldwide.
Explaining the time controls for the rapid event, Wilkinson detailed, “Each player will have 15 minutes to finish the game and five increments of five seconds per move, making it hard to lose on time and contributing to better chess. The entry fee, inclusive of lunch, is 3500 Jamaican dollars, with the Federation subsidizing the cost.”
Highlighting the international dimension of the tournament, Wilkinson shared, “The blitz event on Sunday has garnered interest from nearly 20 different countries, including Barbados, Grenada, the Cayman Islands, Saint Lucia, and even countries as far away as Africa and Europe.”
The blitz segment features games with a duration of five minutes and three-second increments per move.
The sponsors for the event include lead sponsor General Accident Insurance Company, the Magnificent Chess Foundation, the Jamaica Olympic Association, the Sports Development Foundation, and support from the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport is also backing the tournament, with hopes of having Minister Olivia Grange present at the opening ceremony.
World champs bronze medallist Sada Williams receives prestigious national honour from Barbados
For her trailblazing exploits in track and field Sada Williams was on Thursday recognized by her home country of Barbados at their Independence Day National Honours ceremony.
Williams, who turns 26 on Friday, is a back-to-back World Championship 400m bronze medallist and is the first Barbadian women to win a medal at a global championship. She won a bronze medal in the 400m at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon and repeated the feat at the 2023 Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August. In so doing she became the first Barbadian athlete to win a global medal at consecutive championships.
She also won the 400m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England and took home a silver medal at the NACAC Championships that same year.
For that and more, she was awarded The Gold Trident of Excellence Award in recognition of her outstanding achievements and dedicated service to her country. It was an honour to be appreciated, she said.
“I feel very honoured to be recognized this year and last year and I am hoping to continue to do great things reach further,” said Williams who was attending the Independence Day Parade for the very first time.
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