media_artricles :: 2017

Humble Richards driven to succeed

ACHIEVING one's goal is all good but a positive attitude is what tends to be remembered. Despite his outstanding achievements, Jereem Richards – gold medallist with the men's 4x400-metre relay team and bronze medallist in the men's 200m at the IAAF World Championships in London, England, maintained a humble attitude on his return to Trinidad.

The VIP Lounge at the Piarco International Airport included members of the media, local athletics personnel, Government officials and a few of the athlete's close friends and family members. 

However, from interacting with the athlete, one cannot help but realise that Richards is only at the start of his path to greatness. 

Richards, who is only 23 years of age, studies at the University of Alabama in the United States, and the last of three children who were raised at New Village, Point Fortin by their mother Yvette Wilson. 

During his speech, which also showcased his charismatic qualities, Richards emotionally highlighted the hardships that he and his family had to face leading up to the Championships. 

"All year this year I was thinking about my mother because I know it's hard. Me being in college and having my good apartment there and just knowing sometimes the struggles my mom had to go through and the struggles she went through for me to go to practice when I was in Trinidad, doing everything for me and, this year, even before I left, I told my mother that I wanted to dedicate this year to her. And I am just thankful to God that I can actually do that." The sprinter also stated that his mother is his number one supporter. 

"She even watches all of my races a million times and sometimes my sister gets mad because she always watches the races over and over again." Hearing Richards speak about his family, especially his mother, gives one a sense of where his positive and humble personality originated. He is heavily supported by those closest to him and this has played a major role in his current success as an athlete. 

He also expressed the immense love he has for his family saying he cried after reading news articles about his mother watching him run on television. 

"The undying support I have from them is unreal," said Richards. 

"Reading the articles I saw my mom said 'run baby run!' and just picturing my mom saying that brought tears to my eyes because I know how emotional she could get. She calls me her baby and I am a baby because I am a last child. So I just want to say thank you to her and my family for all their support." Wilson also expressed how proud she was about her son's achievements at the Championships. 

She said, "I am really, really proud of him and we just want to enjoy this moment with him and spend as much time as we can with him while he is here." 

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