ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 9, 2026 - Double Olympic champion Pauline Davis has issued a passionate call for Caribbean athletics federations to take responsibility for paying coaches, warning that many talented young athletes, particularly from inner-city communities, are being left behind due to financial constraints.
Speaking during the 53rd CARIFTA
Games at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium, the former member of the Bahamas’
famed “Golden Girls” relay team stressed that the current system
disproportionately favours families who can afford private coaching.
“I do believe that the coaches
should be paid,” Davis said emphatically. “We have to find a way to make sure
that coaches are compensated to train these kids. Too many inner-city athletes
with talent are being left behind because their parents simply cannot afford
the fees.”
Drawing on her own experiences in
the Bahamas, Davis highlighted the economic realities facing many families,
noting that even basic coaching opportunities can be out of reach for those
struggling with the rising cost of living.
“A parent with three children
might only be able to support one fully, maybe partially support another, and
the third gets very little opportunity,” she explained. “That means gifted
athletes are missing out not because of lack of talent, but because of lack of
resources.”
Davis, a world junior record
holder and the first Caribbean woman to win Olympic sprint gold, said the
responsibility must now shift to national federations to ensure equitable
access to coaching and development.
“Federations need to take on that
task. It cannot just be for kids of means. We must make sure that every
talented athlete, especially those from inner-city communities, has access to
proper coaching,” she said.
Reflecting on her own journey
from Bain Town in the Bahamas to Olympic glory, Davis said her story
underscores what is possible when opportunity meets talent.
“Nothing much was expected to
come out of Bain Town, but I became a world junior champion and Olympic
champion. There are many more like me across the Caribbean; we just have to
give them a chance.”
Davis also reflected on the
significance of the CARIFTA Games in shaping her career, recalling her early
experiences at the championships in the 1980s.
“My first CARIFTA was in 1982 in
Jamaica, and I remember being determined to come back stronger. The following
year, I won multiple events, and that’s when I was dubbed the ‘Golden Girl.’
CARIFTA has always been a platform for greatness.”
While praising the continued
growth of regional athletics, she expressed concern that the sport is becoming
increasingly elitist, calling for a collective effort to refocus on grassroots
development.
“We need to step back, come
together, and figure out how we are going to support these young people, especially
those who need it most,” she said.
“We have the talent across the
region,” she said. “Now we must be intentional about nurturing it for all, not
just a few.”
Davis also commended Grenada for
hosting the championships, describing her experience on the island as both
enjoyable and inspiring.
“I’m enjoying the people, the
excitement, the food. Grenada is a beautiful country with tremendous talent,”
she said, adding that her connection with Olympic champion Kirani James, a
fellow alumnus of the University of Alabama, made the visit even more special.
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