NEW YORK, February 28, 2026 - Olympic champion Sir Kirani James says his decision to become involved with the Grenada Olympians Association (GOA) was driven by a strong belief in the importance of athletes supporting the next generation.
Speaking on the TalkSports programme about his involvement with the organisation, Sir Kirani described the initiative as a necessary support system for athletes, particularly within Grenada’s sporting environment.
“When the idea came up, I thought it was a fantastic thing,” Sir Kirani explained. “As athletes, you need that kind of support group, especially at home in Grenada. The question was — outside of the traditional administrations — what more can we do to help athletes reach their full potential?”
The Olympic gold medallist noted that one of the strengths of the GOA lies in the collective experience of its members, many of whom have competed at the highest international level and now bring valuable expertise to athlete development.
According to Sir Kirani, the association aims to ensure that emerging athletes benefit from guidance, mentorship, and access to resources that were often difficult to navigate during earlier generations of Grenadian athletes.
“The group has a really good blend of talents, ideas, and experiences,” he said. “We want to help athletes coming up so that some of the things we went through, they may not have to go through. If they need support or direction, we can help them find the avenues to achieve their goals.”
Sir Kirani also used the opportunity to deliver a strong message to young Grenadian athletes across all sporting disciplines, including athletics, boxing, taekwondo, and other Olympic sports, who aspire to compete on the world stage.
“It is a sacrifice,” he emphasised. “If you want to reach that level and be the best you can be, you have to be diligent, focused, and clear about what you want.”
He encouraged athletes to seek guidance and take advantage of available support systems, noting that success at the Olympic level comes down to discipline, commitment, and mindset rather than shortcuts.
“There’s no big secret to it,” he added. “It’s about how much work you put in, how focused you are, and where your mindset is. If that’s your goal, you have to take it seriously.”
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