GREGGMAR SWIFT won gold in the men’s 110 metre hurdles at the World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea earlier this morning.
Going into the final with the fastest qualifying time, the 24-year-old shrugged off nerves and persistent rain to cross the line in 13.43 seconds with a legal wind (+0.7).
The silver medal went to Russia’s Konstantin Shabanov in 13.57 seconds and Japan’s Genta Masuno took the bronze in 13.69 seconds.
“I sat down in the call room and talked to myself. I said ‘I have been here before and nerves have run this race for me before and I didn’t like the outcome’,” he told NATION Online in an interview, making reference to his sixth place finish at last year’s Commonwealth Games.
“It doesn’t make sense to be nervous because it is just another race, just a bigger name.”
After a prayer, Swift said all of the nerves went away on the start line and he did what he had to do.
With this victory, he will now move on to the Pan American Games in Toronto.
Swift and Fallon Forde were Barbados’ two representatives at the World University Games. It was made possible through the Tertiary Institution Sports Association of Barbados (TISAB), which is affiliated to FISU, the International University Sports Federation.
Forde competed in the 100 and 200 metres. He reached the second round of the 200m, where he picked up an injury.
They were accompanied by TISAB president Dr June Caddle as coach/manager. (SAT)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=3jJyjONCAC8