Akela Jones, the much-loved track and field athlete, has delivered a raw and emotional account of the personal battles she continues to face while pursuing international success.
She revealed that despite qualifying for her first Commonwealth Games later this year she is struggling with financial hardship, exhaustion and uncertainty.
In a heartfelt social media post shared on Saturday, Jones peeled back the curtain on the realities that many elite athletes face away from the spotlight, describing a life marked by resilience but also by repeated periods of hardship.
“How does one muster the energy to train when they are hungry and mentally exhausted?” she asked. “I am tired. And not the kind of tired(ness) that sleep can fix,” Jones wrote on Facebook. “The lows, though – the countless times I’ve been homeless, worried about rent, injured, hungry, depressed and unmotivated . . .”.
NATION SPORT made attempts to contact Jones, however she declined further comment and advised to refer to the post. “For the past eight months, it’s been a constant cycle of stress, pain, overdue bills and worrying about my phone service being disconnected. The truth is, I’m hungry. I’m thirsty. I’m tired”, she wrote.
Financial pressure
Jones was the darling of the nation a decade ago when she broke barriers and competed well in the heptathlon at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She reflected on a sporting journey that has spanned more than two decades. Widely regarded as one of Barbados’ most versatile and successful athletes, Jones has experienced success, including podium finishes at the CARIFTA and CAC Games, collegiate championships in the United States, Olympic participation and establishing national records.
Now 31, she restarted her athletic career a year ago and has since qualified for her first Commonwealth Games which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland next month. Barbados will also be sending a strong delegation to the Central America and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in July.
However, Jones admitted that the achievement has been overshadowed by months of financial pressure and physical strain. Despite her struggles, Jones reserved special praise for the network of supporters who have helped keep her dream alive. She expressed gratitude to the individuals and organisations that have donated money, provided meals, transportation, equipment, therapy and emotional support throughout her journey.
“These individuals and organisations are the true vertebrae behind it all. They are the part of my spine that keeps me standing tall. I want to show these individuals that their support has led to something meaningful. My aim is to keep showing up and prove that their investment changed a life”.
She added: “As I sit on this last day of May, I pray new fruit and change is on the way. My mind remains rooted in hope. Change is what I anticipate, and abundance to share is what motivates me”.
Jones’ outreach comes a week after Tristan Evelyn, another Olympian, spoke publicly about the enormous challenges she faced in pursuit of her dream. The 28-year-old decided to participate in the Enhanced Games, which allowed athletes to participate with the use of performance enhancing drugs.
She then publicly said her interest was due to the attractive prize money of US$250 000 which she won in the women’s 100 metres. She also said the event offered exposure to modern amenities and state-of-the-art training techniques and opportunities which she otherwise would not have been able to afford or access.
(PS)
