may.25.2009
CANDICE Scott, undoubtedly one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most admired athletes has been forced to make a decision that has left her close to tears. Having made her name in the Hammer Throw only on international grounds, Scott’s only chance to showcase her talent in front of her family, friends and supporters at the first ever Caribbean Games July 12-19, has been dashed by lingering injuries to both her right and left knees.
“You would not know how frustrating it is for me right now, but it is a decision that has been postponed for far too long and it’s doing nothing for me” she told the Caribbean Games.
It is even more unfortunate that her decision comes at a time when government officials have agreed to make arrangements for the Hammer Throw to be possible on local soil - something never before seen. At the popular Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo or either of the four Stadia that were constructed particularly as a requirement for Trinidad and Tobago to host the FIFA Under-17 World Cup back in 2001, there were no facilities for the Hammer Throw to take place. This will now be possible for the first time at the Hasely Crawford Stadium for the inaugural Caribbean Games and future field events that will be held there.
Scott has been a leading athlete in T&T’s field events, as she won the hammer throw at the Senior Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games event in Cuba last year and shattered the record with a throw of 70.21 metres. She had earned herself the ninth best position in the world after finishing in that position at the Athens Greece Olympic Games in 2004 and received a similar rating (ninth) at the World Championship Games a year later (2005) in Finland.
The enthusiastic Scott also missed out on eclipsing the record for the event at the Finnish World Championship last year. But for all her grand achievements that have been continuing to fly the red, white and black of Trinidad &Tobago so proudly, very little is known about the pain that the attractive smiling Scott has had to endure. She feels that because of her flat feet and slightly touching knees, that the swinging movement attributed to the hammer throw, has erupted cartilage and tendon and it is continuing to cause Scott severe discomfort.
As a result Scott, though still in the prime of her career, has already undergone three surgeries to her right knee and two to her left. She has now been advised that another operation will increase the risk of arthritis in her later years.
“It is very painful for me right now and it will be even worse when I see my colleagues participating at the Caribbean Games. I really really wanted to compete at the regional competition because I expect so much from it.”
In the Hammer Throw she expects regional powerhouse Cuba and Puerto Rico to step forward as the big teams. “I have trained with a number of athletes from Cuba and Puerto Rico so I would have loved to be involved in the challenge.” It was her struggle with her knee injuries that led to her early exit from the 2008 Olympic Games in BeijingChina. Preparation for this Olympic Games was also stopped prematurely while training abroad. In Cuba in 2006 Scott’s work-out had to grind to a halt prematurely after experiencing severe discomfort in the knees and then last year in Finland where practice was also cut-short.
She admits to setting aside her personal betterment to compete under severe strain for T&T at major competitions. “I think enough is enough. I have to deal with this problem for once and for all, to attempt to strengthen my knees.”
Scott has since been on a rehabilitation programme since January and expects to be fully fit by December this year. She makes regular trips to the University of the West Indies Campus recreation ground to do light workout daily. Strangely, Scott’s involvement in sport began as a Shot Putter before she made the change many years ago.
Scott is embracing the opportunity of having the Hammer Throw here on local soil and wants to do more than show her talent in the sport. “I want to stay here in Trinidad and Tobago and train because I want to pave the way for the younger athletes to get involved in the Hammer Throw. I may even consider getting involved in coaching the sport some day” Scott said.
Apart from the Hammer Throw the Caribbean Games will also feature action in Boxing, Netball, Tennis, Volleyball (Beach and Court) and Track and Field.
“You would not know how frustrating it is for me right now, but it is a decision that has been postponed for far too long and it’s doing nothing for me” she told the Caribbean Games.
It is even more unfortunate that her decision comes at a time when government officials have agreed to make arrangements for the Hammer Throw to be possible on local soil - something never before seen. At the popular Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo or either of the four Stadia that were constructed particularly as a requirement for Trinidad and Tobago to host the FIFA Under-17 World Cup back in 2001, there were no facilities for the Hammer Throw to take place. This will now be possible for the first time at the Hasely Crawford Stadium for the inaugural Caribbean Games and future field events that will be held there.
Scott has been a leading athlete in T&T’s field events, as she won the hammer throw at the Senior Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games event in Cuba last year and shattered the record with a throw of 70.21 metres. She had earned herself the ninth best position in the world after finishing in that position at the Athens Greece Olympic Games in 2004 and received a similar rating (ninth) at the World Championship Games a year later (2005) in Finland.
The enthusiastic Scott also missed out on eclipsing the record for the event at the Finnish World Championship last year. But for all her grand achievements that have been continuing to fly the red, white and black of Trinidad &Tobago so proudly, very little is known about the pain that the attractive smiling Scott has had to endure. She feels that because of her flat feet and slightly touching knees, that the swinging movement attributed to the hammer throw, has erupted cartilage and tendon and it is continuing to cause Scott severe discomfort.As a result Scott, though still in the prime of her career, has already undergone three surgeries to her right knee and two to her left. She has now been advised that another operation will increase the risk of arthritis in her later years.
“It is very painful for me right now and it will be even worse when I see my colleagues participating at the Caribbean Games. I really really wanted to compete at the regional competition because I expect so much from it.”
In the Hammer Throw she expects regional powerhouse Cuba and Puerto Rico to step forward as the big teams. “I have trained with a number of athletes from Cuba and Puerto Rico so I would have loved to be involved in the challenge.” It was her struggle with her knee injuries that led to her early exit from the 2008 Olympic Games in BeijingChina. Preparation for this Olympic Games was also stopped prematurely while training abroad. In Cuba in 2006 Scott’s work-out had to grind to a halt prematurely after experiencing severe discomfort in the knees and then last year in Finland where practice was also cut-short.
She admits to setting aside her personal betterment to compete under severe strain for T&T at major competitions. “I think enough is enough. I have to deal with this problem for once and for all, to attempt to strengthen my knees.”
Scott has since been on a rehabilitation programme since January and expects to be fully fit by December this year. She makes regular trips to the University of the West Indies Campus recreation ground to do light workout daily. Strangely, Scott’s involvement in sport began as a Shot Putter before she made the change many years ago.
Scott is embracing the opportunity of having the Hammer Throw here on local soil and wants to do more than show her talent in the sport. “I want to stay here in Trinidad and Tobago and train because I want to pave the way for the younger athletes to get involved in the Hammer Throw. I may even consider getting involved in coaching the sport some day” Scott said.
Apart from the Hammer Throw the Caribbean Games will also feature action in Boxing, Netball, Tennis, Volleyball (Beach and Court) and Track and Field.