#BudaQuest | Ricketts livid over absence of national jumps coach
Published:Friday | August 18, 2023 | 7:27 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
BUDAPEST, Hungary:
Jumps coach Kerry Lee Ricketts has slammed Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) president, Garth Gayle, regarding the absence of a national jumps coach at the World Athletics Championships.
According to Ricketts, coach and husband of national champion and World Championships silver medallist, Shanieka Ricketts, he indicated his availability to Gayle after the National Championships earlier this year and believes there is a personal issue at play.
"I emailed Garth Gayle, the president, making it known that I was available should I be selected. He told me that he should have passed on that information. After that a team was made. There was no jumps coach, which seemed ridiculous to me," Ricketts said.
"I was told by two members of the selection committee that the buck stopped with president Garth Gayle, who, I think, has a personal vendetta against me," Ricketts chided.
Ricketts said he believes the personal issue goes as far back as 2016, when he questioned the absence of a national jumps coach to the Olympic Games.
"In 2016 while we were in Brazil. I made a statement, ‘why does Jamaica keep bringing sprint coaches, hurdles and throws coaches at the senior level but not jumps, while at the junior level, there is sometimes even two jumps coaches? From there I think he [Gayle] has had it in for me."
"I think the JAAA is like a Mafia. If you speak about anything that they do, then obviously they will put you on a blacklist."
Gayle has dismissed the allegations of a personal issue, saying there shouldn't be a debate on the matter with athletes having the option to bring personal coaches. Ricketts disagrees.
"There should be a debate and it is important. When you look at the Jamaican jumps team right now, we can garner at least four medals. So why is it that he is saying that personal coaches are here and we are ok with that? Why is it that the jumps are always suffering? Is it a coincidence or is it that the main name who will be selected is Kerry Lee Ricketts? So rather than choosing Kerry Lee Ricketts, you rather not choose a jumps coach?
"My accommodation costs over US$2700, my accreditation costs €300, my airfare costs US$3000. Do you think I would rather pay all that money in this day and age to come here if I was allowed to come here? No.
"I think he is very vindictive and I can’t see the JAAAs going forward with this man as president."
World Championship team press officer Dennis Gordon said he would instruct the president not to respond to Ricketts’ criticism.
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