Are we losing you?

Mom drowning in high cost of son's swimming ventures

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica is in danger of losing one of its top young swimmers, Kevaughn Campbell, as his mother is becoming increasingly frustrated with having to fund most of his ventures to represent the country.

Thirteen-year-old Campbell has represented Jamaica with distinction. At last year's CARIFTA Games, which was held here he competed in the 50 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres breaststroke, capturing gold in all three events, as well as helping the medley relay teams to two bronze medals.

Later in the year the Wolmer's Boys student represented the country at the Caribbean International Swimming Championship (CISC) in Havana, Cuba, where he extended his golden run by taking top spot in his three pet events - the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke. Two of his victories came in new, meet record times, while all three were national age group records.

Campbell is slated to travel with Jamaica's team on April 21 for the CARIFTA Games to be held in Barbados, but this is in doubt as his mother, Keishana Campbell, is unable to come up with the $108,866 required to fund the venture. This has led to her entertaining the thought of allowing him to represent a country that is able to fund his participation at meets.

frustrated Mom

"I am having difficulty now and he is representing the country and I reach the point where I am so frustrated. The way I feel if another country wants him to represent them I will do it," Keishana Campbell stated. "When he comes back and his name and picture is in the paper I don't see my name, I see Kevaughn Campbell of Jamaica and so I shouldn't be having this problem to get him there.

So if another country wants him ... and I don't have the burden of all of this each time he reaches the level to represent the country, I will do it," she reiterated.

First vice-president of the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ), Martin Lyn, sought to explain why the association is unable to assist Campbell at this time.

"CARIFTA is seen as a development meet and it is historic that parents fund the CARIFTA meets," Lyn pointed out. "Once you start to move up the ladder and you are swimming at a higher level the local swimming association, the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) and the Jamaica Olympic Association start to help," he added.

Campbell's participation at his first CARIFTA Games was not this costly, however, as it was held locally; hence his mother was able to secure funding for him to participate there as well as travel to the CISC.

sought funding

"For the CISC in Cuba, and I had to do it (seek funding) myself, I went and I got a couple letters from the swimming association for the venture and I took them to some corporate businesses and I got responses from three or four of them. That was how I was able to help us to go to Cuba," Campbell further explained.

She has once again sought the assistance of corporate Jamaica, but only Keith Duncan of Jamaica Money Market Brokers, has responded to the call and has made $25,000 available to the swimming association to help offset Kevaughn's expenses. This has lead to Kevaughn missing out on the first ticketing exercise for the team yesterday.

"Normally, he does well when I am at a swim meet with him, but I said to him that it doesn't look like I am going to be able to come, as I am even having difficulty in sending him," Keishana Campbell said. "I would like to see if corporate Jamaica can help, as the team is leaving the island on April 21 and currently he only has a small portion out of that budget," she added.