By Tricia Ragbir

Trinidad Guardian

November 3, 1997

Page 13

In an era where youths are faced with the temptation of drugs and crime one such individual has demonstrated his determination to excel above this level.

Jason Gooding, Trinidad and Tobago's junior and senior champion triathlete, is easily an outstanding example of what can be achieved through sheer determination and hard work.

His involvement in sports at a national and international level has brought both fame and glory. But, as the teenager revealed, his rise to sporting stardom took a lot of motivation as well as strong family support.

Coming from a family of six, Gooding is grateful for the supportive family ties during his four years in the demanding sport.

His father, newspaper journalist, Ian Gooding, has been an inspiration to his son's sporting career.

The senior Gooding said that he encouraged his son to get in sports since he believed that this was a positive way the youth should spend his time.

At an early age Jason was introduced to such sports as taekwando, cricket, football, and karate.

In fact, the former Woodbrook Secondary School student often cycled to school much to the disapproval of his mother who considered this dangerous.

But, according to the senior Gooding, this helped his son prepare for the demands of sport which he would face later and surmount.

His experimentation with different sports began during his years in secondary school when he joined the athletics club, Memphis.

His father placed an emphasis on sports so that Jason could be occupied.

"When I saw boys in the area liming, I decided that Jason would spend his time more productively."

When the image of youth conjures an image of mindless violence, crime and drug abuse, the name Jason Gooding stands out as a beacon of hope shining brightly for all his peers to see and hopefully emulate.

His rise to sporting fame was far from easy as his experiment with various sports led him to the triathlon four years ago.

His first attempt at the challenge involving three disciplines - swimming, running and cycling was quite impressive.

Only 14 years of age at the time, he finished twelfth overall but sent a signal to the veterans that he would soon be a major threat to their dominance.

The youngster pointed out that in order to reach his lofty goals his training especially had to be consistent.

So while his fellow teenagers were preparing for the next lime at the nightclubs, he made certain sacrifices.

He needed eight to ten hours of sleep daily together with a balanced, healthy diet. Six days of rigorous training would usually be the norm for the five feet nine-inch Gooding.

He is fortunate to have the support of his father who has since assumed the role of trainer and coach.

The fact that his father plays such an integral part in his development does not by any means suggest that his schedule is any easier.

According to the younger Gooding, his regimen can be difficult at times. Discipline is the cornerstone of his progress and key to his success to date.

His schedule also includes swimming every day at the Flying Fish Swim Club, as well as running and cycling, which tax his dedication and commitment to achieving the pinnacle of the sport.

As he progressed in the field he soon qualified to compete in the international arena.

But while he trained religiously each day to reach peak condition, the youngster had to clear another hurdle - lack of sponsorship.

He described as disappointing the fact that he could not attend a meet. But his desire to succeed is such that the setbacks have made him stronger and he has now resolved to overcome the obstacles.

His father has played a significant role in obtaining financial assistance, a task that has proven to be quite daunting.

Yet, while the young Gooding's experience is similar to quite a number of young athletes, the youngster who seems to be the only young, successful triathlete at the moment, needs the financial support to excel and promote the discipline which has recently been given Olympic status.

According to Gooding Senior, the young man can in fact get triathlon events on the move in Trinidad and Tobago.

He believes that the government and other corporate sponsors should come to the rescue of these young athletes.

In the year 2000, the triathlon will be featured in Sydney, Australia at the Olympic Games.

In view of this and the international success of young Gooding and his promise and his ability to stand out as a role model, he should get the maximum support from all quarters.

It is no secret that youths as young as twelve years come before the court. Ramesh Deosaran, director of the Centre for Criminology and Criminal Justice, recently said that the rate of violence is increasing especially among the youths.

Dennis Francis, the manager at the St Michael's Home for Boys, believes that individuals like Gooding can serve as a good role model for our youths.

In fact, he would like to see the sportsmen of our nation taking the time to interact with the delinquent youths who, in particular, suffer from low self-esteem and lack of motivation.

While statistics point to the youth as the main culprits, the time has come to embrace a potential solution.

Ronald Marshall, senior lecturer in sociology at The University of the West Indies, believes that local athletes should be given all support, including finance, for their programmes leading up to international contests.

He states that the government and local corporate citizens should come forward to give assistance to these young athletes.

"They must see this type of investment in economic terms," he said.

"It should be considered an economic investment in which the young athletes will have the opportunity to show case their talent."

He pointed out that the youths gravitate towards sport. In fact, he believes that the youth today worship sport.

Thus, we can use the local sporting heroes like Jason Gooding as a vehicle to attract attention to the positive side.

According to Marshall, sports provide a conduit for excess energy. In this regard, youths can use a sport of their choice to channel their energy in a positive rather than a negative manner.

Young athletes like Gooding can make a difference in the lives of many of this country's young people.

By maintaining a positive self-image he can help influence the straying youths of the nation.

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