The year was 1996.
U.S. soil was home to the 26th Olympiad and the historical southern city of Atlanta hosted the world in epic southern style. A tiny island nation in the western hemisphere, which had attained independence from Great Britain only thirteen years earlier, was also on the world stage. There in Atlanta, making his Olympic debut was a burgeoning athlete from the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis who would stand as a symbol of hope for that nation’s track and field program.
His name was Kim Collins and his presence was a telling sign that it would not be his last.
Kim Collins, the Kittitian born sprinter, shone in all his glory in 1996, not by medaling in any of the races, but by making history and bringing honour to Kittitians and Nevisians the world over. The flag of the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis was flying at the Olympics. It didn’t matter that Kim didn’t win. It mattered that Kim and the flag were there. By the time Sydney, Australia hosted the 2000 Olympics, Kim Collins, the unassuming, youthful, blossoming athlete, would walk away as the world's seventh fastest man. He wasn’t King of the "fastest man sprint" but surely he was King if only for representing the federation.
After winning bronze in the 200 meters at the World Championships in 2001, Collins won his first title in 2002 at the Commonwealth Games and took gold in the 100 meters. Collins later earned the prestige of becoming the first world champion from St. Kitts and Nevis when he won gold in the 100 meters at the 2003 World Championships. In 2005, he won the bronze in the 100 meters at the World Championships. He has ran impressive times in the 100 meters, with one of his best times being 9.98 seconds.
Throughout his career, Kim has steadily demonstrated his ability to weather tumultuous storms. He has made waves in his athletic quest at home, regionally and internationally. The Kittitian and Nevisian people have celebrated his accomplishments and he has been showered with praise and prizes for his brilliant performances across the globe. Collins’ successes over the years have been remarkable to say the least. His work and achievements has in part served to motivate many young athletes whose eyes too are set on attaining the ultimate athletic glory of representing St. Kitts and Nevis and promoting the island paradise as a premier tourist attraction.
How then did this exceptional story of success and grandeur morph into such an ugly public spectacle between Collins and the St. Kitts Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC)? At a time when the decorated five time Olympian should have exited the Olympics in a blaze of glory, Collins is shunned at the behest of the SKNOC.
On Saturday August 4th, 2012, shortly before the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis could tout its “small nation proud people campaign”, the iconic Kim took to social media to announce that he would not participate in the qualifying 100 meter heat/race. Kim’s revelation sparked a fiery exchange of opinions. The “who was right and who was wrong” interactions took on a whole new energy with supporters and defenders of Kim resolute in their views as the saga unraveled.
Rules are rules and Collins did break the rules according to the SKNOC. The debate however is heavily stayed on the extent of the punishment meted out by the SKNOC. How is it that two key players with multiple years of collaborative efforts to draw attention to the federation in track and field and sports tourism broke ties at such a crucial juncture in Collins' career and with such an array of youthful talent observing it all?
Furthermore, why would Kim journey all the way to London to jeopardize the one last opportunity to appear at the Olympics by defying the rules that he agreed to abide by? Were Collins’ actions too hasty? Did he think about the scores of citizens anticipating his London performance? Was the punishment meted out by the SKNOC the appropriate measure to discipline Collins? Does the contention between the two parties hinge on personal or professional differences or both? Is the damage to Kim's legacy irreparable? Can the SKNOC be looked upon as a favourable independent entity whose interests are first and foremost that of the athletes? Should the public be apprised of what the SKNOC rules are? So many questions; so few answers.
At 36 years old, this would likely have been Collins' last appearance at the Olympics. Opinions will vary as to his personal and athletic life, the accolades he attained and the moments of glory that slipped him by. But surely, Kim Collins, the grown man who could choose to abide by the SKNOC rules or break them, cannot feel proud that he did not complete the job he went to London to do. The SKNOC officials can’t be rejoicing either. Kim should have been the organization’s poster athlete given years of their working relationship. London was to be Kim's stage to perform not to feel pressured. As both sides reveal their perspective of the events that unfolded in London, the question of what next for Kim and the SKNOC remains unanswered.
Ultimately, the name of St. Kitts and Nevis sits at the feet of controversy yet again; our dirt spreads across the globe for public dispute. Interestingly, some see the events of last weekend as not such a bad thing after all. The world is now abuzz with opinions about us. We are certainly the center of some “bad” press but it is press all the same.
That Collins and the SKNOC could not resolve the dispute between them is unfortunate. That our young emerging first time Olympic athletes have had their dreams crushed because of the venom between Collins and the SKNOC is even more disconcerting.
Out of this track and field debacle, where we have now shifted from the dismissal of the federation’s lone female athlete, Tameka Williams to that of Kim Collins, one fact has stood out. There is profound discord among many of our people and it has sadly come down to a case of some deep-seethed politics too. Why is the political persuasion of the parties involved relevant at a time when the world cares absolutely nothing about our politics? Why do we as a people find every platform to tear each other apart and inject politics while doing so?
The 2012 London games will end with extraordinary stories being told. Stories of triumph, of loss, of dreams destroyed, of young athletes who began their journey long before the opening ceremony of the prestigious games. The colossal challenge for our youths and for our nation for that matter is how not to promote divisiveness.
We have proven to the world how insignificant and ineffective we are as a people when we are at odds. It will be interesting to see what we can become as a nation if we commit to unifying rather than dividing. Collins' London Olympic story cannot be re-written nor can the SKNOC's. Still, the world can hardly wait to know what will happen next!
