By Akeem Greene
Legendary Basketballer Michael Jordon said “Obstacles don’t stop you, if you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it”.
If there is one local athlete who is fighting his way back to the top of the ladder it is talented National swimmer Earlando McRae who returned after some three years in the hiatus.
McRae was and could possibly still be one of the country’s brightest prospects in the pool but commitments to both family and work took him away from a sport he deeply loves.
His dive back into the waters had an immediate impact as only last month at the Dolphin Inter-club meet held at the National Aquatic Centre, McRae was in ominous form winning a perfect four races in as many.
Now he faces a bigger test when he participates at the Islamic Solidarity Games, being held in Baku, Azerbaijan from May 12 -22.
Guyana Times Sport spoke to the athlete exclusively prior to his departure on Tuesday, where he expressed his intention to produce his best at the Games for his country.
“Every time I leave the country I always aim high and try my best with the eyes always being on Gold”, he bluntly stated.
McRae represented Guyana at the FINA World Championships in 2013 held in Barcelona, Spain and as a 19 year-old he swam at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, and he plans to bank on those experiences at the upcoming event.
In terms of the changes he made to his technique, he explained that he has cease competing in Butterfly to give more focus to his favoured Breaststroke along with the backstroke and freestyle.
In Baku, the 28 year-old will be participating in the 50M breaststroke, 50M backstroke, and 50M and 100M Freestyle and is looking forward to do well in the breaststroke especially.
But was it easy for the swimmer to go length and breadth of the pool again? The answer lies with the support of his Ocra Swim Club Coach Sean Baksh.
“He [Baksh] has been my number one coach since I moved from Dorado, he knows how to get me back in shape”, McRae revaled.
The swimmer went unto say, “Everything is going so far, it was not an easy comeback but so far I am feeling it; 6-7 years ago I was really good, the speed and everything was there but now I’m feeling close to it again”.
The Level three coach in giving his assessment of McRae’s return felt that he can do
