Surprised McPherson embracing leadership role
Published:Sunday | July 17, 2022 | 12:14 AM
EUGENE, Oregon:
DESCRIBING HER new leadership role as unexpected, World Championship bronze medallist Stephenie-Ann McPherson says she is prepared to help in any way she can during the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
McPherson was named captain of the women’s team while Tokyo Olympic champion Hansle Parchment was named captain of the men’s team for the campaign which began on Friday.
McPherson said she only knew of the appointment last Wednesday and although it was unexpected, she says she is committed to the role, especially in the cases of those making their World Championships debuts.
“I will try my best and give the younger ones as much advice as I can,” McPherson said.
“Most people come to me for advice and I am not selfish.”
That advice includes handling pre-competition nerves as well as managing proper recovery, something McPherson said is critical for these championships.
“Doing recovery is the most important part this time around. So I tell them to ensure that they drink a lot of water, (do their ice baths) and such,” McPherson said.
SURPRISED BY APPOINTMENT
The appointment was a surprise according to her as she thought that four-time 100m world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce would be the leading candidate to be chosen.
Fraser-Pryce was team captain for the women last year at the Tokyo Olympics, while the 2019 and 2017 championships were led by double sprint Olympic champion Elaine Thompson Herah.
McPherson says that while she expects that the team will be mature enough to focus on their respective events, she is not taking the role lightly.
“We are adults and everybody knows what to do. But I am the team leader, so I have to ensure that everybody is OK,” McPherson said.