BeckfordPARIS, France
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LONG JUMPER James Beckford came to Paris on a mission.
He was in his best form of recent years and he had his mind set on winning a medal.
Considered an introvert by some, Beckford was anything but that at the ninth IAAF World Athletics Championships. He was accessible to the press and became a hit in the 'mixed zone' area where journalists meet the athletes after competition.
Born in St. Mary in 1975 Beckford had his early schooling at Ocho Rios High before migrating to the United States where he attended Blinn Junior College in Texas.
He excelled in both triple jump and long jump at the junior level. This included the fourth best triple mark of all time by a junior (17.29).
In 1995, at age 20, Beckford had an outstanding World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. In addition to taking the silver in the long jump, he reached the final of the triple jump and was a member of the sprint relay team. Beckford aims at Olympic gold also ran in the final.
He followed that up with another silver in the Atlanta Olympics of 1996 placing second to his idol, the legendary Carl Lewis.
Beckford appears on the all-time Top Ten list for both the triple jump and long jump.
His 17.92m at Odessa, Texas in 1995 is still fifth best all-time. An 8.62m long jump leap at Orlando, Florida in April 1997 remains the ninth best all-time.
One-on-One caught up with the Germany-based Jamaican after he won his second World Championships long jump silver medal and his third at the global level.
QUESTION: What would you say is the main reason why you have done this well at this championships?
JAMES BECKFORD: I relocated to Germany early this year and I have been getting some new training from my coach, former German long jumper Konstantin Krause.
This included some treatment on my hamstring and I have felt real strong this year. My focus from the beginning of the year has been on the World Championships and I think moving to Germany has done me a lot of good. In addition I did a great deal lot of speed work two weeks before the championships because about 10 metres before I jump I always slow down and that had been hurting me a lot.
Q: What is the feeling like to win a silver medal at the World Championships?
JB: It's a wonderful feeling. This is history. Nobody else will ever win a men's long jump silver medal in the 2003 World Championships. I am the one who has done that and it's very important to me. I still have a lot of years left in me and I want to win some more medals. Hopefully the next one in Athens will be a gold medal.
Q: How important is the money to you? You get US$30,000 for placing second.
JB: It helps a lot. At least it can pay the rent and some bills.
Q: Prior to this year's championships it has been said that you no longer had the zest for the big occasion after, by your standards, failures in Sydney in 2000 and Edmonton 2001. What is your reaction?
JB: Everything comes with time. If you are patient then things will happen.
Q: How difficult is it to travel and compete on the Grand Prix circuit?
JB: I have been doing this for many years now so it is not that difficult. At first it was hard on the body as you had to travel every three days but now for me it's no problem.
Q: What type of support are you getting?
JB: I get a lot of support. The past two weeks, before and during the championships I have been getting e-mails from my family, loved ones, friends and my coach. Everybody said 'James you can do it, just go for it'. The last e-mail I got from my manager and coach this morning (the morning of the long jump final) when I read it I just started crying so I knew I was going to do well.
Q: Do you get along well with the rest of the Jamaica athletes?
JB: I get along with everybody. I am a real loving guy.
Q: What do you do for relaxation?
JB: I do a lot of yoga and I play golf and volleyball.
Q: How often do you visit Jamaica?
JB: I visit Jamaica three times a year on vacation usually to see my family and friends.
Q: Who is your favourite athlete on the Grand Prix circuit?
JB: James Beckford.
Q: Do you watch any other sport apart from track and field?
JB: I love watching golf and tennis.
Q: Who is you favourite Jamaican recording artist?
JB: It's got to be Beenie Man. He is the best.
- Elton Tucker
