By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sports Editor
ATHENS, Greece:
JANELLE ATKINSON'S name has become synonymous with swimming in Jamaica. Bubbly, bright and articulate, the 21-year-old Atkinson (she turns 22 on September 30) put Jamaica's and the Caribbean's name on the map in a big way four years ago when she reached the final of the women's 400m freestyle event at the Sydney Olympics.
Several honours followed but now after two Olympic Games and operations on both her shoulders she has decided after her swim in the 200 metres freestyle at the Athens Olympics yesterday that she will bow out of all competition and "take some rest".
The highlight of her career was the fourth in Sydney but for her all the special occasions count.
"In a sense the big occasions and medals all have their own special meaning. I enjoyed being American High School Swimmer of the Year while attending Bolles High in Jacksonville, Florida in 1999, then there is Sydney, Pan American triple silver in 1999, double bronze at the Comonwealth Games in 2002.
"The Manchester Commonwealth Games was something I worked especially hard for because I went to Malaysia in 1998 and did not do as well as I had hoped or should have. That propelled me to train even harder and winning the medals at Manchester was for me a huge accomplishment."
Atkinson, who attended Campion College for three years before leaving for Bolles, was always considered a talented swimmer.
At age five she was a member of the Y Speedos Swim Club and breaking age group records. She remembers her first "big" meet in St. Croix.
"I was then about five years old and I broke a record, gained the high points trophy and also broke my arm playing around."
Her first role model was former Jamaica swimmer Rachel Brinn.
"She is the one I watched when I was five, six and seven. At that time I thought she was so fast, so talented."
She has learnt some hard lessons from swimming over the years.
"It taught me a lot about sacrifice. I missed being a teenager and maybe I will have time to make it up now, I don't know. Then maybe I would not have wanted it any other way," she said.
"For me this is it but as I told the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) maybe three years down the line I could be missing the competition a bit so I might make a comeback. Who knows? It was good to be a part of something that gradually got bigger over the years."
Atkinson, by her results, is Jamaica's greatest ever swimmer but she remains very modest.
"I could not say I am the best of the best. But if you want to call me that I will take it. I would say I am up there with the best but I would not put myself on top," the University of Florida student said.
Atkinson thinks Jamaica's swimming has come a far way and the future looks good.
"For one we have two members here, Alia Atkinson and my little brother Jevon, who more than likely will be at the next Olympics in Beijing. Then there are also people like Brad Hamilton and Ramon James."
She wants to give back something to the sport from which she has gained so much.
"I have thought about coaching. I want to pass on the knowledge I have picked up over the years from Bolles, from University of Florida and even from the Games that I have been to."
Atkinson, who aspires to be a hotel manager or business woman in Jamaica, likes listening to music, dancing, watching television and reading.
She still has one more year at university and hopes to graduate next year with a degree in Tourism and Hotel management.
