The third fastest Trinidad and Tobago sprinter in history is facing serious financial challenges as he prepares for the July 27-August 4 Olympic Games, in London, England.
Keston Bledman, who jumped to number three on the all-time T&T men's 100 metres performance list with a 9.93 seconds scorcher last June, has not yet received his elite athlete funding cheque.
Florida-based athlete told the Express, yesterday, that in addition to rent, he needs money to pay for massages and purchase vitamins.
"By next week or so, I would have to come home," a dejected Bledman explained.
But Ashwin Creed, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, has promised that Bledman will receive a $200,000 cheque very soon.
"We're dealing with the applications as they come in," the PS explained. "Bledman will get his funding in the next release of funds, at the end of next week."
Bledman enjoyed a successful 2011 campaign. The highpoint came in mid-July, at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships, in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, where he struck gold in the 100m dash in 10.05 seconds.
In late August, at the World Championships in Daegu, Korea, Bledman missed out on a lane in the final by the narrowest of margins--less than one-hundredth of a second.
The 23-year-old sprinter was fifth in the first of three semi-final heats, in 10.14 seconds. Antiguan Daniel Bailey finished fourth in that heat, also in 10.14, qualifying for the championship race as the second of two "fastest losers".
Bledman said he is aware that fellow T&T sprinters Emmanuel Callender, Marc Burns and Aaron Armstrong have received funding.
"The only person I expected to get (funding) before me was (Rondel) Sorrillo, because he reached the 200 final at Worlds."
But Bledman, who started his Olympic preparations in November, said he is not begrudging his fellow sprinters. The 2008 Olympic Games 4x100m silver medallist just wants to be well-equipped for the London 2012 challenge.
"We have to put in to put out, and without the funding we cannot perform to the best of our ability."
Bledman called off his 2011 campaign after the World Championships. He skipped the Pan American Games, which were staged in Guadalajara, Mexico in October, opting instead to get some much needed rest.
"By that time I was very tired, so I could not go to Pan Am. Plus, I had a small calf injury, which I did not want to risk at Pam Am because of the Olympics this year."
Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com
By Kwame Laurence