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Usain Bolt's former coach Glen Mills has explained what needs to be done to fix Jamaica's woes after Asafa Powell warned his kids might never run for the country unless its' support system changes.
Usain Bolt’s former coach Glen Mills has explained what Jamaica must do to improve their support system for track and field athletes following Asafa Powell’s bold take on the sorry status of the sport in the country.
Powell, who holds the record for the most sub-10 100m races in history, took to his YouTube channel to vent out his frustration, further revealing he would not allow his children -who are also legible to run for Canada or Ghana thanks to their mother’s dual citizenship, to run for the island.
What Asafa Powell had said
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“Honestly guys, if the support system don’t change, my kids not running for Jamaica,” Powell said, responding to social media buzz following a viral video of his toddler winning a school race.
Now Mills, who has repeatedly called for systemic change — especially in the wake of Jamaica’s disappointing Paris 2024 Olympic campaign — has outlined how the country should move forward.
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Glen Mills reveals what needs to be done
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"There needs to be a structure through which athletes who qualify are able to apply for some kind of grant support.
“You must have a system of criteria because there are a lot of people training — the majority of whom are not going to make it at the international level," Mills said.
"The question, however, is how should that be done, and who is responsible? Because it's not going to happen automatically. I think the governing bodies — between the J3A, the JAAA, and to an extent, the government through the SDF — would need to come together to create an avenue for this to happen."
Pressed on whether this should resemble a salary so athletes wouldn’t need to juggle work and training, Mills clarified:
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"I don't really like the word 'salary,' but it's probably the same idea. I see it more as a grant towards an athlete’s development. You could have athletes apply and be placed into different levels, giving them maybe a four-year span to achieve certain targets."
He continued: "Because ideally, after four years — or an Olympic cycle of about eight years — if you haven’t reached a level where you can command earnings yourself, then maybe it's time to reassess whether you're on the right path."
Recognizing the country's economic challenges, Mills added:
"We’re not a very rich country. Our resources are stretched, and the expectations can sometimes be greater than what we can afford.
"Still, if we create a structure and athletes can see what’s available within it, it gives them a choice: do I think I’m good enough to reach this level with support, or should I consider working for myself instead?"
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Mills did not shy away from criticizing Jamaica’s historic lack of foresight in maximizing its athletic brand:
"We haven’t done well in marketing our resources. We've produced sprinters, especially at the highest level, and I think only America — by virtue of its size — has outdone us.
“Outside of America, we are the only country that has ever had both the fastest man and the fastest woman at the same time. Those kinds of assets, if marketed properly, could generate good money to fund a program like this."
He believes that better marketing could unlock greater funding through sponsorships:
"Certainly, the association, which receives sponsorship from international companies, could leverage their marketing to attract more funding. Maybe not enough to fully cover everything, but enough to start something — and if they set it up well, I’m sure the private sector would contribute too."
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Mills also applauded recent moves like the athlete insurance initiative
"I must commend the minister for the insurance initiative, because it significantly reduces costs when athletes need MRIs and other medical support.
“That’s a positive step, and maybe more measures like that can be introduced. It would definitely change how athletes perceive the level of care they receive from their country."
Asked if he had a direct response to Powell’s concerns, Mills suggested that Powell’s timing might dilute his message.
"I hear him, and I understand where he’s coming from. But I think it’s a bit harsh. Maybe he could have made a bigger impact while he was still actively competing by advocating for athlete support systems.
“Coming out at the end of his career to raise these concerns might be interpreted differently."
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