Brathwaite’s Coach: Ryan was born a champion

9/17/2009
(Extracted from the Barbados Advocate)

From the time National athletics coach Alwyn Babb laid eyes on a young Ryan Braithwaite some seven years ago, he predicted he was looking at a future World Champion. Then, on August 20 his prediction was confirmed when Braithwaite made history and crossed the line in 13.14 seconds to win gold in the 110-metre hurdles at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

It was Barbados’ first Gold medal on an international stage.
Babb, who is head coach of Ryan’s local club Rising Stars, was the coach of the Barbados team at the recent World Championships in Germany. He was present during Brathwaite’s stunning run and he took some time out to speak to the Barbados Advocate ahead of Ryan’s return to the island today.

The national coach said he had always believed in Braithwaite and he knew it was just a matter of time before the rest of the world believed as well. “After watching him at Inter-School sports some years back, I realized he was ahead of his competitors in terms of his technique, not necessarily his speed, but the way in which he attacked the hurdles. I knew at that point in time he had the capability of going on much further as we would all eventually realize,” he said.

Speaking with the utmost pride, Babb continued, “I have watched Ryan move from an ordinary boy who did not like training to the professional he is today. He is now approaching his career as a business, but he realizes he still has to train and he still has to get stronger. He has now moved from the thinking of a young school boy to the professional athlete that we see today.”
Braithwaite ran his historic race in a time of 13.14 seconds. Though a new national record for Barbados, Babb, as is usually the case, believes he can still go faster. “I believe Ryan can defend his World Championship crown in 2011 and go on to become the Olympic champion in 2012.