13 hours Ago
The news of Kent Bernard’s passing on Wednesday afternoon was heart-breaking, the 1964 Olympic medallist dying suddenly mere hours after touching down at Piarco International Airport for his annual Carnival visit. The outpouring of love and appreciation that followed was heart-warming. Kind, gentle, generous, hospitable are some of the qualities that came into focus on mainstream and social media as Bernard was remembered by those whose lives he touched.
The expressions of gratitude from Trinidad and Tobago’s first Olympic gold medallist, 1976 men’s 100m champion Hasely Crawford, stood out. In yesterday’s Express Sport lead story, headlined “Mourning ‘Big Brother’”, Crawford spoke fondly about his fallen friend and the bond they shared half a century ago in Michigan, USA. At the time, Bernard was a coach at the University of Michigan, while Crawford was a student-athlete at Eastern Michigan University.
“A good man is gone. A very good person, a very soft person. Kent took care of me when I was in Michigan.
I owe a debt to that man. That’s where I got my Trinidad food in Michigan; champion pelau and macaroni pie. And he gave me an old car to use,” said Crawford.
Bernard created a home away from home for Crawford. He also used his significant influence at University of Michigan to facilitate his countryman’s training at the school’s track on the eve of what turned out to be a historic Olympic campaign in Montreal, Canada. In the same way it takes a village to raise a child, creating an Olympic champion is a community effort, involving family, coaches, support staff, sponsors, friends.
.. Bernard played multiple roles in the Hasely Crawford Olympic success story.
An Olympic medallist himself, having performed second-leg duties in T&T’s 1964 men’s 4x400m bronze run, Bernard effectively passed the baton to Crawford. That Crawford went on to achieve even more than Big Brother Bernard on the world’s biggest sporting stage speaks volumes. A selfless man, known for his giving spirit, few would have been happier than Bernard when “Forged From the Love of Liberty” blared from the speakers during the Montreal 1976 men’s 100m medal ceremony.
That’s what it’s all about! Pouring your life, your experiences, your knowledge, your success into others, setting the stage for even greater achievements from the recipients. Crawford understands this as is evidenced by the NGC Right on Track Coaching Caravan he initiated. T&T’s second individual Olympic gold medallist, 2012 men’s javelin champion Keshorn Walcott, has also demonstrated a desire to give back via his Golden League Athletics Grass Series.
After taking the baton from Bernard, Crawford ran an excellent leg before handing off to the multiple beneficiaries of Right on Track. Many are benefiting too from Walcott’s Golden League. The other members of that iconic 1964 bronze medal winning 4x4 team, Edwin Skinner, Edwin Roberts and Wendell Mottley, have also poured themselves into future generations.
Skinner and Roberts served the sport through coaching. Skinner was also a mentor to 2013 men’s 400m hurdles world champion Jehue Gordon. Mottley is making a significant contribution through his genes.
His grandson, Dylan Woodruffe, is a rising star with an eye on global success. Sadly, Bernard’s race is over. Thankfully, it was a great one, complete with a flawless baton exchange.
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