GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands — Olympic silver medalist Kerron Stewart will be joining a host of other top athletes at next month’s second annual Cayman Invitational track and field meet to be held on May 8 and she says that her strong faith in God has been a motivating factor in her life, helping her reach the pinnacles of her career.
Stewart has seen a string of successes during her athletics career. Along with Jamaican compatriot Sherone Simpson, she tied for silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 100m and she won bronze in the 200m. Her success continued into the 2009 World Championship in Berlin when she won silver in the 100m and gold in the 4 x 100m.
When asked what words of wisdom she would share with Caribbean youngsters who were looking to become top athletes, Stewart advised: “Trust your truth and be the best YOU can be, knowing that God is in control, because when it’s all said and done only you will be asked to give an account of your life.”
Stewart said that a strong faith in God could overcome any boundaries in the way of a young person fulfilling their athletic dreams. While acknowledging that every situation is different for each individual, she confirmed that focus was key to success.
“I believe in order to overcome anything in life you need the presence and guidance of God,” she said.
Reaching out to her fan base through her website and via Facebook has been an important aspect of her career, confirming interactions with her fans has helped her become a positive force for good.
“It’s important for your fans to know you and social media helps you to reach out to them on a wider scale,” stated Stewart. “I try to make myself as available as possible because I believe God has given me this talent to influence others in a positive way.”
And while her faith in God has undeniably helped her through, Ms Stewart says she would not have achieved such great success without the additional support of some very important people.
“My mother has been the greatest influence on my career. She has always been there,” she explained. “When the lights go out and things get hard she is right there. My coach has also played a vital role – ‘the man with the stopwatch and the workouts’ – as he has been guiding my career for the past eight years.”