Sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye has already achieved so much for T&T and though it has not been the smoothest path to success, her passion to represent this country is unwavering.
She became the first woman from T&T to win a Commonwealth gold medal with victory in the women's 100 metres, is the reigning national sprint champion and is a former CARIFTA 100m champion.
Running is clearly in the blood of Ahye, who competes in the 100m and 200m and she wants to continue to give, so come Sunday, the 26-year-old will share her experiences and expertise with some 200 children at the Michelle-Lee Ahye Coaching and Family Day event.
The national sprint star is teaming up with T&T Athletes’ Foundation to host the event at the Defence Force Headquarters on Airways Road, Chaguaramas starting from 10 am.
Afeisha Wright of the Foundation said one of the main goals is to help up-and-coming athletes, which Ahye has been over the years but decided on this new approach to further reach the budding track and field and sporting stars in T&T.
"Michelle wanted to do more than just donating equipment, gear or cash to athletes as she has done over the years," said Wright. "We decided to involved the young athletes through coaching and getting them more involved in sports.”
The focus will be on athletes between the ages of seven and 14 and there is a specific reason for the target group.
"The aim of targeting young athletes in the Primary schools level, to get them into sports early on so when they get to the Secondary level, they will be stronger," said Wright of the upcoming Family Day, which will provide fun ways to build core skills as participants will not only engage in track and field but also football, cricket, jump rope along with much more.
Joining Ahye, who is already in the country, on the special day, which is also due in part to Gatorade, Blue Waters, Tropics, Fit Addicts Movement and V8, will be national men's 200m champion Kyle Greaux, women's sprinter Reyare Thomas, Paralympic champion Akeem Stewart and javelin thrower Shakeil Waithe, to name a few, who understand Ahye's drive to help young athletes.
"Michelle also wants the young athletes to know who are the national greats and to meet some of their heroes," said Wright, who shared that the children will get to interact with qualified coaches from the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) and have sessions with football and cricket coaches at the inaugural event.