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Smith and King can inspire future jumpers — Watson

Bermuda long jumper Arantxa King

Bermuda National Athletics Association (BNAA) president Donna Watson believes many positives will come out of the upcoming jumping camp involving Olympians Tyrone Smith and Arantxa King.The weeklong event will be hosted by Bermuda’s two 2012 Olympic long jumpers, with the assistance of sponsors Asics and the Bermuda Healthcare Services as well as BNAA.The camp, which starts on October 28 at the National Sports Centre, will see youngsters put through their paces in both morning and afternoon sessions.Watson hopes the Island’s aspiring jumpers can draw inspiration from Smith and King.“We are looking at this camp from two fold,” said Watson. “First, we really want the Bermuda public to learn more about Tyrone and Arantxa intimately as most of the public only hear or read about them as they usually come in for a few days and leave.“I also always think that athletes should give back to their community and we, the BNAA, thought this would be a good thing for both of them to be seen giving back to our young up and coming athletes.“The second of course is to give our young up and coming jumpers the opportunity to be trained by our top two elite athletes who happen to be long jumpers.“As I have always said Bermuda seems to breed middle distance runners and jumpers, and if you look back in our history that has been our trend.“So we know in Bermuda there are some more athletes like Arantxa, Tyrone, Brian (Wellman) and Nicky Saunders. We want to use this camp to find that talent and then we can nurture it.”Although both athletes are currently based overseas and travel to all parts of the world to compete, Smith wants to show what it takes to make it at the highest level.“It feels great to give back,” said Smith. “I have had a chance to talk in the US and to come back and help out is great because Bermuda has given me so much over the years and I’m truly grateful.“My goal is to get more of the local athletes to the level that I’m at.“It takes such a long time to get to that level and it is critical to get them involved at a young age.“Everyone thinks the glamour events in track and field are only the sprints but believe me when you attend a world event the field events are highlighted just as much as the track events.“When the competition is close the cameras stay on those events just as much.“Jumping is a beautiful sport and we want to put it out there that it’s not always about what Usain Bolt is are doing, you can be successful in many other events besides the ones that take centre stage.”