FOR THE RECORD In yesterday's Royal Gazette the Bank of Bermuda was incorrectly listed as Brian Wellman's sponsor. The Bank of Butterfield is the sponsor of the triple jumper who is ranked number three in the world.

If he was in another sport, or even another event such as sprinting or distance running, Brian Wellman would probably be doing very well for himself financially as the number three in the world.

But like Clarance (Nicky) Saunders before him -- who went from gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 to virtual obscurity within four years -- triple jumper Wellman is finding out that being Bermuda's top athlete offers few rewards, even at a time when the Island is crying out for positive role models.

The two-time Athlete of the Year has just completed his best year on the international circuit. Despite being inactive for three weeks in the middle of the summer following a car accident, Wellman still managed to end 1994 as the number three triple jumper in the world behind training partner Mike Conley and Kenny Harrison, both of the United States.

It is the third straight year that he has been ranked in the top 10 in the world, having ended 1992 in fifth and '93 in eighth.

"So it's not like this is a flash-in-the-pan, I've been consistent at what I do,'' said Wellman, back in Bermuda for the Christmas break.

While Conley, Wellman estimates, made somewhere in the region of $300,000 to half a million dollars in 1994 from prizemoney and endorsements, there are only scraps for the rest of the top triple jumpers to fight over.

"It falls off significantly after that,'' said Wellman whose best reward was the $10,000 he pocketed from the Grand Prix final in Paris when he finished fourth.

Wellman admitted he often had to draw out of his own pocket just to finance trips to the top meets, mostly in Europe, because of the lack of adequate sponsorship.

He said he still had a sponsorship deal with the Bank of Bermuda but that did not cover his travelling expenses.

"It did not make all my ends meet,'' Wellman disclosed. "My travelling expenses this past year were twice that.'' Despite these setbacks, Wellman is determined to reach the pinnacle of his sport and has dedicated himself to becoming number one in the next few years, perhaps with a world record thrown in for good measure.

Observers reckon he has the ability and the records show that he can compete with the best of the best.

"Everybody in triple jump at my level I have beaten this year except Kenny Harrison,'' said Wellman. "There is nobody out there who I haven't beaten.'' Wellman is a senior at the University of Arkansas from where he is on the verge of graduating.

He benefits from Bermuda's Elite Athletes Fund and is also hoping to secure an endorsement deal with Nike that would make things a little easier.

"The only financial people in my corner in the last three years have been the Bank of Bermuda,'' said Wellman. "I jut want to keep plugging away and become the best jumper in the world. When I walk away from this sport I'm not going to say `what if'.

"At this stage of the game track and field is a hard situation, especially not being the best guy in your event. I'm not like a sprinter or a miler who are the highest paid in track and field.

"In order for Bermudian athletes to excel at the international level, such as the World Championships and Olympic Games, or even at Pan-Am or Commonwealth Games, and walk away with medals you have to support these athletes financially especially if they have to work jobs and then expect to compete at the same level.'' Wellman's list of achievements this year included first places at meets in El Paso, Texas, the New York Games, France, Germany and Monte Carlo, and second place finishes in Jenner, California, Bratislava, London, Stockholm, Moscow and Sheffield, England.

There was also a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria and a fourth at the Grand Prix in Paris, France.

"I would have liked to have had a better performance in the Grand Prix final,'' Wellman admitted. "Financially, the difference between fourth, which was what I got, and second, which is ideally what I should have gotten, was $10,000. For a while my worst meet was second.'' Wellman said the next year leading up to the Olympic Games in Atlanta would be crucial to his bid to become number one.

"I'm only now getting to the point where shoe companies are looking in my direction and saying `Brian Wellman is probably worthy of a shoe deal','' he added.

"I have also heard through the grapevine that there is supposed to be major prize money at the Olympic Games and Pan-Am Games.

"It would be a good thing because it would be goals for athletes to try to strive for. For a person who's ranked third in the world it's not like golf or tennis where they rank them in money earnings.

"If a guy is ranked third in the world in golf or tennis he's doing extremely well. My event is not a glamorous event and if I was a sprinter it would be better.'' Added Wellman: "That's not to say I'm out to jump just for the money. I love the sport and love to do what I do, but when there are other financial situations around that could be taken advantage of to get ultimately where I want to get then I feel I need to take advantage of them.

"If I get on top and win an Olympic gold medal and the World Championship then it carries over big time because I would put the whole country on the map. I wouldn't be the only person benefiting from the situation.'' At 27 Wellman feels he has five good years left at the top which would take him to the age that Conley is now.

"After that you start counting one year at a time,'' he stated. "I'm looking at a good five year contract right through to the next Commonwealth Games.'' When Wellman leaves Bermuda on January 16 he will step up his preparation for the Pan-Am Games in March by competing in meets in Arkansas on January 20, Moscow on the 27th and France on the 29th.

BRIAN WELLMAN -- ranked number three in the world but still struggling to make ends meet.