McKNIGHT Sparkle

General
FINAL OLYMPICS
In April 2020 she said that the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo was going to be her final Games as an athlete. "I would have preferred the Olympics to have been held in 2020. I planned for this to be my last one, so it kind of messed up my plans. But everyone has a fair chance in 2021. It would have been unfair if it was held this year [2020]. A lot of people have absolutely no facilities, while some have access to train fully. Getting into meets to prepare for the Games would have been very challenging. I would like to think I would be in better shape next season [2021] seeing that I have more time to prepare. I'm hopeful that would be the outcome, but nothing is guaranteed." (trinidadexpress.com, 08 Apr 2020)

COMPETING AS A MOTHER
She believes her organisation skills enable her to balance life as an elite athlete with being a mother to her daughter Ashaunte. "I'm a big planner. I write down everything, and make sure I have sufficient time to do what I need to do. From the day before, I plan my whole day - when I have things to do, when she has stuff to do, my training times, my gym times, every single thing. Also, I wake up before she wakes up to get some time for myself so I'm able to stay mentally there and juggle all the tasks I need to deal with. Even when I'm sick sometimes, I still have to make sure the mummy hat doesn't come off at all. I just have to do what I have to do. Sometimes when I'm 'dead' and I hear the little voice say, 'Go Mummy', it gives me the extra push. Now that she's in kindergarten, she doesn't come to the track as often, but when she does come it's a big boost of motivation." (trinidadexpress.com, 29 May 2020)