God is my everything

Quow was relaxing at his home at Darrell Spring in Scarborough, Tobago, the day before he was honoured with the national award for his outstanding achievement at the recent World Outdoor Junior Athletic championship meeting in China.

Reliving the victorious moment, Quow said: “It was very rewarding; it was amazing though that I didn’t really think I was going to win the gold (medal), but in the last 100 metres I believed in myself and when I saw my opponent in front of me, about five footsteps away, I said ‘I can do it,’ and I just went out there and did my best.”

He asserted: “I feel happy, it was a great experience for me; I prayed a lot, even before the race I asked God to give me the health and strength so that I can go through this event safe and sound, no injury, you know, and just believe in myself!”

Originally from Marie Road in Morvant, 19-year-old Quow settled in Tobago at the age of nine with the rest of his family. Easy-going and unassuming, he is taking everything in stride with marked humility. “Of course, like any normal person who would win a gold medal and be honoured with a national award as well, I feel happy; I mean, this is a first-time experience for me,” noted Quow.

Of his parents, his mother is employed in the hotel/guesthouse sector in Tobago, while his father resides and works at a hotel in Trinidad. His parents and five brothers are all proud of his achievement. Quow also sang the praises of his coaching team – brothers Wade and Gerald Franklyn — who were responsible for his training during the past seven years. The past student of Scarborough Secondary School has his sights set on becoming a professional athlete, but he said his studies take precedence at this time. Quow’s aim is to qualify with a degree in massage therapy. “So when I am not on the track, I am a massage therapist; all in the sporting arena. Track and field is my job!” he asserted. “But if plan A doesn’t work out, then I fall back on plan B.” Meanwhile, he is looking forward to the World Championships in Japan next year.

To his peers, Quow had serious words of advice: “Hard work! You can’t reach anywhere without working hard; you just have to put your mind to it. And I would like to say, ‘prayers, very important.’ Without God you can’t reach anywhere in life, just ask for anything and He will give you, no matter what!”