Meet 24-year-old Okemi Porter, an athlete, who hails from Golden Grove, West Coast Berbice, Region Five.
Porter has a passion for fitness and staying healthy, which fuels his drive to participate in athletics and/or fitness activities. He also enjoys reading as it helps to continuously improve himself. His journey in the world of sports is nothing short of extraordinary, and it all began in the ‘where dreams were as big as the open sky.’
From a tender age, he has always been drawn to sports and physical activities. “The thrill of competition, the gratification of pushing my limits, and the sense of camaraderie with fellow athletes fuelled my passion for becoming an athlete,” Porter said.
In 2018, 19-year-old Okemi Porter, then a student of the Mahaicony Technical Institute debut at Nationals, had a best-jump of 1.79m, bettering Yannick Walcott’s 2017 record of 1.74m. Porter, volunteered to do the event since his district had no jumpers. He first equalled Walcott’s record, then jumped 1.77m before closing off at 1.79m, to loud cheers from the large crowd.
The year prior, Porter, as part of the famed Fort Wellington boys’ 4x400m team of Godwin Humphrey, Rue Chester and Dave Torrington, on April 28, 2017 struck gold in the High School boys’ 4×400 at the Penn Relay, as the competition entered its final day at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America. The quartet clocked 3:24.41s to top the league of 11 teams and defend their title in the event. The team also improved their timing, shaving seconds off the 3:26.95s that they clocked in 2016 in the same event
Further he added, “one of the main reasons I became an athlete was the desire to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. Engaging in regular physical exercise not only improves our physical well-being but also enhances our mental and emotional health. As an athlete, I have witnessed first-hand the positive impact that sports have. Through consistent training and staying committed to my fitness goals, I have developed discipline, perseverance, and a strong work ethic that give me the opportunity to compete at a high level and it’s a wonderful feeling to have a record to your name.”
“Becoming an athlete has been a transformative journey that has shaped me physically, mentally, and emotionally. The pursuit of an active lifestyle has instilled in me numerous positive qualities such as discipline, perseverance, and resilience, which have transcended into other areas of my life. Through athletics, I have not only witnessed personal growth and self-improvement but have also found a sense of belonging within a community that shares my love for sports,” Porter told this publication.
Financial constraint and injuries were challenges Porter faced. “There were times when my parents didn’t have enough money to support me financially, however they would still try their best to support me. I also had a few injuries and that took me off track for a year……Working and training simultaneously, made it even harder for me as I wanted to train full time.” Porter told this publication.
He highlighted those sports made him a better person, as he learned a lot and expanded his network.
“Stay focused and committed. I encourage every athlete to set clear goals and stay dedicated to their sport. Hard work and perseverance are key to success…. Embrace failure and learn from it: setbacks are a natural part of any sports journey, see failures as opportunities for growth and improvement,” is Okemi’s advice to upcoming athletes.
One of his future goals is to provide support for student athletes. Porter’s journey serves as a source of inspiration for us all, reminding us that we, too, can rise from the ashes and achieve our dreams, no matter the odds stacked against us.
