Canada’s track-and-field team experienced a shocking setback earlier this year with the sudden death of a teammate.
But they got back on their feet and are competing with vigour at the Pan American Games in Toronto, thanks to a pep talk from their late friend’s mother.
Daundre Barnaby, 24, died while swimming with some teammates in March off the coast of St. Kitts, the Caribbean island where the team was training.
Barnaby apparently lost his footing and was dragged out into the Atlantic Ocean by an undertow, his coach said at the time.
Teammates were unable to reach him.
After his death, some felt guilty they were unable to help.
Teammate Philip Osei said it sent him into a “downward spiral.”
That was until a few weeks ago, when Barnaby’s mother, Janet Dickens, gathered the strength to meet with the team and share her wish that they push ahead.
“She was positive, full of energy, and she encouraged us to continue going, keep pushing, never give up,” said Osei.
Teammate Nikkita Holder said it helped her realize how short life can be. “I totally take that now and put it on the track,” she said.
“(Barnaby) is definitely here watching over Team Canada,” she added on Tuesday after winning a bronze medal in the 100-metre hurdles.
Thursday was the day Barnaby would have competed for Canada in the 400-metre race, the same event he ran for Canada at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
“He had worked so hard this year,” his mother said. “He had put all the effort in and he wanted to do it so badly for Canada."
It’s a sad day for Dickens, but she will have other “children” -- that’s what she now calls the track team -- to cheer on from the stands this Saturday, when they compete in the relay race.
Dickens says she’s expecting the team “to go just out, give their best and finish like Barnaby."
With a report by CTV’s Peter Akman in Toronto
