Silver Lining behind dark cloud for McKoy

Photo: Olivia McKoy and a member of the Mandeville Church of Christ who have being helping with recovery of the Jamaican Olympian.

•Name change for personal reason

The cry of the former athlete Olivia McKoy, who some believe has been abandoned by the State, has been met by a good Samaritan in the Parish of Manchester where she currently calls her home.

Mckoy in recent times has been found sleeping and begging from the street side of the Cecil Charlton Park in Mandeville, prompting criticism of the country’s sports system and administrators. Her story was once again highlighted in the media and the community of Mandeville, including Sis Joy who was made aware of who she is and her journey to where she is now.

“I initially heard she was on CVM TV and TVJ which she did eventually tell me, but I didn’t see it live, but I saw one of the videos, a week after she came by asking for money, food and clothing. She called me mommy and when I told my daughter about her coming, she told me they were former teammates as Junior athletes and then the support for Olivia started” she told Yardie Sports

For Sis Joy, being a child of God and being a member of the Mandeville Church of Christ, who have also opened their arms of love to McKoy, it’s more about not letting the wounded soldier die and giving her the emotional, spiritual and financial support she needs , while trying to offer what mental assistance they can at this present time.

“A lot of people in Mandeville call her mad and some keep saying, somebody should help, but no one wanted to help her. But I know she was in need of help, both physically and spiritually and she told me upon her first visit that God sent her to my house” she revealed.

McKoy retired from the sport in 2008, after a career spanning over a decade and winning medals at several international and regional competitions for Jamaica. Since 2013 she has hit a rough patch and the road to recovery is seeming to be a daunting one.

“My daughter told me first that she was bright and she has a first Degree and a Master’s degree from Louisiana Tech in the United States. She was surprised to have seen her on the news and she sent a thousand US dollars for her and I was giving it to her little by little to buy food and medications, before she eventually came to live with me.”
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Mckoy also competed at two Olympic Games ( 2000 and 2008) and the World Championships in 2005, but still managed to place second in the Javelin at the 2015 Jamaica National Senior Championships despite her retirement from international competition.

Back in November 2016 when the news surfaced about her new residence (the streets of Mandeville), pictures taken of her revealed notations supposedly written by her on the park bench where she sat, including her name, location and a number to contact her.

Days after she was visited by one of the nation’s leading media houses and during an interview she vehemently declared that she doesn’t want the help of the sporting administration or the government, fearing they would make a case of politics of her situation.

This is not the case however, as it relates to the help from the church that is being offered her according to Sis Joy.

“It was Sunday evening I came in from church and I heard someone at the front talking to my husband. When I went around I saw her sitting on the floor and she was telling me she was cold because she was suffering from the flu. I had to give her a change of clothes, actually more than one top and she put them on. She got over the counter flu medications and I gave her some food and she accepted them without any hesitation.”

Having been helped by organizations such the Hydel Group of Schools and being insufficient, Sis Joy is hoping that their small but kind help will be able to keep her on a stable path and she is confident that through prayer and faith she can turn around.

She is very spiritual and since coming to live with me I have learnt so much about her. When she came, the spirit told me to buy a bottle of Olive oil and consecrate it and pray for her and right now she is doing well. She came to church and some people were surprised to see her because a lot of people think she is mental. But she will get better,” a confident Sis Joy explained