Photo: Andrew Fisher (left) and Tyson Gay look back at the big screen to review the Men’s 100m at the Jamaica International Invitational Meet in Kingston, Jamaica last weekend.
At the age of 24, Andrew Fisher who donned the black, green and gold during his junior years and part of his senior career for Jamaica, has now chosen to continue his career for the Asian country, Bahrain.
The young sprinter is aiming to make history by becoming the first athlete to win an individual medal for the Asian nation at the Olympics, when he competes in Rio later this year.
Yardie Sports caught up with Fisher on Saturday at the 2016 Jamaica International Invitational Meet (JIIM), where he talked about his aspirations to qualify to run at the Rio Olympics.
He was fourth in the men’s 100m in a time of 10.07 seconds, in a race won by Jamaican athlete Kemar Bailey-Cole in 10.01 seconds. His training partner Julian Forte was third in 10.06 seconds. Fisher was quick to point out that he was not satisfied with neither the time, nor the execution of that particular race.
“I am not really satisfied with the time, but the execution was a bit off in the final 20m, I didn’t tie up, but I felt myself slowing down towards the end and I think it pretty much caused me to end in fourth.”
With Olympic stakes remaining on a high and the competition and prestige unmatched by any other track and field competition on the globe, it is the dream of every track and field athlete to compete at this level.
Fisher explained that he opted for Bahraini citizenship, with the incentives being that of getting a chance to showcase his talent at the international level and the opportunity to qualify for an individual spot on their Olympic team being even greater.
“Well, first of all Bahrain is a beautiful country, I actually like it there, but I still live in Jamaica. I don’t think I’ll live anywhere else though. The plan is definitely to go to Rio and represent that country very well,” Fisher explained.
Both Fisher and fellow countryman Kemarley Brown are in transition as they hope to get a taste of individual performance at the highest level. And according to Fisher both are really the two main ammunition for that country in the short sprints and should soon be fully ready to wear the red and white colours for that country.
“So far it’s me and Kemarley Brown, and we are still in transition. So in another month or so we should be fully clear.”
Fisher already has his eyes set on both national sprint records and is confident that he will soon have the honour of being a national record holder. His personal best over both event is much faster than the existing records. Current Bahrain top sprinter Mohamed Sanad Al-Rashidi and retired sprinter Abdulaziz Mohamed Mattar hold the 100m and 200m records respectively.
“Well the national record is not bad. It’s actually 10.34 and the 200m record is actually at 20.74 seconds. So I know the day I get the chance to run for them is the day I think I will break those.”
If Fisher is successful in meeting his targets he will join the former Jamaican 400m runner Brandon Simpson who also ran for that country in the latter half of his senior career and still holds their national 400m record.
The Former St Elizabeth Technical star said it was pretty much a no-brainer as to the choice of remaining here and to continue his training with his MVP Track Club. He cited that his current training partners are the sort of challenge he needs to get to his targeted times for 2016. His personal best over 100m stands at 9.94 seconds, done in July 2015.
“I am still training with the MVP camp and this will definitely help me very much in terms of getting ready for Rio. There is the likes of Julian Forte, me, Nesta is hurt at the moment, but he will be back soon, and there are others that people might not know of. I know this kind of training group will help me to reach my target of running at least 9.80, or anything in 9.8 region which will be satisfying for me.”
Fisher, who won the 2014 and 2015 Intercollegiate 100m, thinks that the methods that MVP head coach Stephen Francis have chosen to get former collegiate teammate and 2015 Intercollegiate 100m champion, Elaine Thompson, to the where she is now, will work for him this year. This coupled with the undying support of his management team and family.
“I think this is the year. Stephen Francis is one of the greatest coaches on the planet, so I definitely know he will help me to get there. I think I will be able to even make the medal podium. Also I have a very great gym partner in Rondell Walker who always pushes me. He encourages me, always saying come on Andrew, try and improve.
My mom and Dad are always calling me to find out how I am doing, how training is going. I know definitely that it will help me to do well this year.”
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