The Race to Glory: A Kirani James Exclusive

Embark on a captivating voyage with Grenada's very own Olympic gold medalist, Kirani James, as he unravels the threads of his life from a youngster in Gouyave to a titan of the track. Our heart-to-heart covers more than just his steps on the podium; it’s a deep dive into the cultural rhythms of his birthplace and the mental resilience sports demand. We roam through Kirani's cherished memories, from the vibrant Fish Friday celebrations to the awe-inspiring underwater sculpture park, while he imparts the wisdom gleaned from navigating high-stakes competitions.

As we chart Kirani's course to athletic stardom, we touch on the transformative power of early life decisions.  Delving into the delicate dance of seizing opportunities and navigating the guidance of mentors, Kirani's narrative is a testament to the lasting impact of our beginnings. His relationship with coach Harvey Glance at the University of Alabama exemplifies the profound effect a mentor can have, illuminating the path to personal and professional triumph.

Celebration and camaraderie permeate our discussion as we reminisce about Grenada's jubilation in the wake of Olympic glory. Kirani invites us into his rigorous preparation for the 2024 Paris Games and offers a treasure trove of advice for aspiring athletes, emphasizing the vital role of a consistent training environment and proactive health management. In sharing his personal struggle with Graves' disease, Kirani champions the spirit of empathy and support, fostering a bond that transcends the world of athletics and resonates with anyone chasing their dreams. Join us to savor a conversation that champions perseverance, community, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

CORRECTION the Museum in Grenada is called the Underwater Sculpture Museum, not the UNDERGROUND Museum. 

Transcript

Carlene Humphrey: 0:00

Hi, I'm Carlene, and this is Notmagnation. I have with me the one and only Kirani James. Hi, Kirani.

Kirani James: 0:14

Hi, how are you doing?

Carlene Humphrey: 0:15

I'm good. I'm good A fellow Grenadian. You know you grew up in Grenada and you are the first Olympic athlete to win a gold medal for Grenada. You put us on the map. It's amazing all your achievements, everything that you've attained thus far. So tell me, for those who don't know about you and your upbringing, what was it like growing up in Grenada, in Guam like? What was it like?

Kirani James: 0:48

First of all, let me just say how long have we been scheduled this interview now for?

Carlene Humphrey: 0:55

It's been. You were scheduled last time, so it's been a process. It's been a while.

Kirani James: 1:01

It's been a while from the initial message to who knows.

Carlene Humphrey: 1:06

Yeah, I'm just so happy that we're here now and we're making it happen. It took us a while, but they say the journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step. So I started, I sent you an email. I'm like I wonder if you got that email. And then I sent you another email. Then you finally got back to me. You have no idea, I was so excited. I told my friend. I'm like, oh my gosh, I can't believe he got back to me. I didn't even think that it would happen, you know so.

Kirani James: 1:33

But I'm glad. I'm glad it could happen. So growing up, I grew up in town in Grenada called Guam. This way I grew up, spent most of my life up there.

Kirani James: 1:43

I grew up with two older brothers, a younger sister, with our mother at that time, and primary school I went to St John's Anilikan Primary School that's where I went. And secondary school I went to Grenada Boys Secondary School. I was actually, I think I was actually supposed to go to St Rose, which is in Guam too, but then, you know, things happened and I ended up in well, not ended up, but you know I got transferred into GVSS. So a lot of good things were growing up here. Like, if you know, like, growing up in Guam is a fishing town, so you know that's like one of the main industries in Guam. You know fishing and you grow up.

Kirani James: 2:28

If you grow up close to the bay or the beach, then that's something you see every day. You see fishermen coming in, you know, from the ocean, with the fish. Fish market was right there, all that. So that was kind of just a normal thing going up scene, a lot of the fishermen going like, even like with the nets, casting nets, and all that, like that was normal.

Kirani James: 2:54

The other couple of times, you know, I was there, I was pulling my net too, helping. So you know, all of that was really kind of, you know, just like I said, growing up it was normal doing these things and having those experiences. So these are things that I always cherish in my memory and I'll never, never forget it, never forget, you know, that area that I grew up in. And you know, like I said, every time I try to do something positive, whether it's on the track or off the track. You know that's always on my mind. So, yeah, but nothing too, you know, crazy or anything, just kind of normal upbringing or just going up in that kind of industry was really interesting to me, looking back at it.

Carlene Humphrey: 3:39

I grew up in Granance, and so we're in different parts of Bernada you know, yeah, that's totally different yeah. I'm a city girl and you're the country boy, you know.

Kirani James: 3:52

Yeah, that's what they say, that's what they call it.

Carlene Humphrey: 3:54

You know what it's interesting. You talk about the fishing and you know now they have fish Friday and I've been before and it's a big deal. You know you go up on Friday and you try different kinds of fish. So here in you mentioned the fishermen coming in and just what that. It's a fishing town, you know, for those who don't know about Guam, and that's why I guess fish Friday is a big deal, because that's what brings tourism in, and obviously during Carnival, that's another big thing for Granada.

Carlene Humphrey: 4:24

But even here in you talk about that experience in itself. I'm like, oh, I just learned something new about Granada. I'm always learning stuff about Granada. It's a beautiful island. People can't believe how small it is, but at the end of the day, we are. Like the underground sculpture museum is one of the top 25 wonders of the world. So the fact that we're contributing to that is amazing, and just hearing you say it like you just had a normal upbringing. So I'm going to tell everybody who doesn't know you are the world championship winner in 2012 London Olympics, gold medal winner, silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. You know they say when you're in your journey in life, it's not where you're going, it's where you came from, and so when you say you think about the memory of being part of that fishing community, when you're on the track and you're ready to run and the gun goes off, what do you think of?

Kirani James: 5:31

What do I think of?

Carlene Humphrey: 5:32

Yeah, what is it? Is it what is like the gun goes off and then you just go. But do you have a vision? Like it's very nerve wracking, like for us who's watching you on the world stage you know what I mean. And when that gun goes off, it's like I'm an athlete myself and I ran the 200 and the 100 in school. When that gun goes off, it's like you know, do your diet at that point?

Kirani James: 5:56

So you know, I mean, it's similar, it never changes. But I think for me you just want to focus on your race, focus on what you're supposed to do, especially in that moment. Yeah.

Kirani James: 6:07

Is you want to, whatever strategy or whatever focus or whatever plan that you have. I think you want to focus on that and execute into the best of your ability. Now, what it gets interesting is like throughout the lead up, throughout the games or the meets, and all that you always want to go for me, is always about focusing on just trying to represent, you know, everyone that's affiliated with me, whether it's stakeholders, whether it's family, whether it's community, all that you want to go out and do your best and try to make them proud. So, yeah, leading up to it, yeah, obviously you want you thinking about those things right as to okay, how am I going to perform? How are people you know following the races? Are people knowing you know what channel it is, what time it is, to make sure that everyone can tune in and do all those things?

Kirani James: 7:02

So, yeah, leading up is always a little bit more, I would say, not nerve wrecking, but is a bit more surreal when you kind of look at everything that, all that's there in the stake and how much you want to represent and to kind of make everyone proud, especially in that aspect, in that small aspect well, not a small aspect, but an aspect in sport where you have something where people could galvanize and people could come together and so forth. So sometimes, yeah, it feels like a little bit of a responsibility to go out and always kind of perform at a certain level because you know the expectation is always there. So, yeah, going into those meets is a lot more interesting in terms of, you know, navigating those, all those emotions and all that, yeah. But the race time is focused on the plan, you know, and just try to execute that in that moment for that 45 or whatever second.

Carlene Humphrey: 8:10

Yeah, it's interesting because you know you train for four years for that one moment in time and it's like anything can happen on the day of it could be the wind is a little too strong, it could, you know. You have so many people fall, starts and all that. But going back from the beginning, you were 14 when you won your first race, so how did that feel? Did you even realize that you know this is something that you could do professionally?

Kirani James: 8:45

Yeah, I remember I was in there was a game called the CUT Games Caribbean Union of Teachers Games. I think that was that year. It was in St Lucia, I think, and that was my first time actually leaving the country on a plane, on a Lyat, that shit. All of that it felt like 10 hours, you know, even though it was just right in St Lucia. So that was my first time of going out and competing internationally and I think I was about 13 at the time and just having that experience, you know, especially when you look, you see on TV, you see Jamaicans, you see Trinidad, folks from Trinidad and Tobago, barbados, bahamas, you see them all on TV and they were like okay, well, you know, hopefully, especially at that level, maybe somebody could get, somebody could get there, right, yeah, and you know, just looking at it, going out there and competing, I think it was a games where it's almost like you're doing all the events.

Kirani James: 9:49

I remember I was doing the 400, the 200, I think I won the 400 and I got second in the 200, the Jamaican beat me in the 200. And I can say I won the 400. So I was competing against, like you said, all those guys from Jamaica, trinidad, bahamas, barbados, all the other Caribbean countries. I think it was from that moment where it was like okay, like like I'm at that level in terms of just natural ability, like we're all at that level. So now it's about just kind of focusing and just using that as a platform and a spring boat to to prepare me to to try to do well. So from there, you know, I think I was, I think in 2006, my first year in my hometown club called Spenso. That was my club club in Guar.

Kirani James: 10:38

The coach at that that time was um, was Albert Joseph. He coached me throughout my whole, my whole youth career and from there, from coming out off of that games, I was like, okay, let me start taking athletics very seriously. I'm not gonna play too much football anymore. I'm not gonna play too much cricket, no, not too much basketball, I'm just going to focus and zone in on this one sport. And I think that's when it kinda hit me and to kind of like I said you know, open my eyes, not just to go in, whether it's to the Olympics or anything, but how many opportunities it could open, like coming up to the US, getting scholarships and all of that. So it was. I would say that was the first time I had, you know, where I felt like, okay, this could be, this could be something great. And then we mentioned 2007 at World Youth. I think I was 14 at the time and I was running against, you know, athletes that were 16, 17, right.

Carlene Humphrey: 11:43

So yeah, and you're 14, you said. You said were you 13 or 14?

Kirani James: 11:47

I was 14 in 2007.

Carlene Humphrey: 11:49

Oh my goodness, wow I was 14, going on 15. Yeah.

Kirani James: 11:54

I think that was in Ostrava, Czech Republic, where we had the World.

Carlene Humphrey: 11:57

Youth Championship. Wow, czech Republic. Oh, my goodness.

Kirani James: 12:00

So yeah, so I was competing against all those guys that maybe, as I was young, maybe it's just some naivety in it where I was like I don't know how or this is gonna play out, I don't have to think too much, just run and yeah, and I had good performances. I got a silver medal in that World Youth Games at 14. So, like I said, all of that was just more evidence of you know, this could be something that could be really good at.

Kirani James: 12:26

And from there I said at home you have a character game, CBS First Sports, you have intercall. Intercall is always a big deal in Grenada. Yeah.

Kirani James: 12:35

You know. So, like I said, you just trying to go from strength to strength with there. But you know, it was a lot of factors that came into play, a lot of people that were in my life at certain points that really helped me, whether it's just advice, whether it's just, you know, like I say, with my club, all of that stuff. So it's a lot of you know, people that are influential in terms of making me reach where I'm at today. So it's a wonderful experience and, looking back, I could only be grateful and humble that I've had all of that in my life.

Carlene Humphrey: 13:08

It's amazing to watch you and you know, for me, I've been watching the Olympics since I was a child and I've always loved track. It's one of the most popular events at the Olympics. When we talk about the summer games, you hear the announcers. There's like we know you were waiting for the track event. Like you know, this is it. It's because we're looking at the times. Who's gonna beat the times? Like even for you this year, I believe, from what I heard. I don't know if it's true that Usain Bolt is gonna be in Paris. Going back to what you were saying about, you know the people who were part of your journey to where you are now and not realizing it, cause when you're young, you're like I can't believe this is happening. When did you realize? I think it was? Was it before you made it to London that you realized that you know that there's some potential for you to make an impact or even compete at the international level? You know what I mean. Like against the world. You know you had the world stage.

Kirani James: 14:16

Yeah, like I said, that was always. Like I said since 2006, 2007,. There was always a potential Right, you know potential because you never know what's gonna happen. Yeah.

Kirani James: 14:27

Oh, you know that talent is always gonna dictate how far that talent goes. So even then there were even conversations about, you know, the Olympics or world championships and all that. So it was always. It was always, I wouldn't say expectation, but it always. You know the potential of all that and if you remember, like I've always, you know, in 2008, you know, I was in World Junior. I got a silver medal there too. 2009, I was in World Youth, the second time.

Kirani James: 15:00

I was 17, and I won the 400, won the 200 there. 2010 World Juniors I won the 400 there. So there was always like a very, I would say, prolific progression with me when it comes to, you know, going from the youth level going up to the senior level and 2011,. You know, when I went to world championships, you know, and I won that, and then the Olympics was following the following year. Obviously, there's even more expectation. So, like I said, it's always been there. You know, even in when I was in World Junior in 2008, I remember I was competing against guys that were already in college.

Carlene Humphrey: 15:42

Wow, that's so amazing.

Kirani James: 15:45

Yeah, so when I went there in like 2010, I went to University of Alabama like I was seeing some of the same guys in 2008. So I said it's always. It's always been there. Like I said, I'm just grateful that I've had a lot of people you know in my life to help me. Like I said, my youth, my club coach in Grenada and I would say, my college coach and professional coach, harvey Glantz, you know, and then just so much people in my community that helped me and even, like I said, then, the expectation and the support was always there. So, yeah, it wasn't just you know, like you know, you just aiming for one year in 2012 or whatnot. There was always a nice regression going from level university then and it all kind of came together in 2012 Olympics.

Carlene Humphrey: 16:37

I have to say 2009 to 2010,. I think that was the lead up, right. That's where you kind of figure out that you know I'm gonna after winning it's. You know I read that 2010,. You were offered scholarships at 10 US colleges. Why did you choose Alabama?

Kirani James: 16:59

Why did I choose Alabama?

Carlene Humphrey: 17:01

Yeah, I mean you have 10 colleges offering you opportunities to train, to study, to experience the university life. You know what I mean. It's not just about competing in track, it's your education, your future. Why Alabama?

Kirani James: 17:18

Yeah, well, for me at the time, the whole reasoning was you know, for me personally was when I got, when I do was doing all the visits and all of that. I think I only ended up visiting three or four schools, really, right, all the. I don't know if it's 10, maybe there was 10, I don't know if it was all.

Carlene Humphrey: 17:38

They offered it to you.

Kirani James: 17:40

Yeah, there was.

Carlene Humphrey: 17:41

You were offered 10, like scholarships at 10 colleges, but obviously who's to remember? I mean, that was 14 years ago. You know what I mean. I thought you can't remember everything in life, right?

Kirani James: 17:52

So yeah, yeah, yeah, so yeah. For me it was about, like I said, it was about growth and it was about having good people in my life. So it was about okay, where can I go? Well, for the next four years, I could not just grow as an athlete, but grow as a person. You know, and the head coach at the time at the University of Alabama and he became my personal coach, harvey Glantz I think he was the main reason why I chose Alabama. When I went up there for a visit you know, just seeing how we interact with the team, the teammates, the teammates that were there at the time, you know all of that he just kind of gave me a bit of comfort knowing that, okay, if I'm gonna spend four years of my life here, then I know that I'm in safe hands, that I'm gonna be looked at and taken care of.

Carlene Humphrey: 18:41

Right.

Kirani James: 18:42

So that was kind of the main reason. It wasn't just about pure you know, okay, this program has won X amount of titles, or you have X amount of prestige, or anything like that. It was more about the substance, more about the people and who I'm gonna be around.

Kirani James: 19:00

Yeah, yeah, you could be in the best system or the best or the most prolific, whatever, and you could be around people that are not really helping you grow as a person. So at the end of the day, you know, when it's all said and done is, you know what I'm doing is gonna end at some point. So for me it's about okay, what can I do where I can carry something that I would have for life and, you know, be for me, you know, being a good person or trying to be a good person and learning and going in that way light, you would have that, you know, for the rest of your life. I think that's what's gonna matter more in your life than any kind of accolades or any kind of thing. So so I'm glad I went there and I had that experience and, like I said, you know, post-glancy was my mentor, he was my father figure, you know all the time Did you have, were you, were you.

Kirani James: 19:56

Yes, yes for you.

Carlene Humphrey: 19:57

Yeah, were you close with your father, were you close with your mom? Like you said, he's your father, kind of like your father figure.

Kirani James: 20:04

So yeah, well, you have to remember when I was 17, when I left for university. Right. Right, yeah, so when I was there in a place where you know, in terms of having that close family, like I, was there on my own right. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Kirani James: 20:20

So, like I said, when you have people that could look out for you and give you good mentorship and care for you more than just you know what you're doing on the track, that would always mean a lot. So, yeah, it shows you that you know you value more than just an athlete, but also as a person. So that's why I say that so, yeah, yeah. So when you look back at it, like yeah, like it made a world of a difference 17,.

Carlene Humphrey: 20:50

Oh, my goodness, I can't imagine I'm thinking about being 17 again. And you know, at 17, I was in my. I'm at grade nine, as in grade 12, like one more year of high school, you know, and yeah at 17,.

Carlene Humphrey: 21:09

You're like, you're so close. It's like for me. I was part of the last class at grade 13,. I was the last class of grade 13 here in Toronto and it was a double cohort, so the pressure was on. It was like you have to. I was applying both to colleges and university and I got into York and I wasn't sure about going to York either. Like I was like, should I go to York, you know? And then one of my friends was like I'm going to York, I think you should go. And they offered me a scholarship. It wasn't the best like it was. Like it covered some of my books, karani.

Carlene Humphrey: 21:46

But, I was like you know, but I'm telling you now, now that it's been you're making me age myself here, but it's been. I graduated at York in 2008. And two of my closest friends I met at York and it's been one of them. It's 20 years that we've been friends and had I not gone to York, I probably wouldn't have meet them. So, you know, it's like you said, you choose your path like and you don't know what the outcome will be.

Carlene Humphrey: 22:19

But had I known, like who's to say I would have like here, we are now here, and now today is like we're in January in 2024. And who would have thought that I would be speaking to like the gold medal Olympic champion, right Like? This is a moment in time that I probably will never forget, cause I'm going to tell you right now. I remember where I was when you were running, because my aunt she even told me she was like oh, there's this guy. You know, there's this guy, karani James, like this youth champion, watch out for him. Like they're saying he could be the next, the next one, and you know so I was watching you throughout your journey, so you know.

Kirani James: 23:02

You said you moved when you were. When you were, what age?

Carlene Humphrey: 23:07

Oh yeah, I was six when I got here. Yeah, in Toronto.

Kirani James: 23:12

Yeah, do you remember any of the time before when you were at home or anything?

Carlene Humphrey: 23:16

Yeah, I do. I was a little troublemaker. I remember a little bit of stuff. I remember, like what did I go to the Burian school? Like I remember the fall edge, walking on the fall edge Cause my, I don't know if you know this part, but my grandmother's house is by Grand Aunt's beach there and I remember one time I you're making me think about this is so funny.

Carlene Humphrey: 23:41

So anyways, you know you were uniform to school every day and I was a little troublemaker. So I think my mom, or I don't remember who, braided my hair. But someone braided my hair and I didn't like the style karate so I took it out and my dad came to pick me up and he was like what happened to your hair? And I'm like I didn't like it. And then I think they redid my hair. But I was a troublemaker in school and you know they give you money for your snacks, like at recess or whatever you call it back home and I spent my bus fare money so I didn't have money to get home, to get on the bus. I don't know who covered it, but somebody did. But I remember getting in trouble for that. They were like why did you do that? You know, and not thinking. I wasn't even thinking about the fact that I had to get home, cause I don't remember how much the bus fare was or the you know. I think it's like 50 cents or whatever, but I spent my bus fare money.

Kirani James: 24:38

Yeah, I was back then. Yeah, back then it was 50 cents.

Carlene Humphrey: 24:42

Right. Yeah.

Kirani James: 24:46

You think you're used to like the weather and all that knowing kind of. No no. You never get used to it no, no no. I don't know how you guys do it.

Carlene Humphrey: 24:54

I don't know how I do it either. I complain every year. I'm like, I tell my my aunt, I'm like I have to, I have to come back. I can't do this. I don't know how much longer I can do it. I'd sell over 30 years of stupid karate. Yesterday it was minus 24, with the windshield as wearing mittens and everything Like you can dress for the cold. But I always say to myself I'm like if I had the money, I, I would. I probably buy property in Grenada and, you know, be a snowbird.

Kirani James: 25:24

Yeah, anything negative on the thermometer doesn't sound good.

Carlene Humphrey: 25:29

And for you, your training there's, you'd be in all the indoor facilities here. You know what I mean. But yeah, canada is a great place. Yeah, here in Toronto, a lot of people, a lot of changes would happen, but the people are friendly and stuff. And every time I go back home it's kind of like a culture shock in a way, because I don't come back every year, but everybody's so friendly. You know, and you know when you go back, my grandmother's house is right by Granance Beach, so it's a five minute walk and she used, if you know, the White House, like she's, you go up the hill, but you know where the Texaco gas station used to be, right in Granance, there, like you're going up, going towards the golf course. Yeah.

Carlene Humphrey: 26:12

Yeah, that's, my grandmother's house is right there. So I tell her I'm like Granny, you got the best view in Granada, yeah, yeah. That's a lot about Granada, for sure, right Granance Beach, you know. Yeah, did you go there a lot when you were younger, or did you do more?

Kirani James: 26:31

stuff in Guav? No, not really. Most of my stuff was in Guav, maybe one Okay. You know, one time they might take us on like a ender school year or ender semester. We'd call it like field trip or like boss party or something like that.

Carlene Humphrey: 26:50

Yeah.

Kirani James: 26:50

We would take you. We would take you to Granance and then we would take you to whether it's Camarhon or somewhere you know, and you hang out and then you come back. But yeah, most of the stuff was in Guav and then really no Granance, until I got a little bit older. Right.

Carlene Humphrey: 27:06

Yeah, so do you consider yourself a fisher? Are you a fisherman? Do you know how to fish?

Kirani James: 27:11

No, not really. I know how to, but I haven't fished a lot. Oh, okay, my parents, they were always a little bit concerned with, you know, going out, especially with somebody else, you know. But you know, I used to one of my friends his dad was a fisherman and we used to like, when they came in, like we would like go and we would like carry some of the fish like to the fish market and then we would like clean the boats and all that. So I did that for a little while and I remember the first time they paid me because you get paid for that and they came to my house and they gave me like a $20. And I was like that's it. I was like you can't tell me nothing. I was like I was like Mark or more, you know in that video where it was like yeah, I'm buying everything with that $20 right now.

Carlene Humphrey: 28:06

Oh my gosh, your first key, yeah, $20. I mean, at that time I'm sure you could buy a bed of stuff with that.

Kirani James: 28:13

But yeah, that was $20.

Carlene Humphrey: 28:15

Yeah, now $20. I'm like how did I spend $20? Like I just bought you know. Like even now, it's like what do you show for it? Like the dollar is like.

Kirani James: 28:26

Yeah, that's a most people in Grannons and Buck.

Carlene Humphrey: 28:29

Right, exactly.

Kirani James: 28:33

That's it.

Carlene Humphrey: 28:34

Mm-hmm, but your journey is so amazing. I have a question for you. When you won the medal and you went back to Grenada, what was that like? What was the feeling like? Tell me.

Kirani James: 28:48

And it was amazing. Yeah. It was something I always remember because it was just a celebration of everything you know, like a celebration of my achievement, a celebration of athletes in the past, like Darlene Francik, like oh, I remember Alain Francik.

Carlene Humphrey: 29:10

Oh, my gosh Wow.

Kirani James: 29:12

All those guys that came before me was.

Carlene Humphrey: 29:15

Oh, my goodness. Wow.

Kirani James: 29:16

It was a combination of everything. So it was just a special time. And, like you said for Grenada, you know, to win a medal at the Olympics, you know, I don't think anybody could, you know, write that in a script. So you know, just being able to do that and kind of put the country on the map in that sort of way, and just seeing everybody celebrate and everybody being proud, I mean it was just. It was a special, special moment. And yeah, I don't think it's something I would ever, I would ever forget. So, yeah, yeah, even like, even nowadays, like even when I go home, you know, there's at least one or two people that would kind of reminisce about, about that, about that and and and how that moment was. So it always is. There's always a reminder when I go home and how excited and how exuberant everybody was about that moment.

Carlene Humphrey: 30:24

Yeah, no, it was a beautiful moment. Yeah, I was right there with you. I wasn't in Grenada, but like it, just I was like I can't believe it. Wow, you know, because there's it's not like we have a lot of people that have won and like a medal, a gold medal at the Olympics, you know.

Kirani James: 30:43

So I was the first. I was the first time with the medal.

Carlene Humphrey: 30:46

Yeah, you are making history. You don't even like you're, just like you made history in 2012.

Kirani James: 30:54

You did. I mean, it was yeah. Yeah. One of the ones I've ever seen. Yeah. In my country I have a hundred thousand people. Mm-hmm. Like I always use this comparison, I went to, like I said, I went to Alabama and our stadium, our football stadium, brand Benny, it was 105,000 people. So I always use that analogy of telling people like you know, we have a country that you could fall into our stadium, that you could park into our stadium in Alabama.

Carlene Humphrey: 31:20

Wow, I never even thought about it that way. Yeah, I'm here, so I'm in Toronto, but there's different parts of Toronto, like the GTA, greater Toronto area, and I'm here in Brampton and there is more people in Brampton than there is in Grenada, like just alone. So it's a good comparison. I will think of that when I. When I think of Grenada, I'm like, wow, it fills a stadium. Yeah, wow, masmerizing. I know, you know what. Everybody knows each other and people say hi and it's a small town and Grenada's like a friendly, like it's so friendly, like we are the only country in the world that does not have a military, you know. Yeah.

Carlene Humphrey: 32:05

Yeah, and it's. There's a lot of history in Grenada. People don't realize it. We got a lot of history. Yeah, you know. You know you created history without even realizing it Like you're just.

Carlene Humphrey: 32:17

I'm sure, when it happened, you, you, you thought about it, right, and you're like oh, but for the rest of the world and us Grenadians, I, I, I say to you I'm like, I, I can't believe you did it. You know you did it, you made your mark. You could stop now and, and it would, it would be like you're in the history books, you're on the, you're on the Olympic website, you're, you're, you're there, like, and you've done more than you had ever know, right, so we're, yeah, coming from me, I'm like, you know, as a Grenadian, I'm proud of you. You know, I'm not like I was. I was born there, I wasn't raised in Grenada, so I have a different experience, like as someone who was born there, and my parents, my mom and my dad, they're Grenadian and you know the history. It's just like, it's good, it's a good, it's a good thing.

Carlene Humphrey: 33:20

2024 summer games in Paris. Leading up to that, what, what, what? As an athlete, how does it look like? You're training every day. I know, for those who don't know, you're actually not even in Alabama, you're in Arizona and what's it like training there now, like, I mean, is that your training ground or you know?

Kirani James: 33:41

Yeah, I've been living in Arizona since 2012, since 2020. Okay. It's been a while, so I'm kind of used to how everything is. Yeah, I think the main thing is the weather. Mm-hmm. It's a lot more consistent than a lot of other places. There's other places where there are good training bases, like California, florida, texas. Those areas have a similar kind of consistent weather. So, yeah, I've been here. I mean I'm really enjoying it, even though it's a little bit cold this week, which is surprising for Arizona.

Carlene Humphrey: 34:20

Yeah, always warm there. Yeah, dry heat, it's kind of yeah.

Kirani James: 34:25

That's what we call the dry heat. Mm-hmm, that's what they call it. Yeah, I don't know if it's dry heat, it's furnace heat to me.

Carlene Humphrey: 34:34

Have you been to Las Vegas?

Kirani James: 34:36

I have been to Las Vegas, yes.

Carlene Humphrey: 34:38

So I think I haven't been to Arizona, but I've been to Las Vegas and somebody told me this but I didn't realize it until I was there. The dry heat, it affects you if you're not drinking a lot of water. So what happens is the temperature is so dry that you could go a long time without eating, like I remember the first time I went to Vegas I was like how come I'm not even hungry and they're like you need to drink water Because you're not feeling the humidity like you would in any other part of the world. But the dry heat does affect you in that way because you're not hydrating, and if you're not hydrating, your body's not used to that. So it's a little bit different, I think, is what they say.

Kirani James: 35:19

That's interesting. I never knew that.

Carlene Humphrey: 35:21

Yeah, somebody mentioned it to me. They're like make sure you stay hydrated, keep drinking water, because you won't realize it until, like, you've passed a couple of hours and you're like, oh, I'm like, I'm not even hungry, but I need to eat. Yeah, it's elevated Consistency is an important thing when you're an athlete, right?

Kirani James: 35:40

Yeah, absolutely.

Carlene Humphrey: 35:42

What do you think you have to do as someone who's at that stage in your career, like what's the most important thing for anyone who is a track athlete the up and coming athletes. What advice do you have for them?

Kirani James: 36:01

The advice I would have to them is to focus on your priorities. I would say For me it's a little bit different because I'm a bit older.

Kirani James: 36:19

So, yeah, for me it's just being consistent and trying to avoid injuries, listening to my body a lot more, because sometimes when you're young, when you're 21, 22, I mean you're $6 million man like nothing knocks you down, you wake up and you're fresh. As you get older that doesn't happen anymore. So you have to take real good care and listen to your body, know when it's time to relax and maybe take a step back and not put too much pressure on your body. But for a younger athlete, I would say to be consistent and just focus on priorities and focus on whatever path, whatever goals that you have is to do things that are going to contribute to it.

Kirani James: 37:21

And if your goal is to be the best athlete that you can, then, yeah, you know what your priority is. It's your training, it's your recovery, it's your diet, it's your focus on doing everything that you can to help maximize whatever you're trying to achieve, maximize potential and whatever you're trying to achieve. So I can't tell you what your goal is. Some people goals are different and that's okay, you know. But if your goal is to be compete at a games and to do your absolute best, then you have to focus on those things that are going to help you get there. It's not a secret, it's not some you know, you know, you know, you know, you know you science or whatever it's it's it's you do those basic things, and that's 90% of what you're supposed to do is is is those basic things right yeah, is is.

Kirani James: 38:26

We're focusing on that and doing that, so yeah, that's what advice I would give them. I wouldn't give them any type of training advice or anything like that.

Carlene Humphrey: 38:36

So that's good advice, I think, I think was on that and those things no, even even for me, as every year, you know, you go through like the New Year's resolution and I don't really do that. But I do goals because goals are long term. They could be short term girls or long term, long term goals, but at the end of the day, we're all trying to achieve something, some more than others, like summer. You know some of us have a path in life. We're supposed to do something great. You know what I mean and obviously you're here to do something great, right? You know who knows. I mean.

Carlene Humphrey: 39:17

You were born and then you know your parents raised you the best that they could and obviously you had the natural talent. You just needed the people to back you, to support you and to help you get there right. So sometimes it is about the natural talent at the end of the day, right? Did you have someone growing up, like when you were? Did you watch the Olympics? Was there someone that inspired you to do track? When did you know that you wanted to?

Kirani James: 39:46

focus on, in terms of, I would say, somebody that inspired me to do track okay. I would say to be honest, I was just following my older brother like he was one of those in everything yeah just one of those guys.

Kirani James: 40:04

So he was, like I said, when I joined my club speed zone, like he was a part of it. I just followed him and tagged along with him at that time. But he's this mean, he's really is. His main joy was always basketball but, like I said, he was somebody that did every. He was one of those athletes that was, you know, like kind of gym top that could do any and everything right. That could you know play basketball, play football, long jump, high, jump run. You know volleyball, everything in terms of getting really into it, I would say him. But in terms of the inspiration from on a Olympic level, I mean it had to be for me, I mean it was Aline Francik, like I think, growing up, I think everybody remember you know, in 2004 how much, just how much of a of a of expectations there was on a lot of excitement, I would say yeah when he was competing.

Kirani James: 41:09

I remember you know like you had to wake up early to watch towards the races. I guess I think it was somewhere in here. Yeah, he was in Europe at the time, I think, and you had to get up early to watch some of him.

Kirani James: 41:25

I remember, I remember watching people excited and sometimes if you don't have a TV at home and you go over to your neighbor and you never have a neighbor's like look, you know he's running now and you know. So I would say from that standpoint, from on that level, like he just raised the excitement for every, I think, for every kid that was growing up in that time mm-hmm you know, in 2004, if you were eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, like he, was the inspiration in Grenada, I think around that time.

Kirani James: 42:03

So yeah yeah, so it's so. I mean, he turns out on a professional level and an Olympic level like he was a guy that you know, you were looking for for inspiration, and saying that, yeah, like he's Grenada, he has his, he has a flag on his chest and his represent now. So if he can get there, then we can get there too, like we're there yeah, yeah yeah, so I think that was that was.

Kirani James: 42:27

That was very important for him. Mm-hmm, my generation growing up especially athletes growing up, he was, he was, I think, the main inspiration for all of us yeah, oh, I remember I was like I can't believe he didn't get it.

Carlene Humphrey: 42:41

You know, like it was just I think he came in fourth, I can't remember yeah, exactly, yeah, see, we both remember. Yeah, I was watching. I remember watching that too and seeing him compete and it's interesting. I was like is anyone else gonna do what he did? Because I mean, he was the closest in terms of Grenada being on the map at the Olympic level, you know yeah and, yeah, a lot of people before him and after him.

Carlene Humphrey: 43:09

I just you know, like you said, for me, I think I gotta tell you 2008. So you said in 2008, you well, where were you competing? There's something about 2008. Anyways, you made me think. In 2008 I was in Grenada. I graduated university and I went back home. I was like I told my dad I'm like I want to go back to Grenada. We were having a reunion and I was back home and my aunt and I we were watching the Olympics in Beijing together and I just remember watching Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. It was just amazing to watch.

Carlene Humphrey: 43:54

You know, like, even though you're not there, it's like the amount of excitement they bring. So you have no idea. Like I mean, even when you were running, I was like, oh my gosh, is he gonna do it? Like I think I had to like make sure I made it home on time and like I'm like I don't want to miss the race. And it's like you said, like you, if you have to go out to a neighbor's house or if you have to go on a break when you're at work, like the Olympics, you make sure, like certain events, that I can't miss it. I just I can't, you know so, but yeah, it's, it's a journey, it's a process and it's it's a whole different thing. Like I mean, even this year, do you have any other events that you have to compete at before the Olympics, or is it just training?

Kirani James: 44:42

yeah, usually my season starts around the auto season starts around March yeah. I usually start around April, mid April, end of April. Yeah, there's always a series of meets. There's continental meets, there's different levels, there's gold level, there's silver level, there's bronze level and then there's a diamond league, which is kind of our main circuit races. Yeah, it was a competing, you know.

Kirani James: 45:12

So there's gonna be a couple of those races before the Olympics yeah, so hopefully I could get a good you know at least six races in before the Olympics. You kind of prep and to kind of have a season you know going in. So that's always, it's always been yeah and yeah, there's, there's always there.

Kirani James: 45:34

There's always a season. What people don't you know, like realize, like they see it every year, but they don't realize, like Olympics, like world championships, like even the name of the championships or the event might change a lot of times, it's the same athlete, right? So a lot of times you're still competing against guys that you already know and sometimes that what just changes the name. So for me, like every year, there's always a major championship, whether it's world championships, whether it's Olympic games, whether it's Commonwealth Games, there's always a high level that you want to aim for. You know, like every four years is like every year oh my gosh, you know what it's the same guys yeah, yeah yeah, it never really stops it, never.

Kirani James: 46:31

You know, like you're in a four-year prep, it's like a year by year prep and yeah, like people don't even realize, like, yeah, it's just the same guys. Yeah, same guys. You're competing against that. They're going to be the same guys over there last year, budapest. 90% of them are going to be there this year. So, oh, wow, yeah, it should be, yeah no, I'm excited for you.

Carlene Humphrey: 46:56

I'm excited about the summer Olympics in Paris. It's going to be fun. I mean, there's so much to look forward to and you just don't know until the day of like. I mean, this year the Olympics is starting. I looked it up July, was it July 26th? Am I right? Remind me Karani?

Kirani James: 47:17

yeah, I'm not sure when track of field. I think track and field starts a week later, but yeah, mm-hmm, yeah, that's when it starts.

Carlene Humphrey: 47:24

I was looking at it. I'm like, wow, we're already stuck in week in January. And it's like, oh my god, wow, time is just flying by, isn't it like I mean, yeah, I'm gonna be 40 this year, karani yeah yeah, it's one of those things where it's like I can't believe it, you know sorry.

Kirani James: 47:48

I couldn't tell I know a lot of.

Carlene Humphrey: 47:50

We just age so gracefully. People are like, wow, really, I'm like, yeah, I am. They can't believe it. I can thank my, my mom and my dad, you know, for giving me some good genes, right? So there's one more thing I think I want to say before we get into that. I'm Carleen and this is not Magnation. I'm sitting with Karani James, olympic athlete, the first gold medalist for Granada. You know you were talking about your goals and focusing on your goals and your health and your fitness, and I remember reading when you you had a time in your life and you've you found out that you have Graves disease and you know you were dealing with that. How was that like?

Kirani James: 48:36

I mean, obviously there's always obstacles that you come upon yeah, I mean, like you said it was, it was an obstacle yeah it was a surreal kind of experience because you know, you never really imagine like these things would just happen and even though, yeah, like it might have happened over time and maybe, like you know, certain symptoms, because a lot of times, as an athlete, you know, you know, you just you think that you could. It's just. You're just having a little moment, right you just have.

Kirani James: 49:10

You just power through it, you train through it and all of that. So you know, at first you know we weren't sure what, what, what it was that was happening. It could have been anything. It could have been something with my blood, it could have been cancer, it could have been. And we did the test and it was Graves disease, you know it was. It was surprised. I was surprised, just like, just like everyone. And from there it was about finding out the right treatment plan, the rights in the next steps to take. Just try to go from there. You know, I've never try to be too negative on it.

Carlene Humphrey: 49:47

Right.

Kirani James: 49:48

Try to accept it for what it was and what it is. Just try to focus on okay, how can we get better? Yeah, yeah.

Kirani James: 49:59

Then try to wallow too much or like be down or anything, and, yeah, just okay, this is what it is, this is what I have. Okay, what are the next steps? Let's work towards that, but at the same time, you know, be patient and understand that it will be a process and not try to push yourself too hard or, if you're not seeing the improvement that you want to try to get, you know, feel down or anything like that. So, yeah, it was. It was just something that I had to accept and just try to listen to my body and just try to improve day by day, get better. And I would say now, at that point where I'm pretty stable, I'll still have to do lab works, like every three months, to make sure that the levels are where it's supposed to be. So, yeah, so it's something that you know. I'll have to take medication for the rest of my life just to maintain my thyroid levels.

Kirani James: 51:01

Yeah.

Kirani James: 51:02

But you know it is what it is, you know. But I have to accept it and I have to just try to make the best of it and try to focus on it. And you know, if somebody comes along and they have a similar issue, then I know how to help them, how to guide them, how to give them proper advice as to how they would feel. You know how they would not feel what you know kind of treatment they're getting or anything like that to just kind of give them broaden their perspective or broaden their knowledge of it. So you know I could do that, especially from an athletic standpoint. I know there's a couple athletes in the past that had it. So yes, going forward.

Kirani James: 51:43

You know, if you know, I think the main thing is yeah, it happened to me, but that doesn't mean that I can't help the next person you know go through that experience and have a more supportive cast in going through that experience and just giving them support in any way I can.

Carlene Humphrey: 52:04

No, you know what? Anything in life, you know, things happen, that there's things that we can control and there's some things that you just can't control, and that's one of them. Right, and so so is it hereditary, like is it? No, it's not. No it's not no. It's not no, it's just no it's just. So for those who don't know, there isn't a specific cause. Oh really.

Kirani James: 52:28

Like could trigger it or anything. Sometimes it just could be, you know, your body just overreacting.

Carlene Humphrey: 52:35

Oh, wow, yeah, you know, listening to you talk about that this year. I'm anemic and I've always had to take iron supplements and it's in my genetics and I understand what you're saying with that. So you're going to have to take, you're going to have to take something for your thyroid for the rest of your life, right? So with me I had a time where I was, you know. He said you ignore your symptoms. So I was ignoring symptoms of like the lot when my iron is low, I get you get cold, you're out of breath, like. I remember, like walking up the flight of stairs in my apartment here and I'm like, why am I so winded, like, and those are the things that, as someone who's been dealing with this most of my life since I was like 14 or maybe even younger, and then I ignored it and then I it got so bad that when my dad, my, my doctor, called me at 3 30 in the morning karate, I'm like what, who's calling me at this time? So I went to go get the results. Like you know, you do your regular checkup.

Carlene Humphrey: 53:35

So I went in November and I went and did my checkup and then he called me on the Friday morning. I'm like why I'm like half asleep. I'm like who's calling at this time? And then he left the message and then he called again and I'm like I, doctor, I'm a you. He's like yeah, carline, your iron levels are really low. And I'm like what do you mean? It's just like. It's like you're gonna have to go to the hospital. I'm like the hospital is that bad? He's like yeah, he's like the lab called me. And I'm like, okay, it's one of those things. You ignore it until it gets really bad.

Kirani James: 54:10

And I think that's the thing with, like, I guess, with hindsight or looking back, where is that you can move, pinpoint a lot of these things?

Kirani James: 54:19

That's what I'm. That's what I'm gonna say. Like you could help the next person you know in the future. You know somebody says, oh, I'm feeling this way, you know, my eye feels sandy, you know okay. Okay, we need to, you need to check this. Yeah, I see what's going on. Yeah, I think sometimes that that that helped. Like you say, we go out, go through things. I think the main thing, if we could help the next person you know, that'll go into a certain experience and I think that's that's making the best out of it, out of all situations.

Carlene Humphrey: 54:54

So, yeah, no, it's good, it's good. You said you experienced that and I could tell you, like I have a coworker. He had something happen to him, that happened to me and I saw it. I'm like you need to go to the hospital, like today, and he didn't listen to you, didn't go that night. But he went the following morning and he said Carly and I yeah, I broke my ankle. I'm like, yeah.

Carlene Humphrey: 55:14

When you show me how it look. I was like you need to go. I'm like I don't even know how you manage it. I'm like your tolerance for pain is a lot higher than mine because I remember that pain, and I'm like there's no ignoring this. I first I was like hoping I broke, like I remember when I broke my ankle I thought I sprained it, karani. And when the doctor came with the exam, I was like no, he's, like, yeah, you, you fractured it. It's a minor factor, but mm-hmm.

Carlene Humphrey: 55:42

So now I know for myself, like when I, when he told me, I was like what Are you sure? Yeah, that's not, that's not a something you should. I'm like you got to go now, like because it could. It just makes it worse the longer you take to take care of something with like an injury, right? So, yeah, I'm so happy that we finally had this conversation. It's been I have to tell you this, it's been a dream of mine Like I was like you just helped me accomplish something that I didn't even think was attainable. I didn't even know if you were going to say yes, and when you did, I was like I can't believe it. You know, and talking to you now, you're, you're so humble. So it's just, you never know what to expect in life.

Kirani James: 56:32

Yeah, I'm glad it all worked out. Yeah, yeah.

Carlene Humphrey: 56:38

It was a pleasure speaking to you too. I'm Carleen, and this is Not Magnation with the one and only Karani James.