A proud dad: I knew Kyron would excel but not at this level

Recognizing Kyron McMaster’s unfettered thirst for athletic success, Anthony McMaster said he willingly pumped thousands of dollars into making his son’s dream of becoming a professional athlete an actuality.

He said Kyron was determined to succeed in athletics and has made him a proud father.

“I think I had the easiest part of the whole process because his mom (Jocelyn) is who really got up with him, brought him to meet the coach to start the training every morning for years. I just needed to do a little financing on the back end to make sure that he goes off and competes,” Anthony said.

According to the delighted dad, he paid approximately $700 to $1000 per trip, about six times yearly for nearly a decade so his son could compete in track and field events around the globe.

“And then there’s the other side of it — you have to make sure he has the correct gears, the proper vitamins that he would need, and the diet in order to make sure that you condition your body,” he added.

Great success unexpected

Kyron is a Commonwealth Games gold medalist and is currently among the top 400-metre hurdles male athletes in the world today.

During a BVI News interview recently, Anthony was asked whether he had foreseen Kyron blossoming in the sport to this degree, to which he admitted ‘no’.

“I knew that he would excel in something because of his personality and who he is. But if you had asked me even a few years ago: ‘Where do you think Kyron would reach in terms of athletics?’ I would say I think it would take him to college and I would have an easy college bill”.

However, he said Kyron had always promised he would become successful.

“Kyron was always adamant that he wanted to run professionally. I would tell him: ‘Kyron, to run pro you have to be among the top five to survive in the world in order to get proper sponsorships and getting the endorsements that would actually get a paycheque’. But, he told me: ‘I will be there’.”

The young athlete has made good on his promise and has landed a major sponsorship deal with Puma within his first year as a professional senior athlete.