Reclaiming. Building. Thriving.

Getting to where you want to be in life is not always an easy ride.  

It hardly ever is, actually, and for me it came after many years of preparation, commitment, exams and travelling. 

This year’s Black History Month theme – ‘Reclaiming narratives’ – is something that I can totally relate to through my professional journey. 

It all started in 2008 with an email from a British Triathlon regional manager, containing information from the London Development Agency. 

They were looking to train Londoners to officiate at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games with official London Sport funding, which meant committing to four years of training to be able to officiate at the Games. 

What was not to like about an offer like that?!   

Definitely not a sprint

However, getting on the then Level 1 Club/Assistant Referee course – we were not called Technical Officials (TOs) back then – and into the bursary process, was not what you’d call straightforward.  

Becoming a TO requires hours of commitment and there was a lot of travelling to triathlon events, shadowing qualified race referees and writing up detailed reports, plus this was all done on paper and emails with a lot of admin that took up a great chunk of time after every event.   

Moving up to a Level 2 (regional) seemed to be a much quicker process, though. 
 

I thought I might be on track for the Olympics, but in order to get to the next stage (national technical official, NTO) I needed to complete two years of officiating at a specific number and type of events in various roles before I was able to apply for the relevant course and exam. 

Due to work I didn’t get on to a course on time, so I had to wait four years before the next opportunity became available.  

I finally qualified as an NTO in 2018 and then embarked on a number of TO roles (all self-funded) around the world, living amazing experiences and meeting some great colleagues, some of whom became good friends. 

But to become the continental technical official (CTO) I am now, I had to do two more years of officiating at specific events and finally I completed the course and its exam in 2022/23. 

So no, I didn't get to London 2012 as an official, but I was there as a ’Games Maker’ and that was an amazing experience! 

Remembering a particular sports event

As you can see, being a TO requires a lot of commitment over a long period of time, plus you need to have resources to get to events nationally and overseas.  

Of all the events I’ve officiated, I recall one in particular: the Blenheim Palace Triathlon when BADU Sports entered their first triathlon team.   

I got chatting to them when they arrived and explained my CTO role.  

One of the BADU team was extremely surprised that I had achieved such a title and was (in her words) “in charge” of other technical officials working at the event.  

However, what made me remember this event in particular was that when I returned to my car at the end of that day I heard one of the exhibitors comment that I must be part of the security team. 

That hurt, especially as the company they worked for was one of the major sponsors for British Triathlon. 

I know, and now you know, how much it takes to get to where I am today and it all got erased by one person’s assumption. It felt wrong. 

I don’t have anything against security professionals. They do an amazing job, and a difficult one too, but it’s just not my job. So why did that person think that it was?  

Helping make the change I want to see

As I mentioned before, this year’s Black History Month is about reclaiming our narrative and I’m using this opportunity to reclaim mine – the efforts and the years of my life I’ve invested in pursuing the place I’m at now.  

But I also want to highlight some positive changes I’ve witnessed since the start of my career, like the change in the face of triathlon in the UK since I first joined the sector.  

Back in 2006 I would be the only Black/Brown person at the event, but nowadays I see more people taking part from diverse backgrounds and cultures.   

However, when you look at the UK officiating team, the number from diverse backgrounds is low (1%) and I believe I know who they all are, too!    

I continue to officiate events and it would be great to see more diversity in my professional landscape. 

As well as supporting diversity in my job, I’ve been involved with equality, diversity and inclusion as a volunteer, as a representative of the Triathlon England Council and a participant of round-table talks. 

But, while for me it is important to reclaim my narrative, I’m here to also help others build theirs. 

There is a saying "you have to see it to be it" but I believe that "you have to be it for others to see it" because if we all waited for someone to inspire us, many people would still be waiting.  

But we’re done waiting. It’s all about reclaiming, building and thriving now.