Former national representative Nadia Alexander-Pompey believes it is never an easy decision for an athlete to switch national allegiance as there are tons of considerations to be weighed in the process.

Alexander-Pompey, a former thrower, transitioned from an outstanding junior and collegiate athlete and represented Jamaica at both the junior and senior levels.

Speaking against the background of a number of Jamaican athletes recently taking steps to switch allegiance, she said she does not think the decisions were taken lightly.

Alexander-Pompey is in a unique position to offer an opinion as she switched allegiance to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines where her father was born.

“As a Jamaican, as a thrower, you know, it is hard to see [the change of allegiance], especially you know, it was the field events is what carried us at the [Paris] Olympics last year. It is tough to see them leave but at the same time, you have to look at the athletes and what they had to go through to get to that point,” she reasoned.

She said it would have been hard going to these international championships and when you talk to athletes from other countries and hear how well they are treated.

“When you think about [Roje] Stona winning a gold medal and what others get from their countries when they win a gold medal.”

She pointed to Caribbean athletes such as Paris Olympic women’s 100m gold medallist Julien Alfred of St Lucia, Anderson Peterson of Grenada and Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.

“Look at what their countries have done for them. At some time Stona might have considered: A pat on the shoulder and a weekend at [an all-inclusive resort hotel]. Would that be enough? How am I going to pay my bills?”

With the costs associated with preparing for meets and staying healthy, especially after college and having to find training facilities, the life of an athlete can be tough,” she said.

“When it comes to switching allegiance, there are a lot of things that [have] to come into play. It’s not just simply [that] I don’t want to represent my country, or I don’t love my country, and I want to represent somewhere else.”

She also noted the dwindling opportunities for field event athletes on the international circuit as another hurdle to get over. “When you decide, as an athlete, especially a field event athlete, to go pro, there are a lot of financial things that come with it. If you think about, yes, you have the new Grand Slam [Track] league, no field events.

“When you look at Diamond League, [it] has cut the number of field events that they are, you know, facilitating. So when you think of these field event athletes, you have to wonder, how are they expected to make a living, let alone take care of themselves,”

She cited the case of American sprinter Corey Patterson who works with a package delivery company and has to start training at 4:00 am before taking on his nine-to-five job.

Sometimes, simply chasing a dream is not enough, she said.

“There are a lot of athletes out there that are doing that, that work a full-time job and then come back and train. I mean, when I was leaving college, I was just one of them. I realised that if my full-time job is what’s paying the bills, that is where I’m going to focus my energy,” Alexander-Pompey explained.

“We need financial security. What are we expecting these athletes to do after they have competed?”