Former coach believes Matthews on the brink of greatness

WHEN GABRIELLE Matthews steps onto the track in Tokyo for her World Championships debut in the women’s 200 metres, she will be carrying more than her own ambitions. She will be carrying the pride of her alma mater, The Queen’s School.

The 22-year-old University of Florida sprinter, relatively unknown on the international circuit, booked her ticket to the championships after finishing second at this year’s National Championships behind Ashanti Moore.

She enters the competition with a personal best of 22.59 seconds and the confidence of a bronze medal run at last month’s NACAC Championships in The Bahamas.

Her former coach at Queen’s, Carlos Samuels, believes Matthews’ journey to this point is a story of determination, resilience, and quiet belief.

“My expectations for her are to basically stay focused and don’t get distracted,” Samuels said.

“As her first time out at the World Championships there are a lot of new variables, and this is a different level of competition than even at the collegiate level, where she has done well. But this stage gives her the opportunity to start showcasing her talent.”

ADVANCING WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT

Samuels noted that advancing through the rounds would be a significant achievement, with a place in the final serving as a dream launch pad for her career.

“One of her main objectives is to try to get through each round and then to actually get into that final. That would be a great achievement and set a platform for her for the years to come,” he said.

Matthews’ path has not been without challenges as a high-school athlete, she battled injuries that threatened to derail her progress.

“She is very determined, and when she was at The Queen’s School she suffered a lot of injuries, some of them still plague her now,” Samuels said. “She is very fast, but her body does not always reciprocate to the level of speed that she has, so injuries have always been at the forefront for her. But it seems as if she has managed to get through that this year, and qualifying for the World Championships is just enough motivation to ensure she gets the best possible time.”

For Samuels, Matthews’ achievement is also a reminder of the ethos instilled at The Queen’s School, where athletes are encouraged to believe in their own worth, no matter the odds.

“At The Queen’s School the odds are always against us, so we have to build our girls’ confidence so that when they step out there, they know they are just as good as anybody else when they line up. Diana has that type of confidence coming out of the Queen’s School programme. Physiologically, mentally, and spiritually, she is grounded in that,” Samuels said.

Matthews will not be alone in Tokyo. She joins another proud Queen’s alumna, reigning 100-metre hurdles world champion Danielle Williams, who Samuels believes will provide invaluable support.

“She will be carrying the flag for The Queen’s School, and you also have Danielle Williams, who is the reigning 100m hurdles champion and a past student of The Queen’s School.

“I know Danielle will help Diana in whatever way she can to stay focused at the championships.”