Wed | Oct 22, 2025

‘Give them the tools’

Dr Holt OD talks up the value of being a student-athlete

Published:Tuesday | October 21, 2025 | 12:10 AMKaren Madden/Gleaner Writer
Dr Michelle Holt (right) is all smiles as she receives the Order of Distinction from Governor General Sir Patrick Allen during the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards on the lawns of King’s House yesterday.
Dr Michelle Holt (right) is all smiles as she receives the Order of Distinction from Governor General Sir Patrick Allen during the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards on the lawns of King’s House yesterday.

SPORTS MEDICINE practitioner Dr Michelle Holt is urging parents of students who show an interest in sports to give them the tools to balance both in order to be successful.

Speaking with The Gleaner shortly after receiving the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for service in the field of medicine, Dr Holt stressed the benefits being involved in sports brings to academic excellence.

Dr Holt, who has been in medicine for more than 40 years, urged parents not to force their children to choose.

“I think they have that so wrong. I think they need to rethink that. Not because of just me as a role model or as an example, but it’s been proven that when you participate in sports, it actually helps the academics; and for me, the one time in life that I failed is when I thought that I didn’t have time for sports. Sports kept me alert, it kept me fresh, it kept me motivated. I spoke with a lot of parents who kept their children [in sports], because I begged them to, and watched their grades elevate because of sports participation. So I really encourage parents to go and do the research themselves and look at what sports does for academics.”

Dr Holt, who has served as team doctor for several national teams, told The Gleaner she felt honoured to be recognised by the country she has served.

“So I am passionate about medicine and I am extremely passionate about sports. So I think even from being recognised for medicine, a part of it is being recognised for my contribution to sports in medicine. I have been team doctor for the hockey team ever since I became a doctor, did sports medicine, and then I’m team doctor for the Sunshine Girls, so I think that was part of it, as well as doing work with the farm work programme. So I think to be passionate about the two things and then to be recognised in medicine, but it’s still in sports, is really a wonderful thing.”

As far as the youth go, Jamaica and West Indies cricketer Rovman Powell believes cricket needs to be repackaged in order to attract fresh talent.

“I think we have to start to sell cricket as a business, showing kids that cricket is definitely a career path, showing the kids that there are so many guys who, through cricket, have taken their families out of poverty. You know, it’s no longer just a long drawn-out sport, it’s a proper business and if people become good at it, then they can take their family out of poverty. I’ve been fortunate enough to help my family and help people around me, so I think we have to start selling it as a business and as a proper career path, just like when we were growing up — how distinguished it was to be a doctor, lawyer. We have to start selling not only cricket, but sports, as a means of taking your family out of poverty also.”

Powell received the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for services in cricket.