bookworm
‘A lot of stories that have been illustrated about
though I was out of the sport, I continued watching
me are stories that don’t have much weight in terms
it. There were opportunities for me to go out and rave
of illustrating the truth… When you read things and
and that wasn’t benefiting me, it wasn’t keeping me
listen to things from people that don’t portray you
focused, if anything it was directing me towards a life
in a positive light then it suppresses you, so I don’t
that was only going to end up getting me in trouble,
listen, I just brush it off, I’d rather put my energy into
and I was already in trouble.’
something positive.’
Using time wisely
Good support network
Getting in trouble was putting it mildly. The truth
Becoming a father and having the support of a loving
behind that statement was to herald a dark period for
partner, Dwain knew if he bowed out from running
Dwain, but he took it in his stride, determined to make
then he wouldn’t just be failing himself but the people
the most of his situation. ‘I was in jail, I had to sit
around him and the sport he so dearly loved. ‘I was
down and do my time for two years and it killed me,’
faced with a situation where if I didn’t pick myself up
he says. With time out from the sport that he had put
from the floor then I would be gone, and that hurt me.
everything into, Dwain decided to use that time wisely.
‘Imagine having nothing, absolutely nothing. I
‘I used that time out to educate myself, I started to
would be letting down myself, my family my kids. I’d
read more and I got qualifications in sports science. I
rather be remembered for something positive than
didn’t just sit there and bum around.’
negative. I’ve got a god-given talent, we are all put on
It’s certainly been a tough ride for Dwain, but his
this earth to do something, were not just here to make
determination, support from his family and sheer love
up the numbers so there’s no point wasting it.’
for the sport has seen him bounce back in the face of
adversity. There’s a lesson there for everyone.
Negative media pressure
With the negative media pressure it would have been
Dwain Chambers – Race Against Me is published
easy for the north London born sprinter to have taken
by Libros International and is out now and
the wrong path after he was banned from competing
available from all good book shops priced £18.99
but, ‘I had to face my demons,’ he states. ‘Even
25
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