The Honorable Levern Spencer
Levern Spencer’s achievement of representing St Lucia in 4 Olympics, eight out of doors World Championships, 4 indoor World Championships, and 5 Commonwealth Video games as a excessive jumper in a 23-year profession has been acknowledged by her nation with the prefix “the Honorable” added to her title. It occurred on the 2025 Investiture Ceremony.
Levern reacted: “What a pleasure and a privilege it was to have my nation’s second highest award, The St. Lucia Cross. Absolutely, when at age 14, I commenced my 23-year-long Journey, representing my nation within the area of Sports activities, I didn’t see such a day coming, and so I embrace this event with an important diploma of satisfaction and a way of fulfilment.
“I due to this fact imagine that such an achievement warrants that I take the chance to proceed to thank the various individuals and establishments who supported me on this lengthy and fulfilling journey. It goes with out saying that your partnership with me made all of it occur, and for that, I will probably be eternally grateful”. Having identified Levern for a few years, and seen her in, I feel, 17 of these championships, I share her delight on the award.
I bear in mind clearly the primary dialog I had together with her. It was in Brussels 2017, the yr there was an influence failure leaving a lot of the stadium in darkness. On the way in which to the stadium, I had learn in Mark Butler’s wonderful biographies that Levern Spencer was a dedicated Christian. As I’ve an curiosity in athletes of religion, I made a be aware to talk to her afterwards. I missed her due to the chaos in a darkish combined zone. Later I boarded the bus again to the resort. The bus was full with only one seat remaining – subsequent to Levern!
When she retired, she posted on social media: “Properly because it turned out, my closing soar on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was certainly my closing soar within the occasion of high-jump, within the sport of observe and area. After a journey of 23 consecutive years, this skinny introvert from the sub-urban group of Babonneau within the tiny island of St. Lucia with a inhabitants of 180,000, has determined to hold up her spikes and formally finish her journey within the sport of observe and area, and what a journey it was”.
The next extracts from a Q and A article I did on her in 2020, provide you with a taste of the athlete and the particular person:
Profession highlights?
I’ve loads of highlights and loads of good achievements. The 2 most necessary ones had been the 2018 Commonwealth Video games the place I created historical past by being the primary St Lucian to win a Commonwealth gold medal and in 2016 once I turned the primary St Lucian to make an Olympic closing. These could be two of the most important highlights.
Disappointments?
I wouldn’t name it a disappointment however one factor, if I may return and do one thing in a different way, I might attempt to get entry to a world class facility and coaching earlier. I want I may have began engaged on my approach at a youthful age. I didn’t begin excessive leaping till I used to be 14 however I didn’t get correct teaching and coaching till I used to be 20, which could be very late. So if I may change one factor it will be to get world class amenities earlier in order that I may enhance my approach at an earlier age.
Is it a frustration that you just by no means fairly made the magic two meters?
I don’t need to say ‘frustration’. Sure, my PR is 1.98 however I bought so shut to 2 meters a variety of occasions. 1.98 will not be far off two meters however one way or the other two meters places you in one other class. Everybody desires to get to the two-meter mark. I might have beloved to get a PR however I’ll nonetheless be pleased with my profession and what I’ve achieved all through the years. I’ve seen some athletes clear 2 meters after which by no means do it once more. When you have got a excessive PR it’s tougher to beat it.
What was the key of your longevity?
With my supervisor I formulated a motto: God + exhausting work + self-discipline = success. I’ve used that motto all through my profession. Something that I’ve achieved to date was all God’s doing – not by my very own power, however as a result of God allowed it to occur. I stress exhausting work as a result of nothing in life comes simply, it’s a must to work exhausting. Disciplined means accepting loads of sacrifice. And I feel that each one three embody success. All through my profession the motto motivated me and pushed me to maintain going within the sport. I did the little issues that I wanted to do by myself to reduce accidents – like going to a chiropractor, having massages or doing further stretching, simply to maintain my physique in the very best form I may. It enabled me to compete for 23 consecutive seasons with out having any main accidents. I didn’t have to sit down out any seasons and I’m grateful that God saved me going this lengthy.
