"Winning the gold medal was an honour, it was an accomplishment, it's something that I'm more than happy to share with the Guyanese people."
So said Guyana's 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Aliann Pompey to reporters on her arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport early yesterday morning.
Pompey, who arrived with her father aboard a North American Airlines jet at 5.32am, was at the time responding to a question posed soon after her arrival.
The national women's 400-metre record holder whilst advising aspiring athletes to "keep trying," Pompey said.
"I don't think a lot of people heard of me before this (winning the Commonwealth gold medal), and this was simply because I wasn't doing anything, I was trying, it just took a while to get there, so I'll tell them not to give up but to keep trying and eventually it will happen."
Pompey who registered 51. 63 seconds in winning the 400-metre at the Manchester Games, is hoping to be selected for the World Cup Games, slated for late next month.
The petite soft-spoken athlete explained that the World Cup Games, divides the world into eight regions. Guyana is in the region that includes South and Central America, the West Indies and Canada,
"So I'm hoping to make the selection for the 400X400 relay team," Pompey said. According to her, she will know by tomorrow if she has been selected.
Pompey also has her eyes set on representing Guyana at the world indoors outdoors next year, as well as the Pan American Games.
Pompey who holds a Bachelors Degree in Finance said she is flattered with the reception she received at the airport yesterday. "I'm surprised to see so many people here, my friend from school, my family, Mr. (Neville) Denny, a lot of people that I recognise...I'm really happy and flattered" Pompey said, adding "I'm really pleased, especially since it's this early in the morning".
When told how surprised she looked at the end of the 400-metre in Manchester, Pompey's response was "I wasn't sure if I had won or not, but the truth of it is ..you saw the tape, but I'm still to see it, but in the race, I wasn't in the lead in the last 100m or so, so when I got to the finish line I really didn't know, I was just waiting for the score to come up in the frame, and when my name came up...well I was excited".
Pompey who hopes to complete her Masters Degree in another year or so, said she is not sure as yet what she will be doing over the next week in Guyana "I don't know, there is so much, and I still don't have all the information of what I'm going to be doing or what they have planned, so, I'm just going to try and enjoy it all" Pompey stated.
On her arrival yesterday morning, Pompey, dressed in casual wear and accompanied by her father Eric Leon Pompey, was met by a welcoming party that included Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Gail Teixeira and her Permanent Secretary (ag) Max Baird, Guyana Olympic Association's president and general secretary Juman Yassin and Ivor O'Brien respectively, Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana president and senior vice-president Claude Blackmore and Neville Denny respectively, representatives of the Women in Sports group, as well as some of her relatives.
On descending the aircraft's stairs, Pompey received flowers from representatives of various sporting organisations and groups. One such was received from rising, Analisa Austin, a rising star in local track and field circles.
Asked if he is happy with his daughter's home coming reception, the elder Pompey said "yes I appreciate it a lot, actually I'm a bit flattered, I'm just on for the ride, the moment is hers, and I'm glad that she has been able to do something to make Guyana's name known out there.