Germaine Mason talks silver, Stephen Francis and attention seeking

Britain's Jamaican-born high jumper Germaine Mason exclusively revealed to spikesmag.com what has helped propel him to an Olympic silver medal.

When Germaine Mason talks about training, there might just be an element of ‘so what?’ After all, dozens of athletes up and down the country train at floodlit tracks in all kinds of weather in the hope of realising their dreams and winning a medal at the Olympic Games one day.

For much of the year, Mason trains in Jamaica, the land of his birth, under the coaching of Stephen Francis - the man who has guided Shelly-Ann Fraser to Olympic 100m gold and who inspired Asafa Powell to the world 100m record.

So what are Francis’ strengths?

"He's a very hard working coach," says Mason in his heavy Jamaican accent. "Each morning I wake up at 5am and train under the moon and stars. His theory is we will work harder then. He doesn't like us to party, although we are too tired at the weekend.”

Francis spotted the potential in the 12-year-old Mason after watching him jump on the basketball court. Mason, who stands at 6ft 4ins, describes Francis as 'like a father to him' and his reputation soared as he won World Junior medals – silver and bronze at the 2000 and 2002 Championships - and a bronze at the 2004 World Indoor Championships.

However, in 2005 the pair split. "He was coaching a big group of athletes and was not giving me the attention I wanted, so I left," said Mason of the disagreement.

At this point he sought a new direction for his athletics career. Mason explored his British links. His father, David, was British born, which opened up a new possibility. "I've always been a British citizen,” he explained. “I had a fall out with my coach and just thought it was something I wanted to do."

Mason moved to Texas first to link with top US coach Sue Humphrey, who had guided Charles Austin to the 1996 Olympic high-jump title, but the arrangement ended after less than two years together. 

"I wasn’t happy there," Mason said. "I was a bit home sick, went back to Stephen Francis and just accepted I was going to be part of a big group and wouldn't be given all the attention."

That was at the beginning at 2007, however, and last season turned out to be a frustrating one for Mason.  He cleared 2.30m but failed to qualify for the final at the World Championships in Osaka . "I was very disappointed I didn’t make it as I knew I could have won a medal," he admitted.

Worse was to follow when the UK Athletics removed his lottery funding after a series of disappointing performances. However, Mason refused to give in. "I just kept focused on what I needed to do." He worked hard not only on his physical well-being but also his psychological conditioning.

Francis instilled into his charge to be more relaxed, focused and confident during competitions; a fact borne out during qualification in Beijing on the Sunday. "My coach told me I could win gold, although maybe that was for confidence," he added. " I was in the best shape of my life, though, because I'd done PBs in the weight room and in the high jump."

Mason delivered during a top-class final where he cleared 2.32m at the first time, and negotiated a world class 2.34m to equal his PB which he first set five years earlier when winning the Pan American title. However, he could not compete with the Russian Andrey Silnov, who cleared 2.36m, but the silver was his.

Cynics may view Mason's medal as a cheap one for Great Britain, bearing in mind his Jamaican roots. But he has richer link than you might think. His British-born father, David lives in Jamaica, but his Jamaican-born mother is happily settled in Acton, West London, with his three brothers and one sister. His 15-year-old brother is already showing potential, setting an Ealing Schools 100m record.

He is also the cousin of Great Britain international sprinter Simeon Williamson, the European Under-23 100m champion, which has helped him settle into the British team.

"Simeon has made me feel more relaxed and part of the team," he said. "I have no regrets about moving to Great Britain. They are some good jumpers here, and we help motivate each other," he explained of the likes of Martyn Bernard and Tom Parsons, his fellow Brits who also reached the Olympic final.

Yet after winning a medal, how did his country of birth view his success?

"A got a lot of comments from people wishing I was still wearing the green, gold and black but they gave me no ill-feeling,” he answered with a chuckle.

Jamaica’s loss is clearly Great Britain’s gain.