By Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter 
Olympic gold medallist and 400 metres hurdler Deon Hemmings signs autograph for eager young fans during the annual MultiCare inter-schools sports competition at Breezy Castle on Wednesday. Pictured in the background is MultiCare Foundation board member Prof. Neville Ying. - Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer
AFTER A successful international track career spanning 10 years, Jamaican Olympian Deon Hemmings has decided to call it quits.
Dogged by injury for the past three years and goaded by the failure of treatments, Hemmings says she has heeded her body's call to stop.
"I've been struggling since the latter part of 2000 and still haven't fully recovered. I don't think I should be on the track unless I can give 100 per cent and right now I'm nowhere near that even though I rested for half the year last year.
"It's time for me to retire," the hurdler said.
Hemmings, whose highest accomplishment was winning the 400 metres hurdles gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, suffered injury of a myofascial nature.
She basically ignored the injury but then got beaten by schoolgirl Melaine Walker in 2001 and that became the last straw and she sought treatment.
Myofascial pain is defined on the internet as "a large group of muscle disorders characterised by the presence of hypersensitive points within one or more muscles and/or the investing connective tissue together with a syndrome of pain, muscle spasm, tenderness, stiffness, limitation of motion, weakness, and occasionally autonomic dysfunction."
This occurs when muscles are injured through trauma or repetitive stress and in some cases develop taut bands with tender nodules or knots referred to as trigger points.
Hemmings explained that she got all the trigger point injections, massages as well as acupuncture but nothing worked. Not for long anyway.
The pain associated with this condition has become unbearable for her and seemingly untreatable. Even her training has been severely affected to the point where she missed participating in the last National Championships.
"I tried every kind of treatment but it only gave temporary relief. I tried all the trigger point injections and even training right up to the trials I got more injections but it just wasn't working.
"Getting my spine injected is now my only option and I don't think that is a risk that I'll take so I prefer to call it quits. I've been going non-stop for so long and I knew this would happen sooner or later," said the high-profile athlete.
POST-RETIREMENT
The former York Castle High athlete, who also spent two years fine-tuning her skill at Vere Technical, says she has retired without much regret.
"I have regrets but not a lot. I enjoy competing and I'm going to miss that but it doesn't make sense to go do it and I'm not on top of my game. It's either 100 per cent or not at all.
"My biggest regret is that my father (deceased) never had the opportunity to see my success," she said.
Hemmings preferred to use the word "retread" rather than retire as she will be going over ground lost in other areas.
Her post-retirement plans are numerous and among them, focus on youth development.
Said Hemmings, who outside of her stellar track career is a licensed real estate agent: "I'll now be able to devote time to a lot of areas like youth development because I hope to give back to my country and community. Firstly, by continuing to set a good example and going around to schools and stuff, hopefully sooner or later set up a programme where kids in track and field can directly benefit.
THANK YOU
"I want to thank God, my mother, my other family members, coaches and friends. Also to my Windalco family (Alcan) and to Mr. Pat Anderson without whose support I would not have been where I am today. There are so many people to whom I owe a lot," she said.
