b'business studies degree! I am most proud of my brothers, Raymond, Peter and, most of all, Winston Weir and his twin brother Akin Sankofa, formerly Windell Weir, commonly known as The Twins, who made academic top marks for the Weir family at HGS. In fact I believe their academic achievements may still be on the school wall in what was the assembly room.You competed in three Olympic Games: in Los Angeles in 1984, Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000. Which one was your favourite?The favourite Olympic Games for me was my first one, Los Angeles. It had always been a childhood dream to become an Olympian. JASON JOHNAthletics has had its drugs scandals over the years and at that time there were some high-profile athletes who were found to have taken performance-enhancing drugs, for example Ben Johnson, theAs the world turns, intrepid on-the-spot Canadian sprinter at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. DidBridge reporter Mr Conway (Scoop to you ever suspect that some of your competitors were taking performance-enhancing drugs at the time?his friends) sought out another great I did not have to suspect this! Quite a few athletes whoOlympian and former Handsworth student, had involved themselves in drug use have, since theirJason John, one of Britains fastest men in time in sport, openly admitted that they did use banned performance-enhancement drugs. In one case, one of thethe 1990s, who competed for Team GB in athletes who had tested positive for drugs had denied me athe 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.place in a final back in 1995.Lord Coe has agreed that, in this years OlympicFirst let me introduce Jason John, who attended HGS from 1983 to Games,winning athletes should receive monetary1988, and represented Great Britain at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics payment for theirsuccess for the first time. What doand the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia, in you think of that?Canada. Jason won a silver medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the That to me is wonderful news; financial reward for1993 World Championships, and gained another silver medal at the sporting achievement is long overdue. The time, energy,1996 European Indoor Championships in Stockholm. From 1996 to and sacrifice which an athlete makes in order to win at1998, Jason played professional rugby for Moseley RUFC in Division such a high level is incredible. Therefore, the reward forTwo of the National League Division. He now teaches in a secondary outstanding athletic achievement is also a signal to the factschool in Derbyshire. that the world is changing. Hi Jason and thank you for agreeing to speak to The Bridge Do you still have family and friends in Birmingham andmagazine for our Olympic-themed 2024 edition. What are your areyou in touch with the sporting activities in the city?memories of HGS and did you enjoy school?I have family and friends in Birminghamsome of courseI have several fond memories of my time at HGS, in fairness too many have moved away. My brother Winston lives in Birmingham,to mentionthe friends I made in the classroom and the team mates I and his son also attended Handsworth Grammar. Theplayed alongside, all the house sports, countless athletics fixtures, and Pepper family, Tim and James, live near Birmingham, andthe staff who gave up their time to make it possible. Oh! And dissecting we keep in touch, and my old water bottle sparring partnera pigs eye in biology! There were times, however, when I didnt always Chris Starmer lives just outside Birmingham too! There areenjoy HGShow can anyone forget the infamous cross country runs, a few others, including Colin McGhie, Winston Maynardand Y7 singing lessons after Monday assembly?and Milton Allen, all of whom are friends still living in theDid you play other sports at school and what were your favourite area. I am a lifetime member of Birchfield Harriers and so,academic subjects at school?when I am in Birmingham, I occasionally visit the clubin fact my daughter Jillian and I were at Birchfield aroundI did a lot of house sport, even swimming once never again! But I Christmastime, training for the 2024 Olympics. only represented the school in athletics, basketball and football. After narrowly failing to make it into Team GB for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics You made a life for yourself and your family in the(dead heated with Darren Campbell), I had a brief sabbatical playing USA.Why did you decide to settle in the States?professional rugby for Moseley in Division Two of the National League. The decision to settle in the US was because my AmericanI have never really had a favourite subject but PE/games gave me a qualification in management information and sciencechance to shine, even though I wasnt considered the best all-round was not accepted in the UK. Meanwhile, I was alreadysportsperson in my year.coaching in the US, something I discovered I loved doing. I enjoy helping athletes achieve and exceed their goals,How and why did you first get into athletics?and I have been lucky enough to coach athletes to be onI enjoyed sport and was already playing Sunday League football, Olympic teams; some have won Olympic medals for thewhen I won the West Midlands Schools Athletics Championship. US, including gold. My daughter Jillian is an Olympian forThe meeting was at the Alexander Stadium, the home of Birchfield Canada in the hammer throwing, and won a bronze medalHarriers, and several of their coaches were present, who made a in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham! beeline for me. A year later I was crowned national champion. The Thanks so much for the interviewfollowing year, however, I could not win a 100m race for love nor money, which was when I decided to focus on athletics. And the rest, Robert. Hang on, theres my bus as they say, is history17'