The Barbados Olympic Association Inc. (BOA) is pleased to announce that Barbadian Olympian, educator, and national coach Kierre Beckles, OLY, will represent Barbados at the upcoming NIKE TAFISA CANOC Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway Workshop. The regional event is scheduled for September 18–19, 2026, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Organised through a strategic partnership between NIKE, The Association for International Sport for All (TAFISA), and the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), the initiative targets systemic gender disparities that limit female participation in athletics. By training coaches directly, the workshop equips leaders to dismantle barriers and foster safe, accessible, and empowering sports environments for young women across the region.
Beckles, a 2016 Rio Olympian and a highly respected figure in Barbadian sports, brings an exceptional wealth of experience to this workshop. As a former elite hurdler, 15-time national champion, and former national record holder in the 100m hurdles, she understands firsthand the transformative power of sport. Since 2019, Beckles has served as a Physical Education Teacher at Princess Margaret Secondary School, and she also serves as the Head Coach of the BOSEN Academy Track Club. Holding International Level 1 and Level 2 National Coaching Certifications, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to developmental athletics, recently serving as a Barbados National Coach at both the CARIFTA Games and the NACAC Under-18 and Under-23 Championships.
“I am incredibly honoured and grateful to be selected for this workshop, which aligns perfectly with my mission as an educator and coach,” said Beckles. “My goal has always been to use my experiences on and off the field to inspire and guide the next generation. Participating in this pathway will equip me with more critical tools needed to break down barriers, foster body confidence, and ensure that our female athletes feel safe, valued, and empowered to achieve their full potential in sport.”
Over the intensive two-day curriculum, Beckles and other regional participants will engage in a robust agenda focused on practical solutions to enhance girl-focused coaching. The core workshop topics and takeaways include How to Get (and Keep) Girls in Sport, looking at strategic coaching methodologies to attract and retain female athletes; Body Confidence, highlighting practical tools to build healthy self-esteem and body image in young girls; and Safeguarding in Sport for All, training geared at creating a safe, supportive, and harassment-free athletic environment.
“We are immensely proud to support Kierre Beckles’ participation in this programme,” stated Janelle Denny, Director of the National Olympic Academy of Barbados. “As an Olympian who transitioned seamlessly into an elite coach and teacher, Kierre exemplifies the leadership and passion we need to drive systemic change. This workshop is a key milestone in our ongoing commitment to gender equity, and we are confident she will bring back invaluable insights to benefit our local athletic community.”
Beckles holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Sociology from the University of South Carolina and an Associate of General Studies from Central Arizona College. She has also completed training in Sports Administration through Olympic Solidarity and the BOA and pursued postgraduate studies in Secondary Physical Education at Erdiston Teachers’ Training College.