Record-breaking Vincy athlete struggling to buy food, pay rent in US

Shafiqua Maloney, the Vincentian athlete who broke her national record in the 800 metres when she ran 1:58.69 at the 2024 Tyson Invitational in Arkansas, United States, on Saturday, has spoken about the challenges she faces as she pursues her professional athlete dream. 

In running 1:58.69, Maloney, 24, also met the 2024 Paris Olympic Games entry standard of 1:59.30 and a GoFundMe account has been set up to help her finance her dream.

Maloney told SportsMax that she was homeless for several months over the last year and has not paid her coaches for years. 

At the same time, she said that the national athletics group in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has said that it has no money to help her to pursue her dreams. 

“I’ve been homeless for like couple of months. … especially last year, I was bouncing around from home to home. Right now, I live in like a dorm situation. So, I’m happy for these people who allow me to stay here right now. But it’s been hard,” she said, referring to the University of Arkansas. 

She said that she is largely supported by her parents, including her mother, who works on a cruise ship and also has to take care of two younger children with her meagre earnings. 

And despite her stellar performance, Maloney might not be able to leave the United States to take part in the Paris Olympic Games.

Maloney said that if she leaves the United States, she would not be allowed to return, pending approval of her application for an O-1 visa that would allow her to remain in the United States as an individual with extraordinary ability or achievement.

Maloney said she “recently” applied for the visa. 

“And that has cost me $8,500, which my mom has been sacrificing everything she has,” she said, adding that her mother works on a cruise ship and does not get paid much. 

“And she has two younger kids to take care of. So, every month, she has been trying to help me pay for that.”

There is an EC$2,500 fee that an applicant can pay to expedite the O-1 process and get a response in 15 days.

“… but I could barely afford the lawyer fees. I haven’t been able to pay the expedited fee,” Maloney said.  

Maloney said her coach had told her since December that she could run sub-two and even make the Olympic standard. 

“But I didn’t think it was gonna be that early. But it happened. I was in disbelief because that week was hard for me mentally,” she said, speaking of the week leading up to her record-setting run.

She said she spent even more time in prayer and reading the Bible.

“And … that race is just the epitome of how good the Lord has been to me. Without him, that weekend would not have been possible at all. He has been keeping me these past few years, honestly,” Maloney said.

“I can’t even find the words to describe how just seeing how good the Lord has been to me.”

Maloney said that every week is tough for her

“I’m on sponsored; I don’t have any support. I can’t work legally; I don’t have any income,” she said, adding, “So …, trying to figure out where your next food is gonna come from. 

“If I have my mom or dad or I get some money from somebody, it’s like, ‘Do I pay bills or buy supplements? Do I get some groceries? Or do I go get me a massage and see the chiropractor?’

“So …, certain days it’s easier. And some days it’s not. In that week everything was hitting a little bit harder?”

Maloney said she has been sending emails to athletics officials in SVG “probably since 2021”, adding that after she graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2021, she signed up for a programme that allowed her to work for a year in her field of study. 

“And that’s how I was able to fund my 2022 season. And it was hard because I was working 60 hours a week plus training, and I was even surprised I ran 1:59; I didn’t even know I had that in me.

“And that day, when I crossed, I cried and I cried. And unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to go to the World Championships last year. It was not. But, with regards to my association and the Olympic Committee, from what they’ve been telling me is that they don’t have the funds to support an athlete of my calibre. So …, I’m not into where funding comes from.”

Maloney was grateful to her coach, who she said she has not paid for three years. 

“I don’t think a lot of people realise how much goes into being a professional athlete, especially in the US,” she said.

“I’m from the Caribbean. If I need some food, I can’t go over to my grandma’s house and be like ‘I’m hungry. Can I get some food?’ or whatever the case is. When you’re up here, most of the time you’re on your own; from coaching fee — like I have not paid my coach in three years or so. 

“And, you know, this is America, if folks don’t get paid, they’re not gonna work  and so a lot of kudos to my coach for sticking with me despite everything.

“And, he’s not in it for the money. He saw the talent and what I am capable of, and for him to be able to work with me, despite not being able to pay him and stuff because I would like to pay my coach, he sacrifices a lot.” 

Despite the challenges, Maloney is pursuing a dream that she has had ever since she learnt about Vincentian athlete Keneke Alexander, a sprinter who represented SVG in the 400m event at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.

“Being a professional track athlete has been my goal since I knew who Kineke Alexander was. My dad always told me about Kineke and once I got to running in high school, I was just like, this is what I want to do. Anybody asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I said I want to run. It was very immature and when I got to college, I realised I can’t run forever. 

“So, some changes had to be made. But … I love to run and this is something I wanted to make a career out of. I’ve just been at it no matter the circumstance, especially these past two years.