QL's mission is to stimulate and foster the athletic and God-given abilities of track athletes in order to propel them to the next level.
Quantum Leap is a track programme in Barbados developed under the auspices of Burnett International, an entity established by Gabriel Burnett, a former Barbados Olympian and a renowned track and field coach. Burnett has not only been an athlete and coach in Barbados, but has also had the ‘student-athlete’ experience within the U.S. based, National Collegiate Athletic Association system. Burnett ha
s also been involved in athletic administration, being a member of the council of the Amateur Athletic Association of Barbados (as it then was) and participating as a member of the organising committee in the recently concluded Barbados Secondary Schools Athletic Championships 2016. As such, Burnett has a unique, holistic perspective of track and field locally and internationally and has opined that well-nurtured and well-prepared individuals will produce world class and elite-level sportsmanship locally. Through collaboration with current and former athletes and coaches and input from academic and medical professionals and the parents and guardians of athletes, Burnett was able to devise a comprehensive training programme focused on creating individuals of character, equipped with all the skills necessary for success, not only in athletics, but in life. The programme encourages self-development and discourages the separation of sport from self, so that athletes recognise that sports can be used as a gateway to achieve other life goals or conquer challenges. The programme currently targets secondary school athletes, since this is the age group where individuals often attempt to make firm decisions about their academic, athletic and professional future. Additionally, athletic participation is more likely to offer opportunities for academic and athletic growth to individuals of this age group e.g. selection for national athletic teams, athletic scholarship offers, offers for professional athletic contracts etc. Quantum Leap is designed to ensure that the pool of vying athletes is not only an increasingly competitive one, but also a pool that consists of individuals who are prepared to reach their full potential.
