When Guyana’s contingent of boxers and athletes returned to Guyana from the South American Games in Chile on Wednesday night, there was no hero’s welcome or media waiting to quiz them on their achievements.
Reason being, the three boxers and four runners all failed to step on the podium after another mediocre performance by the locals on foreign soil.
The three pugilists Dennis Thomas (0-3), Eon Bancroft (0-3) and Theresa London (KO) lost their initial bouts of the tournament while Alisha Fortune finished last in the women’s 100m semis (12.29s) and failed to finish in the semis of the women’s 200m.
2012 Olympian, Winston George missed the podium with a fourth place finish in the men’s 400m (46.15) and placed fifth in the men’s 200m final in a time of 20.77s.
Cleveland Forde placed ninth in the 10-man field in the men’s 5000m, clocking a pedestrian 15:19:69s for the event which was won by Chile’s Victor Aravena in 14:06:02s.
Wayne Harlequin (1:55:88s) and Cleveland Thomas (1:57:90s) then ran in ninth and 10th respectively in the half-mile event.
Brazil’s Keiberson Davide took the gold in 1:45:30s.
Prior to the men’s 800m, Harlequin placed last in the semis of the quarter-mile event.
This came on the heels of Thomas and Forde finishing eighth and ninth respectively in the final of the men’s 1500m.
When asked by Stabroek Sport for a comment on their below par performances, the athletes declined to comment, stating that they were given orders by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) not to speak to the media until a press briefing is held.
Stabroek Sport then contacted president of the GOA, K.A. Juman Yassin and he stated that a press briefing will be held “either on Monday or Tuesday” since the Chef de Mission for the trip, Gokarn Ramdhani has not returned to Guyana as yet.
“It would be improper to hold a press briefing with the Chef being here so let us wait, I have some comments to make as well and you will be able to ask all of your questions at the briefing” the GOA head added.
