PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC-Two athletes who represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Rio Olympic Games which ended on Sunday say they were not daunted by ‘nasty’ comments on social media attacking them during the games.
Olympic shot put finalist Cleopatra Borel and sailor Andrew Lewis were commenting on their return to Port of Spain this week as part of a delegation of athletes and officials.
Trinidad and Tobago’s sports minister Darryl Smith had earlier demanded an end to the comments which appeared on social media.
“Anyone can say anything on social media these days,” declared Borel. “We can’t take that stuff personally, because for every individual who says something negative, there are literally thousands that are saying positive things to us. We have to focus on the positive.”
Keshorn Walcott won silver in the Javelin to be the only medallist for Trinidad and Tobago, who this Olympic year sent its largest contingent of 32 athletes to the games.
Gymnast Marisa Dick and boxer Nigel Paul are reported to be among athletes who have been targeted for negative comments on social media.
Dick was quoted in an interview with an ESPN reporter as saying she was heartbroken by the comments.
“My goal was to be at the Olympics. That was my dream,” said Lewis. “So when you are achieving your dreams and people are saying whatever they want about me, it’s irrelevant. There was way more positivity that would have pushed aside anything that would have come my way. I feel welcomed.”
