By Kwame Laurence
(Trinidad Express) It ended as a medal-less showing for Trinidad and Tobago in back-to-back Olympic campaigns.
At Paris 2024, Team TTO repeated its Tokyo 2020 performance.
Before that, the country’s athletes had climbed the podium at six straight editions of the Olympics, between 1996 and 2016.
Before Ato Boldon’s double sprint bronze at Atlanta 1996, T&T endured a two-decade drought following Hasely Crawford’s historic 100 metres gold at Montreal 1976.
There are concerns in some quarters that the current no-medal trend could develop into another drought.
Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Diane Henderson told the Express yesterday: “What I would like to say concerning LA is there’re a lot of things that need to be done. And that’s not from one institution. Sporting organisations have to take a deep review of what they’re doing and what they’re not doing. Are they really doing anything differently to change or to really develop our young base of athletes?”
She said athletes with Olympic aspirations need to be supported on that journey by the powers that be.
“The inspiration they need moving forward and making the decision to actually choose elite sport as a choice for their lives. We really have to make some changes. We, the TTOC, can only encourage and as far as possible do whatever we can to see changes happen. We hope we can get that done as our contribution.
“We will have conversations in terms of making some changes because there are things that have to change in order for Trinidad and Tobago to move forward where sport is concerned. There are changes in every period, every quadrennial; in athletes, in systems,” Henderson said.
She also challenged national governing bodies to change the script in the build-up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA.
Praise for Jereem, Keshorn
Jereem “The Dream” Richards was the most successful Team TTO athlete at Paris 2024, the Point Fortin athlete finishing fourth in the men’s 400m in a national record time of 43.78 seconds.
He missed out on bronze by just four-hundredths of a second.
Henderson was high in praise for Richards.
“The closeness of that finish and the effort he put out was tremendous. We know the kind of work he did as well as the inspiration he has been to the other athletes,” Henderson said.
The TTOC boss was also impressed with 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott, who finished seventh in the men’s javelin final, shrugging off the pain of an injured hamstring to fly the “Red, White and Black”.
For Walcott, 2024 was a comeback season following a serious Achilles injury less than 12 months ago.
“Keshorn has gone through a really rough time, and I really appreciate his efforts in continuing to pursue something that would have been extremely difficult. Everybody would not understand the challenges athletes go through in order to even reach the final. And this is something he did many years after achieving his gold medal,” Henderson said.
She also spoke about swimmer Dylan Carter.
“Maybe Dylan wasn’t as sharp, but we understand that is all part of the process. We look back on our performances and see how best improvements could be made.
“I want to commend our two cyclists, Kwesi Browne and Nicholas Paul because they have dedicated their time; that persistence, that determination to continue striving.”
Browne fell in his men’s keirin repechage heat on Saturday. “We wish him well on his recovery and progression,” Henderson said.
Planning for LA must start now
Team TTO chef de mission Lovie Santana-Duke said she was proud of T&T’s Paris 2024 representatives.
“The entire contingent did their best,” Santana-Duke told the Express. “Jereem, Keshorn, Nicholas and Dylan all led the way. We have a number of youngsters on the team, and that can only augur well for the future. It is important that Trinidad and Tobago rally around our athletes. The planning for LA 2028 must start now.
“We need to consider not just qualifying times but what it will take to podium. I, for one, am not discouraged. Let’s focus on how best to support our athletes who have the talent, potential and drive and desire to be an Olympic medallist.”
Leah Bertrand is among the young TTO athletes with sights set on the LA 2028 podium.
The 22-year-old sprinter, a women’s 100m semifinalist at Paris 2024, had the honour of carrying the “Red, White and Black” at yesterday’s closing ceremony.
Entering the Stade de France with the T&T flag was a special occasion for Bertrand.
Leaving the Los Angeles Coliseum with a medal around her neck after the 2028 Olympic 100m final, however, would surely top that Paris 2024 high.
