Good showing by Trinidad and Tobago »

Good showing by Trinidad and Tobago

Michael Valentine, the man in charge of the Trinidad and Tobago team here in Beijing, China, believes the country's success at the 2008 Olympic Games is a result of the efforts of both the Government and the T&T Olympic Committee (T&TOC).

Valentine described T&T's showing at Beijing 2008 as "excellent". The chef-de-mission, however, also pointed to a few disappointments--the baton bungle that eliminated the women's 4x100 metres team in the qualifying round, George Bovell III missing out on a spot in the men's 50m freestyle final and Darrel Brown bowing out of the Games with a hamstring injury.

"We really expected he (Brown) would have come through. It does not take away from the fact that he qualified for the Olympics and so, is still among the best in the world. He just needs to manage his injuries."

Richard Thompson captured two silver medals at Beijing 2008, earning the honour of carrying the T&T flag at yesterday's closing ceremony, at the Bird's Nest stadium. Torpedo Thompson was second in the men's 100m championship race and anchored T&T to the runner-up spot in the 4x100m. In the relay final, the 23-year-old sprinter teamed up with Keston Bledman, Marc Burns and Emmanuel Callender.

The two silvers earned here in Beijing secured 60th spot for T&T on the final medal table. Nigeria, Austria, Ireland, Serbia, Algeria, Morocco and South Africa are among the countries that trailed T&T.

Hosts China topped the table with 51 gold medals, 21 silvers and 28 bronzes, beating United States (36 golds, 38 silvers, 36 bronzes) into second spot. Russia (23 golds, 21 silvers, 28 bronzes) finished third.

Jamaica emerged as the best of the Caribbean nations, claiming six gold medals, three silvers and two bronzes to finish 13th. Usain Bolt led the charge for the northern Caribbean island, winning the men's 100m and 200m events with world record runs. Bolt clocked 9.69 seconds in the century and a jaw-dropping 19.30 in the longer race. The double Olympic sprint champion followed up with 4x100m gold, teaming up with Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Asafa Powell for a 39.10 seconds world record effort.

Cuba and Dominican Republic were next best among Caribbean nations. Cuba earned two gold medals, 11 silvers and 11 bronzes for 28th spot overall. Dominican Republic (one gold, one silver) finished 46th.

Team T&T copped fourth spot in the regional race, while Bahamas (one silver, one bronze) finished fifth in the Caribbean and 65th overall. Like Thompson, Burns appeared in two finals here in Beijing. The sprint relay silver medallist made it through the rounds in the 100m dash, copping seventh spot in the championship race. And in the men's 400m final, 20-year-old T&T quarter-miler Renny Quow finished seventh.

"A lot of Government and T&TOC investment over the four years is bearing fruit," Valentine said, yesterday. "It's not by accident more and more athletes are onto elite programmes sponsored by Government, and the T&TOC is pushing for a lot more to get on. It takes care of financial burdens."

The T&T chef said he is not prepared to offer an opinion on how Government should reward Thompson and the men's 4x100m team. "I would not in any way want to compromise Government they have their own perspective. "Many of the countries," Valentine continued, "have seen us perform and made the statement that they would be appropriately rewarded. As to the manner, I do not want to speculate."

Bovell and Rondell Sorillo were not among the T&T medallists at Beijing 2008, nor were they finalists. Both men, however, will have fond memories of the Games.

Bovell produced a fast 21.77 seconds swim in the preliminary round of the 50 free. In the semis, the 2004 Athens Games 200m individual medley bronze medallist touched the wall in 21.86, and did not advance to the final. But thanks to his 21.77 first round clocking, Bovell is now 14th on the all-time 50 free world performance list.

Sorillo has the distinction of being the only athlete with a "victory" over the amazing Bolt, at Beijing 2008. With Lightning Bolt in cruise control, 22-year-old Sorillo "beat" the Jamaican to the line in the opening round of the 200m.

"Sorillo showed no fear," Valentine noted. "It's a very young group. We expect improvement again in the next four years." The chef said Burns, Sorillo, Callender and Bledman have already checked out of the Games Village, while Thompson is expected to leave Beijing today. Thompson and Burns are likely to face the starter in the men's 100m at the Weltklasse Zurich Golden League meet, in Switzerland, on Friday. T&T will field a team in the men's 4x100m.

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