Antigua and Barbuda: A storied Olympic history and promising prospects for Paris 2024
Antigua and Barbuda's Olympic history began in 1965 with the formation of their National Olympic Committee (NOC), which gained full recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 19, 1976. The twin-island nation made its Olympic debut at the 1976 Montreal Games and has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since then.
In their inaugural appearance, Antigua and Barbuda sent 10 athletes who competed in 11 events across two main disciplines. Calvin Greenaway, Conrad Mainwaring, Cuthbert Jacobs, Elroy Turner, Everton Cornelius, Fred Sowerby, Maxwell Peters, and Paul Richards represented the country in athletics, while Donald Christian and Patrick Spencer competed in cycling.
One of the most renowned Olympic athletes from Antigua and Barbuda is Brendan Christian, who reached the semi-finals of the 200mm at both the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics. Another notable athlete, Daniel Bailey, made it to the 100m semi-finals in London 2012 and repeated this feat at the 2016 Rio Olympics, alongside teammate Cejhae Greene.
As the 2024 Paris Olympics approaches, Antigua and Barbuda have announced a team of five athletes to represent them. This team, consisting of seasoned athletes and promising newcomers, will compete across various disciplines. Joella Lloyd has made history by setting a national record and qualifying for the women's 100m event, becoming only the second female athlete from Antigua and Barbuda to reach Olympic qualifying standards. Cejhae Greene will compete in the men's 100m. Sailor Tiger Tyson will participate in the kiteboarding event. In the pool, newcomers Jadon Wuilliez and 14-year-old Ellie Shaw will compete in the men's and women's 100m breaststroke events, respectively.
The athletes will be supported by a group of officials and coaches, including Chef de Mission Joel Rayne and team manager Thomas Greenaway. While Antigua and Barbuda have not yet won an Olympic medal, this year’s games present an opportunity for the twin island nation to make history and showcase their talents on the global stage.
The 2024 Paris Olympics could mark a turning point for Antigua and Barbuda, as their athletes aim to make their mark and bring home the nation’s first Olympic medal. With a mix of experienced competitors and fresh talent, the team is poised to make a strong showing and inspire future generations of Antiguan and Barbudan athletes.
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T&T’s Richards receives additional financial support from Ministry of Sport and Community Development
Olympic 400m finalist Jereem Richards on Wednesday has been rewarded with additional financial support from Trinidad & Tobago’s Ministry of Sport and Community Development.
The 30-year-old, who finished fourth in the 400m final in Paris in a national record 43.78, collected a cheque for $187,500 from acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Community Development, David Roberts, at its head office in Port of Spain.
“Jereem’s performance at the recent Paris 2024 Olympics games and his subsequent bronze medal at the Diamond League, showed true grit and a determination to succeed,” T&T’s Minister of Sport, Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, told Trinidad Express.
“We at the Ministry are committed to ensuring that athletes are given all that they need to reach their highest levels of performance,” she added.
The funding was awarded under the Elite Athlete Assistance Programme (EAAP) designed to help athletes like Richards to cover costs including training, international competition and travel fees as well as other essential expenses.
A Ministry release on September 11 stated that, “similar to other athletes, the Ministry has continuously supported Richards’ athletic development which allowed him to successfully compete on the international stage. In 2019, Jereem Richards was awarded $125,000 and $187,500 in 2021. In 2022, he received $250,000 and in 2023 he was awarded a further $250,000.”
Richards is also a World Indoor 400m champion from 2022, a two-time Commonwealth Games 200m champion from 2018 and 2022 and a World Championship 200m bronze medallist from 2017.
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Dom Rep, Bermuda victorious in Group D of League B; Belize, Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis remain perfect in League C
Dominican Republic maintained their positive start to the Concacaf Nations League campaign, while Bermuda is now on the board as both registered victories in the League B, Group D double-header at the ABFA Technical Center in Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday.
The Dominican Republic defeated Dominica 2-0 in a top-of-the-table clash, and Bermuda clipped hosts Antigua and Barbuda 1-0 to end the September window on a positive note.
With the win, Dominican Republic moved up to six points, three ahead of Bermuda and Dominica, while Antigua and Barbuda will head into the next window without a point.
Dominican Republic vs. Dominica
Having won their opening encounters, this contest was expected to be a closely contested affair, but it was the Dominican Republic who proved the better team on the day.
Ronaldo Vasquez broke the deadlock with a cheeky finish in the 11th minute.
Dorny Romero doubled the lead with 25th-minute strike that secured the points for Dominican Republic to boost their promotion hopes.