WRIGHT...I was properly depressed and I was going to fully give up the sport.
Matthew Wright’s career can be likened to fine wine, given the fact that it got better with age. In fact, if the current upward trajectory of the triathlete’s career is anything to go by, then his best is still yet to come.
Having started from the beaches of Barbados, Wright is now set to grace the grand stage of the Paris Olympic Games, and this remarkable feat serves as the highlight of a journey that has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Wright, who was introduced to triathlon in primary school, opted to focus fully on the sport that involves running, swimming, and cycling at age 16 and produced some credible performances across 19 international competitions between 2014 and 2016, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games. His best placement during that period came at the 2015 Bridgetown CAMTRI Sprint Triathlon American Cup, where he was fourth.
However, that period was not without its challenges, as Wright faced numerous setbacks, including serious injuries that threatened to derail his dreams and almost forced him to call it quits in his early 20s.
“I had some pretty good highs, but faced some extremely tough times as well, particularly with injuries. I've had bad bike crashes, broken bones, and torn ligaments. My first ever World Junior Championships I qualified for, I tore a ligament one month before in my knee. So I missed that, and I've just been up and down all around with so many injuries in my 20s that I felt like I was never able to get a full season out. That was really, really hard because I had my heart broken so many times due to it,” Wright told Sportsmax.TV from the Barbados team base in France.
Matthew Wright (second left) shares a photo opportunity with his Barbados teammates ahead of the Paris Games opening ceremony.
He continued: “I almost gave up the sport multiple times. I remember the 2012 London Olympics; I didn't watch anything, any sports. I was just at home; I was properly depressed and I was going to fully give up the sport. Fortunately, I had to go back to university, where my training group was, and I met this amazing physio at the time, and he got me back on track, and I qualified for my first Commonwealth Games. But then I suffered multiple injuries again since then, the biggest one being when I was trying to qualify for Tokyo in 2020 in February, and I ended up getting a metatarsal stress fracture.
“That meant the Olympic Games was going to be out of the question because I wasn't going to be able to do the needed qualifying races and I remember my coach saying, just go home, recover, refresh, and come back to Cardiff and we can get back training. But at that point, my fire completely went out because I was in my late twenties and I'd failed yet again to qualify for the Olympic Games. So I felt like I hadn't reached my potential; my body had given up on me again, and at that point, I really thought I was going to give up.”
Though the extensive rehabilitation and time away from training and competition tested Wright’s resolve, he found out in the most astonishing way that in the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity, as it was during the Covid-19 period that he rekindled his passion for the triathlon.
“Covid-19 was kind of a blessing for me. The world stopped for four months, and I was able to have, like, a guilt-free break. There was no race to get ready for, the Olympics was cancelled, and I was able to just fully switch off and almost heal from what was 10 years of a bad pattern of injuries, illnesses and setbacks. It really, really helped, and that was the time when I met my now-fiancé, so my life really changed for the better in 2020,” Wright shared.
“But I was one step away from giving up in 2020, and for me, that's the biggest story where I was thinking you're 28 years old, go get a job, like, move on with life... sport isn't for you, but I'm so happy I never gave up at the time. I met the woman of my dreams and she's supported me so well in these last three years and I've had the most amazing period of my entire career since 28,” the Loughborough University graduate noted.
Since then, the now 32-year-old has registered a slew of top performances, including winning his first international competition—the Asia Triathlon Cup—at the age of 30 in 2022. A year later, in 2023, he opened the season with three medals in three events: gold at the Africa Triathlon Cup, bronze medal at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, and gold at the Americas Triathlon Sprint Championships.
However, Wright’s most important performance came at the World Triathlon Championship Series earlier this year, where he placed 41st to book his spot at the ongoing global multi-sport showpiece.
For Wright, achieving his recent successes and a lifelong Olympic Games dream makes overcoming such adversities all the more fulfilling in a sport that requires 17 sessions and 30-plus hours of training per week.
“So all those moments throughout my twenties make the high of qualifying for an Olympic Games and having an amazing few seasons, pretty healthy in the grand scheme of things, all worth it. Look at me now; I've qualified for the Olympic Games, I've won some massive races all over the world, and I've got a CAC Games medal. I've done so much for in the sport that I'd wanted to achieve before that point and if I'd given up, none of that would have never been the case,” Wright declared.
“Those moments taught me so much about great determination, never giving up, you know, always finding a way where I never settled. I had to keep looking for answers, having to work with different physiotherapists and different doctors to find out why this is happening, just to make sure that I could reach the potential I believed was within me. So, yeah, it's taught me a whole lot, and it makes these highs even sweeter,” the jovial athlete noted.
As his July 30 race date draws closer, Wright admits that there are some nerves ahead of his Games debut, but in the same breath, the grounded family man pointed out that his objective is to relish the experience.
"Definitely have a little bit of nerves but I think the biggest key with triathlon is to not get overwhelmed with the event. The key is to make sure that I just control what I can control, focus on my race and I think I'll be super happy if I go out there and perform the way I know I can and not get caught up with the names on the suits,” he said.
“The Olympics is like nothing you've ever seen. Like, the whole world cares about it. The amount of messages, emails, sponsorship opportunities... everyone wants a piece of you, but I think the biggest thing for me is to balance that and to fully enjoy the Olympic experience. For me, the overarching thing is I'm here as an athlete to have the best performance possible,” he added.
Still, given his peak physical condition and mental fortitude, Wright has sights set on a top 20 finish, a feat that would mark a significant achievement in his career.
“I know I am in the best shape I have ever been in my life, and I think based on what I have done before, a top 20 finish is a realistic goal, but of course you want to strike with some Olympic magic and maybe squeeze into the top 15. I think the best is still yet to come in my career, again, I'm in the best part of my career and hopefully I can ride this wave a little longer as I take a dive in the deep end to make Barbados and the whole Caribbean proud,” Wright ended.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Caribbean teams face tough draws for Netball World Youth Cup
The road to the Netball World Youth Cup 2025 has officially begun, as Caribbean representatives Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados now know their opponents for the tournament, which will see 20 of the world’s top under-21 netball teams vying for supremacy on the international stage.
With 10 months to go before the September 19–28 showpiece in Gibraltar, Jamaica’s young Sunshine Girls, as well as the young Barbados Gems and Calypso Girls, will intensify preparations as they have tough draws to navigate.
Jamaica’s young Sunshine Girls have been drawn into a competitive Pool C alongside powerhouse England, Tonga, Wales, and Sri Lanka. It’s a challenging group, but one that Netball Jamaica President Tricia Robinson believes they will be well-prepared for.
“We know the quality of our opponents, especially England, who are always strong at the youth level. However, we will be ensuring that the girls preparation is very thorough, as we have every intention of possibly making a deep run in this tournament. So the focus of the preparation will be on fine-tuning strategies and sharpening the team’s physical and mental readiness in the build-up to the World Cup,” Robinson told SportsMax.Tv.
While Jamaica, having established itself as a powerhouse in senior netball, aims to carry that momentum into the youth competition. For Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, this tournament represents an opportunity to showcase their developing talent and challenge more seasoned teams on the global stage.
This, as Tuesday’s draw pitted Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados in Pool D, where they face an equally formidable lineup. They will go up against Fiji, South Africa, and Malawi—teams known for their athleticism and tactical prowess.
Meanwhile, Pool A will see host Gibraltar square off against defending champions New Zealand, Malaysia, the Cook Islands, and Zambia.
Australia, Samoa, Scotland, Singapore, and Northern Ireland will contest Pool B.
The initial pools further highlighted the global diversity of the competition, with at least three teams from each of World Netball’s five regions—Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania—represented.
Games will be played at the Europa Point Sports Complex and Tercentenary Sports Hall in Gibraltar.
World Netball President Dame Liz Nicholl, DBE, emphasized the importance of the tournament for young athletes.
“This competition is often the first time many players experience different styles of play from across the globe. The NWYC is a platform for emerging elite talent, and we are excited to see what new matchups and experiences await,” Nicholl said.
Guyana secures 4-1 victory over Barbados in first leg of Concacaf Nations League Play-In Series
Guyana defeated Barbados 4-1 in the first leg of their Concacaf Nations League Play-In series at the Barbados Football Association Technical Centre in Bridgetown, Barbados on Friday
The Concacaf Nations League Play-In consists of a home-and-away direct elimination round. The aggregate score winner in each matchup will advance to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims.
Niall Reid-Stephen opened the scoring for Barbados in the 17th minute, his seventh goal of the current campaign, with a left-footed strike from inside the penalty arc.
Omari Glasgow equalized for Guyana nine minutes later with a left-footed strike inside the penalty area.
Then, 14 minutes into Glasgow added a second to his tally in the by pouncing on a deflected ball in the penalty area.
Osaze de Rosario extended the lead in a minute later with a chip over the goalkeeper to capitalize on an error from the defense.
Enoch George scored in the 90'+2 to put a bow on the victory, connecting on a timely pass from Isaiah Jones.
Guyana will host Barbados in the second leg on Tuesday at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora, Guyana.
JAGA president Grant-Brown, sponsors excited at inaugural Carifta Gymnastics Champs’ promise for young Caribbean talent
With the longtime vision of a Carifta Artistic Gymnastics Championship set to come to fruition, Jamaica Gymnastics Association (JAGA) president Nicole Grant-Brown says it represents a transformative step toward greater regional collaboration and growth for Caribbean gymnasts.
Grant-Brown shared her views during the Championships’ launch on Thursday, as she beamed with delight about the prospects of fostering development for the next generation of gymnasts in the region through the event, which she believes will become a staple on the calendar for years to come.
Mayberry Investments and Supreme Ventures Limited will serve as main sponsors for the inaugural staging to be held at the National Indoor Sports Centre on November 29-30.
“We are excited about this and the fact that we are the host for the very first one. It's really a channel that we're going to use for development within the region. As a region, we want to develop together; we want to do things together because that is the way to go. Right now, we are behind most of the other regions in terms of the Asians, the Europeans, and the Africans; even within our own PanAm region, our small Caribbean unit is behind,” Grant-Brown told SportsMax.Tv during the launch at JAGA’s Slipe Road base.
“So we want to ensure that what we are doing will help with our development and will help to keep kids in the sport because it would mean they have something to look forward to. That is one of the drawbacks. When they get to a certain age, they don't want to do the sport anymore because there's nothing really to motivate them. So hopefully this will help to motivate and help them to work hard to be the best, so it's very important to us,” she added.
Grant-Brown stressed that the Carifta Gymnastics Championships, which will feature competitors aged 7 to 20 from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bermuda, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands, will provide young gymnasts with an unprecedented opportunity to gain experience and exposure on a larger stage.
“When Caribbean nations come together to compete, it's real competition. We compete harder against each other than we do any other nation. So expect tight competition and camaraderie because they are also friends, and I am sure they will all be competing at the highest level. But again, this championship is more than just a competition; it’s an investment in the potential of young athletes who will be able to showcase their talent and passion for gymnastics,” Grant-Brown shared.
That said, Grant-Brown expressed gratitude to the sponsors, coaches, and everyone involved in making this inaugural event a reality, as she looks to the future of the championships and the continued growth of gymnastics in the Caribbean.
“The planning phase to put this together was very short, so I must commend these countries for really committing to this aspect of the development process. I think we are doing something good, and we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but we have sponsors that actually called us to be a part of this whole journey with us, and if they're calling, it means we are visible. It means we are doing something well, and we just want to continue,” a beaming Grant-Brown said.
“With this event, we are building a legacy for young gymnasts. This is just the beginning. The Carifta Gymnastics Championships will be a stepping stone to regional and international success, and we are proud to lay the foundation right here in Jamaica,” she noted.
Meanwhile, Desiree Wheeler, senior marketing manager at Mayberry Investments, emphasized that their involvement in the Carifta Gymnastics Championships aligns with their mission to support and promote young talent in the region.
“Mayberry has always had a long-standing relationship not only with the JOA but also the Gymnastics Association, so over the years, it's just been incredible to watch their growth. As a company, we understand the importance of nurturing young talent from an early age.
“So with this being a regional competition, it's really amazing because not only does it bring light to Jamaica as a gymnastics hub, but the sport also fosters discipline, confidence, and a strong work ethic—traits that will benefit these young athletes both on and off the mat and just further build the gymnastics community,” Wheeler stated.
For Chloleen Daley Muschett, the corporate communications and PR manager at Supreme Ventures, their involvement is an investment in youth empowerment and also in Jamaica’s role as a sports destination.
“This partnership with gymnastics actually comes through our partnership with the JOA. So, you know, we recommitted this year to supporting the JOA for another five years, and so gymnastics is one of those sports that we are definitely attaching our name to. We're very proud to be a part of this inaugural Carifta Gymnastics Championship,” she noted.
“We feel like investing in the sport locally is great, but when you bring in other countries within the region, you have an opportunity now to have real development. We are excited about what can come out of investing in grassroots events like this, and so we hope to see in the not too distant future Jamaica and other Caribbean countries participating even more consistently at the Olympics in gymnastics,” Muschett ended.
NB: The Carifta Gymnastics Championships can be seen live on SportsMax and the SportsMax App.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
