Olympic champion Rai Benjamin is tapping into his Antiguan roots to prepare for the upcoming 2025 Track and Field season.

The American 2024 Olympic 400m hurdles gold medallist and son of former West Indies fast bowler Winston Benjamin is currently training at the Yasco Sports Complex in St. John’s Antigua & Barbuda as part of a week-long camp under the guidance of coach Joanna Hayes, a 2004 Olympic champion in the sprint hurdles.

Benjamin’s training partners for the camp include Olympic gold medalist Vernon Norwood, Olympian Shae Anderson and Antigua’s very own three-time Olympian, Pan American Bronze medalist and CAC Games men’s 100m record holder Cejhae Greene.

The California-based group touched down in Antigua on Monday, December 23 for the camp that will feature training sessions through to Monday.

They will also have a meet and greet with young Antiguan athletes on Friday, something sure to inspire the next generation.

The Antigua and Barbuda Athletic Association had nothing but good things to say about the initiative.

“The ABAA is grateful and appreciative of this initiative which gives our young athletes and coaches an insight into the professional training environment,” the association said in a statement.

Born in New York, Benjamin represented Antigua & Barbuda internationally until 2018, winning 400m silver at the 2015 Carifta Games in St. Kitts.