Richard Thompson, Marc Burns, Keston Bledman, Emmanuel Callender and Aaron Armstrong received their medals in a short Olympic medal reallocation ceremony at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday.
At the 2008 Olympics, Jamaica won the men’s 4x100m event, led by legendary sprinter Usain Bolt.
However, in 2017, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) revealed that Nesta Carter, who ran the lead-off leg for the Jamaican quartet, had violated the anti-doping code by testing positive for methylhexaneamine.
Jamaica was subsequently disqualified and T&T, who had earned silver, were announced as the new winners.
At the ceremony on Tuesday, IOC president Thomas Bach said the IOC's goal was to protect the clean athletes and that he knew the T&T athletes would have liked to experience such a special moment at the 2008 Games
After Bach spoke, the T&T athletes were introduced and brought on stage. After receiving their medals, president of the T&T Olympic Committee Diane Henderson presented all the athletes with a bouquet of flowers.
The national anthem was played and then pictures were taken with the T&T flag.
The athletes were accompanied by members of their family.
Bromell, who leads the world this year with a 9.88 seconds run, is tipped for Saturday’s short sprint title at the World Athletics Continental Tour – Silver meet, to be held at the Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, Florida, USA.
Blake, the 2011 100m world champion, would be hoping to challenge the in-form Bromell for the top spot. Among the other key contenders are American Christopher Belcher and St Kitts and Nevis sprinter Jason Rogers. Trinidad and Tobago’s 2008 Olympic 100m silver medallist Richard Thompson is on the comeback trail and will test himself in Saturday’s century.
Thompson is also expected to feature on one of two Trinidad and Tobago teams entered in the men’s 4x100m relay. Jamaica, Bahamas, Antigua & Barbuda and Guyana are also listed for sprint relay action. Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will try to improve on the times that currently have them in qualifying spots for the Tokyo Olympics.
Among the entrants in the men’s 400m event is 2008 Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt. The American quarter-miler will be challenged by Trinidad and Tobago’s Deon Lendore and Jamaican Akeem Bloomfield.
Jamaica’s reigning Commonwealth Games champion Fedrick Dacres will seek revenge on Samoa’s Alex Rose in a mouth-watering men’s discus clash. On May 22, in Arizona, Rose produced a 67.48 metres national record throw to capture the USA Track & Field (USATF) Throws Fest crown, forcing Dacres (65.20m) into second spot.
Marquis Dendy of the United States would fancy his chances of topping the men’s long jump field. Among his challengers will be Trinidad and Tobago’s Andwuelle Wright.
Canadian Marco Arop is the favourite in the men’s 800m event. Jamaican Kemar Mowatt and Americans Quincy Hall, Kenny Selmon and Amere Lattin will be in the hunt in the men’s 400m hurdles. And on current form, Jamaican Rasheed Broadbell is the man to beat in the men’s 110m hurdles.
Reigning Olympic champions, Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica and Americans Dalilah Muhammad and Tianna Bartoletta are among the female stars on the entry list.
Some 200 athletes from 27 countries are expected to be on show at the NACAC New Life Invitational. Saturday’s meet starts at 2 pm (Eastern Daylight Time).
