BVIOC names 19-member Commonwealth Games team
The BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) has named its largest team that will be competing at the Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham, England later this month.
The BVI’s Commonwealth Games team will compromise 19 athletes spread across four sporting disciplines. Virgin Islands athletes will compete in Track & Field, Squash, Cycling and Women’s 3×3 Basketball. The Games are slated to run from July 28 to August 8.
The Track & Field team — the largest of all the disciplines for the territory at this year’s games — will feature Kyron McMaster in the men’s 400m hurdles, Eldred Henry in the men’s Shot Put, Rikkoi Brathwaite in the men’s 100m, Beyonce Defreitas in the women’s 200m, Deya Ericson in the women’s 100m hurdles, Adriano Gumbs in the men’s 400m, and twins Trevia and Tynelle Gumbs in the women’s Shot Put and Hammer Throw, respectively. Diamante Gumbs will compete in the men’s Discus while his twin brother Djimon Gumbs will compete in the men’s Shot Put and Discus. Arianna Hayde will represent the BVI in the heptathlon.
The Track & Field unit will be accompanied by coaches Lennox Graham, Joey Scott, Ralston Henry, and Eric Matthias.
The Squash delegation will see Joe Chapman, in his fifth Commonwealth Games appearance, participate in the men’s singles. Luca Reich is also slated to compete in the men’s singles and will team up with Chapman for the doubles competition. The team will be accompanied by coach Adam Murrills.
The Virgin Islands will be represented for the first time in women’s 3×3 Basketball with the team comprising Shauliqua Fahie, Mahkayla Pickering, Keithrece Smith and Joy Victor.
The other sport in which the territory will be competing for the first time is Cycling with Darel Christopher Jr entered in the time trial (37km/23 mile) and the road race- (160km/100m). Sam Talbot is also entered in the same event. They will be accompanied by coach Paul Cullimore.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the team this morning, Minister for Sports Sharie de Castro offered some words of encouragement to the athletes slated to compete and those that were present at the press conference.
“Truly, we know that it takes a lot of sacrifices to get to this point and I want to recognise the athletes today for your continued representation of these Virgin Islands,” she said.
“I also want to take this opportunity, since I’ve been made aware that unfortunately some of our athletes would not be able to participate in these games due to injury and other circumstances and I want to encourage those athletes to remain focused and take this time to recover properly so they can be the best when they return,” the Sports Minister added.
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Looks like some dem need a diet!! No spandex for dem lot!!
Stop body shaming the children! Some people are fit despite how they look. Gosh! A set standard isn’t universal for all, thanks to our biological make-up. I hope you do not have children of your own.
Congrats to all; go forward and conquer! First make yourselves proud, and the rest of us prouder.
While you’re at home being a keyboard warrior, their tickets are booked and they’re getting ready to represent this country. Y’all are so miserable behind your keyboards and wonder why some youths don’t want to do anything positive for this country. GO FIND SOMETHING BETTER TO DO! GOOD LUCK TO THIS TEAM!
You obviously don’t know the sport!!! They are perhaps the fittest
Field event athletes you will see at the Games..,
What is this a racist
Did eating become an Olympic Sport. If it has there are many women on island that can win gold. Perhaps some diet drinks and food in the supermarkets and an exercise program.
The same people y’all bashing are doing things some of y’all can never do. Move it along. Y’all always have something bad to say about the youths of the country.
And you need a job. Get off the internet from talking about people that doing things you can’t do.
It is so funny that people that they disowned as Virgin Islanders is the ones that most representing the Island International in sports.
You had to do a fitness and trial before you go to such events,this was hand picked that is the reason why bvi never get anywhere far..only waistin tax payers money.
You sound dumb. The athletes have to qualify to make it to the games. You guys are so miserable and always bringing money into it with no knowledge of how it works.
I wish the taxpayer money went to an education for you since you don’t know how to spell. Bye. Y’all don’t fact check anything before y’all comment.