The Barbados Olympic Association Inc. (BOA) has officially announced the Barbados contingent for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
At a press conference held yesterday at the BOA Headquarters in Wildey, Chef de Mission for the Barbados delegation, Dr. Adrian Lorde, announced the names of the 12 athletes who will represent Barbados at the XXXI Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil next month. “I’m pleased to announce that this year, Barbados will be represented for the first time in Triathlon and Tennis, and for the first time we have an almost equal mix of males and females. It’s a strong, clean and healthy Olympic team who I’m sure will make Barbados proud,” he said. He also assured press conference attendees that the BOA has no fears in relation to the Zika virus epidemic and that all precautionary measures are being taken to protect our athletes from illness whilst they are in Rio, including ensuring all athletes are up to date with certain vaccinations, prior to travelling.
Assistant Chef de Mission Glyne Clarke added that this year’s group of 12 athletes is double that of our 2012 London Olympic team. “This is quite impressive and is cause for excitement. We continue our commitment to developing more and more of our athletes to meet these international standards so we remain competitive in the world sporting arena,” he said.
It’s the first Olympic Games for Track & Field athlete Sada Williams who leaves for Rio on July 28. “Heading into the Games, I am very excited now, but when I actually get there, I will be focusing and continuing my training right up until my races. I hope to continue to represent Barbados at many more Olympic Games in the future,” she said.
BOA President Steve Stoute expressed his congratulations to this newest set of Barbadian Olympians. “The Olympic Games is the pinnacle of sporting excellence, and just to qualify is a marvellous achievement in itself. We are hoping to make our presence felt in Rio and I know our athletes will bring honour to Barbados,” he said.
Official 2016 Rio Olympic Games contingent for Barbados
Steve Stoute (BOA President)
Erskine Simmons (BOA Secretary General)
Dr. Adrian Lorde (Chef de Mission)
Glyne Clarke (Team General Manager and Assistant to the Chef de Mission)
Dr. Rene Best (Chief Medical Officer)
Sharon Coppin (Massage Therapist)
Chalice Jordan (Athletics Therapist)
Michelle Elliot (Skeet Shooting Manager)
Alwyn Babb (Track & Field Coach)
Bryan Holder (Track & Field Coach)
Kevin Yarde (Tennis Coach)
Jason Wilson (Triathlon)
Akela Jones (Heptathlon & High jump)
Ramon Gittens (100m & 200m)
Levi Cadogan (200m)
Burkheart Ellis Jr. (200m)
Sada Williams (200m)
Kierre Beckles (100m Hurdles)
Tia-Adana Belle (400m Hurdles)
Alex Sobers (400m Freestyle)
Lani Cabrera (400m Freestyle)
Darian King (Tennis)
Michael Maskell (Skeet)
Barbados first participated as an Independent country at the Olympic Games in 1968 and has been present at every Olympic Games since, with the exception of Moscow in 1980. This year, Barbados will be represented in the disciplines of Track & Field, Swimming, Skeet Shooting, and Tennis at the Rio Olympics held from 5 to 21 August, 2016.
The 2016 Rio Olympic Games will see 19 days of competition, attracting 10 903 athletes from 205 countries, competing in a total of 42 sports.