Three athletes have been added to the TeamTTO delegation, making the total number 33 athletes and the biggest ever local squad to represent the country at an Olympic Games.
Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis made the announcement today during a media conference via zoom, that was also attended by other members of the TTOC executive committee.
The three athletes are Portious Warren (shot put), Jonathan Farinha (men's 4 x 100m relay) and Kai Selvon (women's 4 x 100m relay). Lewis also advised that Jereem Richards - already qualified in the men's 200m race - will be added to the men's 4 x 400m relay roster. This all comes after a late request for amendment of the team was made by the acting president George Commissiong of the National Association of Athletic Administrators of Trinidad and Tobago (NAAATT), the governing body for track and field in the country.
Lewis said despite the administrative dilemma experienced by the NAAATT, the TTOC had consulted with their legal advisor Dave Williams and opted to not allow the athletes to pay the price for the administrative issues on the local association's part. Supported by the TTOC executive, Lewis added the three athletes to the squad.
Back to the athlete delegation, the TeamTTO Tokyo2020 squad beat the previous best of 32 athletes (21 male, 11 female) at the 2016 Rio Games. The current team - that will fly out to the July 23 to August 8 Tokyo2020 Games - comprises 33 (20 male, 13 female). The female number is also a new record for TTO female representation at a quadrennial Games, beating back the 12 women who donned the red, white and black at the 2008 Beijing Games.
The squad will also include 18 athletes making their Olympic debut, including debutants long jumpers Tyra
Gittens and Andwuelle Wright, shot putter Portious Warren, sprinters Ayla Stanisclaus, Jonathan Farinha, Dwight St Hillaire, Asa Guevara, Che Lara, Kion Benjamin, Adell Colthrust, Eric Harrison, and Akanni Hislop. Boxer Aaron Prince, road cyclist Teniel Campbell, track cyclists Kwesi Browne and Nicholas Paul, swimmer Cherelle Thompson, and judoka Gabriella Wood will also be making their first appearance at an Olympic Games.
Five athletes are making their second appearance at an Olympic Games. Among them are rower Felice Aisha Chow, sprinters Kyle Greaux, Richards and Khalifa St Fort and swimmer Dylan Carter. Attaining a hattrick of Olympic qualifications are sprinters Michelle- Lee Ahye, Kai Selvon, sailor Andrew Lewis, one-lap specialists Machel Cedenio and Deon Lendore, javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott and hurdler Sparkle McKnight.
2008 Olympic men's 100m silver medallist and journeyman Richard Thompson and sprinter Semoy Hackett are making their fourth trip to the Olympics while veteran Kelly-Ann Baptiste will join legendary swimmer George Bovell III as the most capped TTO athlete with her fifth Olympic appearance.