Progress is something Caribbean nations are used to – harnessing talent, putting in hard work, exceeding expectations by punching above our weight. It’s no surprise, then, that this talent and determination has seen us shine on the biggest sporting stage of all – eventually climbing to the top of the Olympic podium.
Our storied Olympic success story is one of electrifying and exciting moments as we witness our athletes claim gold, before hearing our national anthems played and seeing our flags raised.
And throughout those moments, no matter which country we call home, there is regional pride, support and solidarity as our Caribbean brothers and sisters take on – and beat – the rest of the world, knowing that success is the result of nothing less . rather than extraordinary talent married to faith, drive and unwavering determination.
FFrom their first Olympic Games (in London, 1948), Caribbean athletes came to win medals – not just to participate. These were the first games in a world forever changed by World War II. It was the perfect setting for island nations to assert themselves as they embarked on their journeys to independence.
In those 1948 Games, in Jamaica Arthur Wint AND Herb McKenley started the region’s 400m love affair, finishing first and second – with Wint also winning silver in the 800m.
To prove this, in Helsinki four years later, George Roden held the 400 meters in the hands of Jamaica before joining McKenely, Wint and Leslie Laing to win the 4x400m relay – the first of many relay victories for the Caribbean nations.
Depth in sprinting is something Jamaica has in abundance; their men and women were rarely without medals. In Montreal (1976), it was Don Quarry who set the 200m track on fire, rounding the turn at high speed and never relinquishing the lead.
Deon HemmingsThe memorable gold in the 400m hurdles in Atlanta (1996) emphatically confirmed the “arrival” of Caribbean women. She followed in the footsteps of the legendary Merlene Otteywho competed in seven Olympic Games and won nine medals – three silver and six bronze, though no gold.
Veronica CampbellThe 200m victory in Athens (2004) was a preview for Beijing 2008, where Jamaican women won seven medals, including gold for Campbell, Shelly-Ann Fraser-PryceAND Melanie Walker. Their dominance continued with the appearance of Elaine Thompson-Herahwho won five gold medals at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Incomparable Usain Bolt was at the forefront of this era of Jamaican dominance, with a string of memorable performances. But it is his first gold medal race in 2008 – the 100 meters – that stands out.
Bolt’s moves at the start line in Beijing brought an unprecedented level of spectacle and entertainment to athletics, making him a global star. After 90 meters, he was cruising – looking left and right, arms breaking his stride, laces untied on one shoe, but crossing the finish line in a new world record.
“Tchickens say they never see it yet / start to finish moving like an airplane,” sang the calypsonian maestro e Hasely Crawford, Trinidad & Tobago’s first gold medalist. From the unenviable position of the front lane, the muscular Crawford cruised to the 100m title in 1976 and T&T celebrated “gold, gold, the fastest man in the whole world” for weeks afterwards.
With Quarrie’s victory in the 200 meters and the great Cuban, Alberto Juantorenaalso capturing the 400m and 800m, it was a clean Caribbean sweep of the shorter distance events.
T&T’s male sprinters brought home gold in the 2008 4x100m relay, but it was Keshorn WalcottThe 2012 performance turned out to be the biggest surprise. As the world junior javelin champion, he was sent to the Games for experience.
But a massive shot later, on a terrifying night in London, he was his nation’s third gold medalist, with a cool podium demeanor that belied the enormity of his achievement – becoming the most the youngest Olympian ever in the javelin at just 19 years old.
London 2012 was also the scene for another Caribbean delight: Grenada’s first Olympic medal. Fittingly, it was gold. Call me James entered the 400m as the favorite but faced stiff competition for the coveted title.
No matter which country we call home, there is regional pride, support and solidarity as our Caribbean brothers and sisters take on – and beat – the rest of the world
From the start, his long strides and relaxed style saw off his rivals and 19-year-old James eased over the line, making Grenada the youngest nation to win an Olympic gold medal.
Suriname also has a single gold medal to its name, courtesy Anthony NestyHis amazing one-hundredth of a second victory in the 100m butterfly in Seoul (1988). Defeating heavily favored swimmers from the United States and Australia, Nesty also became the first black athlete to win an Olympic swimming gold medal.
His victory reverberated throughout the region, to the extent that T&T issued a postage stamp to mark the achievement.
CUBA’s 235 Olympic medals – including 84 golds – make them the regional gold standard in terms of the precious metal. The Cold War era saw the nation prioritize sport, viewing the Olympics as an international indicator of their success (in line with the Soviet Union).
With victories in a host of disciplines – from fencing to canoeing – boxing marked them with some of their greatest Olympic triumphs. In Munich (1972), heavyweight Theophilus Stevenson eliminated three opponents on his way to gold, then defended his title in Montreal and Moscow. Despite multimillion-dollar offers to turn professional, he remained loyal to Cuban revolutionary ideals.
Few will forget Shaunae Miller-Uibogold medal at Rio 2016. In the perfect example of “wanting” more than anyone else, in the dying moments of the 400 meters – with her competitors closing in – Miller dived across the finish line to win by seven hundredths of a second.
In Tokyo, she defended her title with a less dramatic performance, winning the Bahamas’ eighth gold medal overall – with five of them coming in the 400m events, proving the nation’s strength in the discipline.
There are Caribbean countries that have yet to stand on the top step of the Olympic podium, but as each Games captures the planet’s attention for two action-packed weeks every four years, there is no shortage of inspiration for the region’s youth – from both proud history and promise of continued brilliance on the biggest sporting stage of all. Stay tuned.
Medal points
Beyond the gold, there have been many significant Olympic medal wins for Caribbean athletes.
Cuba
Women’s 4x100m relay (silver, 1968)
When the Cuban quartet of Miguelina Cobian, Marlene Elejarde, Violetta Quesada and Fulgencia Romay crossed the line, they not only became the first women from their nation to win an Olympic medal – they were the first for the entire Caribbean region. This historic track performance paved the way for many more to follow.
Jamaica
Cycling, chronology 1 km (bronze, 1980)
Here, a 23-year-old David Weller took on the power of Eastern European cycling powers and shocked the sporting world with his place on the podium. It is still Jamaica’s only medal in a sport other than athletics.
GUYANA
Boxing, bantamweight (bronze, 1980)
Michael Anthony cruised his way to Guyana’s only Olympic medal, defeating opponents from Mexico, Nigeria and Syria before a tough loss to gold medalist Cuba. Anthony then embarked on a 15-year professional career.
Barbados
100 m sprint (bronze, 2000)
Barbados’ first and, so far, only Olympic medal came when Obadale Thompson became the third fastest man in the world.
Trinidad and Tobago
200 m individual medley (bronze, 2004)
George Bovell III’s medal was Trinidad & Tobago’s only at Athens 2004 (and remains its only swimming medal) – providing a bridge between Ato Boldon’s medal-winning years at the previous two Games and the golds that they would come in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 (all were in athletics).
Learn more about the Caribbean’s Olympic history – including profiles of some of the athletes featured – at caribbean-beat.com/olympics
