MINISTER of Sports Anil Roberts is already focusing on the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil following yesterday’s bronze medal performance by Trinidad and Tobago swimmer George Bovell III in the 50-metre freestyle final of the 15th FINA World Long Course Championship in Barcelona, Spain.
Not only did Bovell earned bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece in the 200-metres Individual Medley, but he has now become the first TT swimmer to medal at a World Championship.
His triumph comes only six years after the lanky 30-year old decided to contest the 50-metre freestyle event. He also triumphed amidst mounting criticisms that he had become too old to compete at the highest level.
Yesterday Roberts who had been by his side, as he has always been, in his capacity as coach, called for the entire of Trinidad and Tobago to stand up and acknowledge the achievements of his swimmer.
“He has done it at the right time when everyone thought he couldn’t do it. People were all over the television and radio saying that Bovell had become too old and now look what he has done. He came third among some of the best swimmers in the world,” Roberts said.
Bovell produced a new national record and also set a another personal best time with his third place finish in the 50-metre final in 21.51 seconds. The race was won, not surprisingly, by Brazil’s Cesar Cielo in 21.32 seconds, the man who claimed gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and bronze at the London Olympics in August last year.
Russia’s Vladimir Morozov secured second in the final yesterday and received the silver medal in 21.47 seconds.
However Roberts made it clear that what really stood out for him while watching the race, was the desire by Bovell to dig deep amongst some of the best swimmers in the world and eke out third for his country.
“George is aware of the fact that people felt he was too old to medal and he really wanted to win a medal, not only for himself, but more so for his country. He wanted to put his country among the big swimming nations in the world and he has done just that,” Roberts explained yesterday.
Roberts who could fast become one of the best sports ministers this country has ever had due to his knowledge of sports, coupled with his involvement and passion to ensure that local athletes aspire to the highest in world sports, said Bovell managed the race perfectly.
“There was no breathing problem like in the Olympics. He got a good start and remained calm and cool and dug deep to fly the flag of TT on the podium, despite the torture of many ahead of the competition.”
Roberts said that Bovell’s achievement should be a fine example to young people that they must never give up, even in the midst of criticisms. He noted that Bovell will now continue his preparation for Brazil 2016 through other short course meets, saying “Brazil here we come.”