Grenada at the 2008 Summer Olympics | |
---|---|
IOC code | GRN |
NOC | Grenada Olympic Committee |
Website | www |
in Beijing | |
Competitors | 9 in 2 sports |
Flag bearers | Alleyne Francique (opening) Neisha Bernard-Thomas (closing) |
Medals |
|
Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
Grenada competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from 8 to 24 August 2008. Nine athletes represented the country, eight track and field athletes and one boxer. Of the eight track and field competitors, five were women, and three were men. Although none of the athletes would win a medal, runners Allison George and Neisha Bernard-Thomas progressed past the qualification rounds, and participated on behalf of Grenada in the quarterfinals of their events. Grenada's Beijing delegation was their biggest at nine athletes, and marked the seventh consecutive appearance of Grenada at the Olympics.
Despite controversy surrounding Chinese activities in Tibet, Grenada continued to support the upholding of the Chinese Olympic Games. As thanks, the People's Republic of China constructed a new cricket stadium on the island, among other activities.
Grenada's debut was at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where it entered six athletes (five men and one woman) across two sports; since its 1984 Los Angeles Olympics appearance and up to the 2008 Beijing appearance, Grenada sent athletes to seven consecutive Olympic Games. Its appearance in Beijing marked its largest appearance yet, with nine Olympic participants; additionally, more women participated in the Beijing Olympics on behalf of Grenada than any previous year, with five female athletes. This accounts for slightly less than half of all women who have participated in the Olympics between the 2008 Games and the Grenadan debut. Although the majority of athletes competing on Grenada's behalf participated in track and field (athletics) events, Rolande Moses participated as a boxer in the welterweight category. [1] Although Neisha Bernard-Thomas and Allison George progressed to the semifinals in their respective events, further than the seven other athletes, no Grenadans medaled during the 2008 Summer Olympics. [2] [3]
Sherry Fletcher was the only Grenadan participant in the 2008 Olympic women's 100m sprint event. She participated in the second heat of the 15 August qualification match against seven other competitors, including American finalist Lauryn Williams. Fletcher ran her event in 11.65 seconds, ranking fifth place. She completed the event 0.28 seconds slower than French runner Christine Arron, who ranked first in the heat. [4] Overall, Fletcher ranked 40th out of the 85 athletes who ranked in the qualification round, tying with British runner Laura Turner and Vietnamese runner Thi Huong Vu. Damola Osayomi of Nigeria, who ranked first in the qualification round, was 0.52 seconds faster than Fletcher, who did not advance to further rounds. [4]
Allison George competed for Grenada in the women's 200 meter sprint on behalf of its delegation to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She was placed in the sixth heat of six during the 18 August qualification round. George completed the event in 23.45 seconds, ranking sixth in her heat. Semifinalist Nataliia Pygyda of the Ukraine ranked first in the heat, finishing 0.54 seconds ahead of George. [2] Out of the 46 athletes who ranked during the qualification round, Allison George ranked 30th place. She qualified for semifinals. [2]
George was placed in heat four of four during the 19 August semifinals round. She completed the event in 23.77 seconds, ranking eighth of eighth in her heat, 1.17 seconds behind finalist Sherone Simpson of Jamaica, who lead the heat. Overall, George ranked last of 31 ranking athletes during the semifinal round, tying with Eleni Artymata of Cyprus. George did not advance to finals. [2]
Grenada sent two athletes, Alleyne Francique and Joel Phillip, as part of their delegation to represent it in the Men's 400m sprint. Francique participated in the fifth heat during the 17 August qualification round, ranking sixth of eight athletes. Francique earned a time of 46.15 seconds, which was 1.19 seconds slower than American runner LaShawn Merritt, the first-place runner in the heat, who would later earn gold in the event. Overall, Francique ranked 35th of 55 athletes. He did not progress to quarterfinals. [5]
Meanwhile, Joel Phillip was placed in the sixth heat during the 17 August qualification race. Phillip also ranked sixth out of eight athletes in his heat, scoring a time of 46.30 seconds, which was 1.36 seconds behind heat leader Andrew Steele of the United Kingdom. Overall during the qualification match, Phillip ranked 39th of 55 athletes. He did not progress to quarterfinals. [5]
Trish Bartholomew represented Grenada in the women's 400 meter run. During the 16 August qualification round, Bartholomew participated in the sixth of seven heats. She completed her event in 52.88 seconds, taking fifth place out of eight athletes. Bartholomew was one millisecond behind Kineke Alexander of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who ranked fourth; and was 1.36 seconds behind Jamaica's Novelene Williams, who took first in the heat. [6] Bartholomew tied with India's Mandeep Kaur for 33rd place out of 50 athletes. She did not advance to semifinals. [6]
Randy Lewis was the only athlete who represented Grenada in the men's triple jump event of track and field during the 2008 Olympics. Lewis was placed in the second heat of two during the 17 August qualification round. During the round, Lewis completed his event with a final distance of 17.06 meters, ranking fifth in a heat of 18 competitors. Lewis was 0.24 meters short of Chinese triple jumper Li Yanxi, who ranked first in the heat and later ranked tenth in finals. Overall, Lewis ranked 15th out of 37 competitors in the qualification round, and did not proceed to finals. [7]
Neisha Bernard-Thomas represented Grenada in the women's 800 meter event during the Beijing Olympics. Placed in heat four of the 14 August qualification round, Bernard-Thomas ranked fifth place out of six with a time of 2:00.09. She was within a second of British runner Marilyn Okoro, Slovakian Lucia Klocova, and Australian Tamsyn Lewis, who respectively ranked second, third, and fourth place in the event. Finalist Maria Mutola of Mozambique, who ranked first in the heat, was 1.18 seconds faster than Bernard-Thomas. [3] Overall, Bernard-Thomas ranked 7th out of 40 qualifying runners. [3]
Progressing to the semifinal round, Bernard-Thomas was placed in the third heat of three on 16 August. She completed the run in 2:01.84, ranking last in her heat and falling 4.56 seconds behind heat leader Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei of Kenya. Overall, Neisha Bernard-Thomas ranked 21st out of 23 semifinalist runners, and did not advance to the final round. [3]
Patricia Sylvester represented Grenada in the women's long jump event during the 2008 Summer Olympics. Placed in the first of two heats during the 18 August qualification round, Sylvester jumped a distance of 6.44 meters. This placed her at 11th of 19 ranking athletes in her heat. Sylvester's performance was 0.35 meters shorter than Maurren Higa Maggi of Brazil, who ranked first in the heat. [8] Of 38 athletes, Patricia Sylvester tied the time of Viorica Țigău of Romania, ranking 21st. She did not advance to semifinals. [8]
Athlete | Event | Heat | Semifinal | Final | |||
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Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | ||
Alleyne Francique | 400 m | 46.15 | 6 | Did not advance | |||
Joel Phillip | 46.30 | 6 | Did not advance |
Athlete | Event | Qualification | Final | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Distance | Position | Distance | Position | ||
Randy Lewis | Triple jump | 17.06 | 15 | Did not advance |
Athlete | Event | Heat | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Final | ||||
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Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | ||
Trish Bartholomew | 400 m | 52.88 | 5 | — | Did not advance | ||||
Neisha Bernard-Thomas | 800 m | 2:00.09 NR | 5 q | — | 2:01.84 | 7 | Did not advance | ||
Sherry Fletcher | 100 m | 11.65 | 5 | Did not advance | |||||
Allison George | 200 m | 23.45 | 6 q | 23.77 | 8 | Did not advance |
Athlete | Event | Qualification | Final | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Distance | Position | Distance | Position | ||
Patricia Sylvester | Long jump | 6.44 | 21 | Did not advance |
Grenada sent one boxer to the Olympic boxing tournament. Rolande Moses had fought nine boxing matches, including one at the 2007 World Championships for boxing in Chicago, since starting before he attempted the Olympic qualification event in Trinidad and Tobago. He lost in the qualifying event, although was selected by the Tripartite Commission to attend the Beijing Olympics to supplement the Grenada Olympic team, which historically had had less than six people and thus qualified for the aid. [9]
Rolande Moses participated in the 10 August preliminaries, and was placed in the second bout versus Toureano Johnson of the Bahamas. As Olympic boxing rounds are scored by the number of successful punches scored, [10] the end score of Moses' bout was 18 to 3 punches, with Moses scoring only 3 punches. Because Moses lost the bout, he did not progress to the Round of 16, which took place between 14 and 16 August. [11]
Athlete | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | |
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Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank | ||
Rolande Moses | Welterweight | Johnson (BAH) L 3–18 | Did not advance |
American Samoa sent a team to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The U.S. territory selected four athletes to compete in three sports: swimming, athletics and judo. The dependency's participation in Beijing marked its seventh participation in any Olympic game since its debut at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, and its sixth participation at any Summer Olympic games. Of the four American Samoan athletes who participated in Beijing, all four were first-time Olympians and born outside American Samoa and none of the four advanced past the qualification or preliminary rounds of their events. More women participated in the 2008 American Samoan Olympic delegation than in any one delegation in its Olympic history. Judoka Silulu A'etonu was the territory's flagbearer at the ceremonies.
The Solomon Islands send a team to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The country's delegation consisted of three athletes competing in two sports across three distinct events; Francis Manioru and Pauline Kwalea represented the Solomon Islands in track, while Wendy Hale competed in weightlifting. The arrival of the Solomon Islander delegation in Beijing marked its seventh appearance since its debut at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The track athletes did not advance past the first rounds in their events. There were no medalists from the Solomon Islander athletes in these Games. Wendy Hale was the Solomon Islands' flagbearer during the Games' opening ceremony.
The Bahamas sent a delegation of athletes to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics, which were held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from 8 to 24 August 2008. Its Beijing appearance marked its fourteenth time at the Olympics since its début at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. The delegation included 25 athletes across four sports and nineteen distinct events. Its athletes advanced to semifinals in eight events and finals in five events, medaling in two of them. The Bahamian delegation was one of the largest sent between its début and 2008. The country's flag bearer was Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie.
Haiti sent a delegation to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, People's Republic of China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. Its participation in Beijing marked its seventh consecutive appearance at the summer Olympics and its fourteenth appearance overall, with its first being at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. The Haitian Olympic team included seven athletes participating in track and field, boxing, and judo. More women participated for Haiti in 2008 than at any single Olympic games prior. Although Pierre and Dorival advanced to quarterfinals in their events, there were no Haitian medalists in Beijing. Brutus carried his country's flag at the ceremonies.
Puerto Rico competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics which was held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008. The American territory with a population of four million people qualified 22 athletes in eight different sports. The appearance of the Puerto Rican delegation at the Beijing Olympics marked the commonwealth's sixteenth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics, and its twenty-second appearance at any Olympic Games, since its debut at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. Of its competitors participating in events that involve progression by heats, six athletes advanced at least one round in their events, and two advanced at least two rounds, with Asunción Ocasio almost medaling bronze in taekwondo. However, there were no Puerto Rican medalists at the Beijing Olympics. McWilliams Arroyo, a boxer, bore Puerto Rico's flag at the ceremonies.
The United States Virgin Islands competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, which were held in Beijing, the People's Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008. The appearance of its 23-person delegation marked its fifteenth appearance at the Olympic games, and its tenth appearance at the Summer Olympic games. In total, seven athletes participated on behalf of the Virgin Islands in Beijing. Of those, John Jackson and Tabarie Henry progressed to a post-preliminary event, and Henry reached semifinals in his own. There were no Virgin Islander medalists at the Beijing Olympics.
Sudan sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Nine competitors, all from the Darfur region and northern Sudan, represented Sudan at the Beijing games.
Guyana sent a team to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Four representatives of Guyana qualified to take part in the Beijing Games–Adam Harris, Marian Burnett, and Aliann Pompey in track, and Niall Roberts in swimming–and Pompey advanced past the first round in her event, progressing to semifinals. Meanwhile, Alika Morgan and Geron Williams (cycling) took part in the Games' Youth Olympics camp, held in Beijing at the same time as the Olympics. Along with coaches and administrative members, Guyana sent a total of ten people to Beijing. The appearance of Guyana's delegation in Beijing marked the fifteenth Guyanese Olympic delegation to appear at an Olympic games, which started with their participation as British Guiana in the 1948 Summer Olympics. There were no medalists from Guyana at the Beijing Olympics. Roberts was Guyana's flagbearer at the ceremonies in Beijing.
Jamaica sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, China from August 8 to August 24, 2008. This was, by far, Jamaica's best showing at the Summer Olympics; it was the nation's largest delegation yet, and its athletes nearly doubled its total gold medal count in addition to breaking the nation's record for number of medals earned in a single games. Jamaica's appearance at Beijing was its fifteenth consecutive appearance and appearance as an independent nation, although it had previously participated in four other games as a British colony and as part of the West Indies Federation. In the 29 events that included Jamaican athletes, there were 26 cases in which a Jamaican athlete or relay progressed to a final round. Usain Bolt won three of Jamaica's six gold medals at Beijing, breaking an Olympic and world record in all three of the events in which he participated. Shelly-Ann Fraser led an unprecedented Jamaican sweep of the medals in the Women's 100 m. Female sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown carried Jamaica's flag at the ceremonies.
Belize competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from 8 to 24 August 2008. Its participation in Beijing marked its eighth Olympic appearance under the name "Belize" and its tenth overall, as its first two appearances were under the name "British Honduras". The Belizean delegation in 2008 included four athletes: three participated in track and field events and one in taekwondo. Belize did not medal in Beijing, and had not medaled before Beijing, but Jonathan Williams became the first Belizean athlete to advance past the first round of any Olympic event.
Barbados sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The island nation made its tenth appearance as an independent nation upon its arrival in Beijing. Eight athletes across three sports and ten events represented Barbados, marking the smallest delegation in its history up to the Beijing Games. Its runners and swimmers advanced past the first rounds in their events in four of their nine events, although none advanced to their events' final rounds or medaled. The nation's flagbearer during the Beijing Games was swimmer Bradley Ally.
The Cayman Islands sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The delegation included fifteen people; of the delegation, four athletes participated under the Caymanian flag. In the track and field events was Ronald Forbes, who also served as the Cayman Islands' flag-bearer during the Opening Ceremony and reached quarterfinals in the 110m hurdles, and Cydonie Mothersille, who reached finals and ranked eighth in the 200m dash. Brothers Shaune and Brett Fraser, both swimmers, participated in the 100 and 200m freestyle and in the 200m backstroke, respectively. The Cayman Islands' appearance at the Beijing Olympics marked its ninth appearance since its debut at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The Cayman Islands, up to and including Beijing, have yet to medal.
Dominica sent a delegation of eight people, including two athletes, to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Its appearance in Beijing marked the fourth time a delegation from Dominica participated in an Olympic games since its debut at the 1996 Olympic games, one of its smallest delegations in its history and the first Dominican delegation that did not include female athletes. Chris Lloyd ran for Dominica in the men's 200 meters and Erison Hurtault participated in the men's 400 meters. Neither advanced past the qualification rounds. Lloyd was also supposed to compete in the men's 400 meters, but did not participate in it. Track coach Jérôme Romain was the country's flag bearer at the Olympics.
The Saint Kitts and Nevis National Olympic Committee sent four athletes to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. All four participated in the track and field competitions across four different events. Three women and one man comprised the Kittitian delegation. Williams and Ponteen did not advance past Qualifications in their events; Hodge reached quarterfinals in both the 100m and 200m sprints; and Collins, who participated in two events, reached the Semifinal round in the 100m sprint, and ranked sixth in the finals in the 200m sprint. Saint Kitts and Nevis did not win any medals during the Beijing Olympics. The flag bearer for the team at the opening ceremony was first-time Olympian Virgil Hodge.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The year's team included two athletes engaged in track and field events, and was accompanied by the team coach, manager, and chaperone. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' appearance in Beijing marked its sixth consecutive Olympic appearance since its 1988 debut in Seoul, South Korea, and its smallest delegation to date. Alexander bore the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the opening ceremony and neither athlete medaled in their events or advanced to later rounds.
Suriname sent a delegation of four people to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China: two athletes (Jurgen Themen and Kirsten Nieuwendam and two swimmers who participated in four distinct events. The appearance of Suriname at Beijing marked its tenth Olympic appearance, which included every Olympic games since the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and excluded the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Its four athletes did not advance past the first round in each of their events. The Surinamese flag bearer in Beijing was not an athlete, but Anthony Nesty, the only medalist in Surinamese history and the nation's Olympic swimming coach.
Trinidad and Tobago sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Its participation in the Beijing games marked its eighteenth Olympic appearance and fifteenth Summer Olympic appearance since its debut at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, excluding its joint participation with Jamaica and Barbados in 1960 as the West Indies Federation. With 28 athletes, more Trinidadians had competed at the Olympics than in any other single Olympic Games in its history before Beijing. Athletes representing Trinidad and Tobago advanced past the preliminary or qualification rounds in twelve events and reached the final rounds in four of those events. Of those four events, silver medals were won in the men's 100 meters and in the men's 4x100 meters relay. The latter was upgraded to gold due to one member of the quartet that crossed the line first, Nesta Carter, testing positive for a banned substance, resulting in their disqualification. The nation's flag bearer at the opening ceremony that year was swimmer and Athens medalist George Bovell.
The Republic of the Congo sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Niger sent five athletes, their second largest contingent ever, equalling the most sports in which they have participated. to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. It was Niger's 10th Olympics; their only medalist has been Issaka Dabore, in boxing, at the 1972 games.
Grenada competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's eighth consecutive appearance at the Olympics. Few weeks before the Games, Grenadian athletes trained at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre near Horsham, West Sussex.