Watson On CAC: “Not The Best Performance”
The performance by Bermuda’s athletes at the Caribbean and Central American Games [CAC] in Mexico was “not the best performance,” Chef-de-Mission Donna Watson said, adding that she feels maybe the event was not taken seriously.
41 Bermudian athletes competed in athletics, cycling, equestrian, swimming, sailing, hockey and rugby 7s in the regional games, which involves athletes from a host of nations including: Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Cayman Islands, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela.
In providing a review of the team’s performance, Ms Watson said, “This has not been the best performance from Bermuda at these games. I thought we could come away with a few medals especially after we made our stamp at the last Games in 2010 coming away with 6 medals.
“I will begin with my sport. I was very disappointed with Tyrone’s performance. A former Olympian, World Championship competitor and defending Champion I expected him to be on the podium and definitely make the finals. The 3 medal performances were not out if his reach.
“I thought Roy Allan could get us a medal. Ranked second going into the 50m freestyle finals, I figured he would be on the podium. I believe our two young competitors Cici and Cameron gave it their best as this is their first experience at the Senior level. Two of our cyclists did not finish their event. Our lone equestrian had a few challenges with the horse and this is her first competition. Our team sports were very disappointing.
“I feel maybe we did not take this event serious, the athletes, the public, the media and the Government. I can assure you that Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela to name a few always take the CAC Games serious and they show you that in every event they enter. Yes the event was held in November, yes the schedule changed at times, yes the weather may have been cold and windy but that was the same situation for every athlete.
“I feel if we are going to enter these events we need to be committed and be prepared to compete. This is not our first CAC Games, and we should know what to expect and these Games are not out of our league and we could be competitive.”
How can the public or media be blamed in any way for the results of the athletes?
maybe it’s time to take a break from participating in any future games until the athletes’s attitude change. when the athletes show a hunger for winning, perhaps the media, government and public will be interested in sponsoring and supporting.
Windy? Sure. Cold? Mid to upper 70′s is cold? Please. It’s Mexico even if it is November. Were all the athletes just partying Donna? Why the lack of focus? Next time Bermuda!
had any of the participating athletes been competing elsewhere before CAC and if so, how much time did they have to regroup and prepare themselves mentally and physically
At the least Donna is honest !
As President of the Sporting Body, Donna, what have you done to ensure that the athletes medal. Have you personally put in any time at training sessions, have you been down in the trenches with them.
Do you think that the athletes will now try harder after your scathing attack, or will they just drop out. It could go either way.
Let us encourage out athletes, praise them for the good things and encourage them when they fall.
You don’t seem to have done this Mrs. Watson. After all we supported you.