Photos: Bermuda Olympic Event In Paris
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Katura Horton-Perinchief, the Bermuda chef de mission, believes those athletes who made their Olympic debuts in Paris have a bright future and hopes they push for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Bermuda’s Olympic team included six athletes competing on the biggest stage for the first time – triathletes Erica Hawley and Tyler Smith, swimming siblings Emma and Jack Harvey, sailor Adriana Penruddocke and triple jumper Jah-Nhai Perinchief.
The other two team members were five-time Olympic triathlete Dame Flora Duffy and two-time Olympic rower Dara Alizadeh, who have likely competed in their final Olympics.
“We came to the wicket with six new Olympians, and it was important for them to shake off the nerves and get this first huge competition out of the way,” Horton-Perinchief told Bernews.
“We’re looking forward to them coming back under the banner of Team Bermuda. They all did a good job and left their hearts out there.”
Horton-Perinchief, serving as the chef de mission at an Olympics for the first time, also paid tribute to Duffy and Alizadeh, who will carry the island’s flag at the closing ceremony at the Stade de France today [August 11].
“We’ve been spoiled by having Flora for five Olympics – very few athletes compete at five Olympics,” she said.
“I’d never write her off, though. She’s racing again in September! Flora’s a legendary athlete; we can never get enough of her. Flora and Dara have both shown great leadership for our team.”
Peter Dunne, the Bermuda Olympic Association president, said he was proud of the displays of the island’s athletes and taken aback by the travelling support of Bermudians in the French capital.
“It’s wonderful seeing Bermuda recognised on this stage in triathlon, rowing, swimming, athletics and sailing,” he said.
“We had pink fan shirts designed specially for the Games; and when Jack and Emma swam at the [Paris La Défense Arena], you could see a whole block of pink in the crowd!
“Wearing pink really makes our athletes and fans more visible and more connected so we can have these shared experiences at these international competitions.”
Dunne added: “The goal is to get as many athletes [at the Olympics] as possible, competing and doing well. It’s about how we build on this experience.”
Bermuda’s athletes gathered for a special luncheon at OLY House, the World Olympians Association hospitality house for Olympians in Paris yesterday and were presented with Olympic pins from the International Olympic Committee, Olympic rings designed locally by Davidrose Studios, and floral-print swimwear by Dana Cooper Bermuda.
Among the attendees were Governor Rena Lalgie, Olympian Patrick Singleton, a World Olympians Association officer, and Bermuda tennis player David Thomas.
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