Tortola, British Virgin Islands, July 6, 2022 – The Virgin Islands (UK) delegation returned after securing 2 podium finishes at the inaugural Caribbean Games which were held June 27 – July 3, 2022, in Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe.
Djimon Gumbs won a silver medal in the men’s shot put with a throw of 17.99m (59’02”). The men’s 4x100m team comprising Vadley Sylvester Jr, Mikkel Bassue, Ke’Andre Campbell and Malik John won the bronze with a time of 42.24.
The Games were attended by 29 countries from the Caribbean. The VI took part in two of the seven sports: 3X3 basketball (women) and track & field.
“Congratulations to our medalists and on behalf of the BVI Olympic Committee, I thank the athletes and coaches for their participation and efforts at the Caribbean Games,” said Mr. Ephraim Penn, President of the BVIOC. “We are pleased to have provided the majority of the athletes on the team an opportunity to compete in their first major Games. These Games are the next level up from the Carifta and the youth Games and provide a useful yardstick for the standard of competition the athletes can expect to face as they continue to chart their progression in their chosen sport.”
It was an historic occasion for the VI’s women basketball team competing for the first time in a 3×3 tournament and also at a major Games took part. The basketball team played three (3) games against the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe.
“Although the 3×3 team was defeated at the Caribbean Games, they were very competitive and played extremely well considering it was the first of such a tournament for the women. The exposure was at a very high level which now prepares the team for the Commonwealth Games,” said Ralston Henry, Chef de Mission, Guadeloupe 2022.
Track and field entered athletes in the 100m (male and female), 400m (men), long jump (women), triple jump (women), shot put (men), javelin (women), 110h (men) and 4x100m (men).
Events and Results
Track and field
• Djimon Gumbs (Shot Put), 2nd
• Diamante Gumbs (Shot Put), 6th
• Vadley Jr. Sylvester (400m – DNF, 4x100m – 3rd)
• Malik John (400m – 13th, 4x100m – 3rd)
• Mikkel Bassue (100m – 8th, 4x100m – 3rd)
• Ke’Andre Campbell (100m – 11th, 4x100m – 3rd)
• Malik Romney (110mh – 4th)
• Beyonce Defreitas (100m – 11th)
• Arianna Hayde (Long Jump – 6th, Javelin – DNF, Triple Jump – sole competitor)
• Xiomara Malone (Long Jump – 5th)
Coaches: Ericca Fredrick and Eric Matthias J
3×3 Basketball
Team: Shauliqua Fahie, Jolene Bowens, Keithrece Smith, Kiara Woodley.
Coach: Joy Victor
BVI Vs Dominican Republic 12-15
BVI Vs Puerto Rico 4-21
BVI Vs Guadeloupe 12-16
Beyonce de Freitas was the flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony. The team was attended to by physiotherapist Chester Levi James.
