Thad Lettsome kicks off BVI Olympic participation at the Paris Games in the Men’s Dinghy ILCA7

Thad Lettsome (ILCA7) on Day 1 of the Men’s Dinghy races at the Paris 2024 Games, Marseille, France. Photo copyright Worldsailing/Sander van der Boch.

Thad Lettsome became the first BVI athlete to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as he completed the first day of racing in the Men’s Dinghy ILCA7 on August 1 in Marseille, France.

Lettsome closed out the first day with a total of 78 points for a 40/43 position.

Launching his ILCA7 at 12:30pm, Thad made his way to the start line for race 1 of 2. Finishing overall position 40/43, Lettsome said of the first race, “I felt race 1 was a sub-par start, which just made it hard the whole first part upwind, but there were moments where I was in the mix. I made a wrong decision halfway up the first beat, which put me from in the middle towards the back and, from there, you’re just fighting the whole time.”

Lettsome went on to climb a couple of spots for a 38th place in race 2 after an incredible 11th place in rounding the first mark.

“I did what I wanted to do and stuck to my plan and started on the right side and went out to the right side and was in a really good position to round the top mark,” said Lettsome. “But I got sucked into the mix on the downwind with a foul at the bottom mark, where we got shut out and I wasn’t able to round the mark – even though I had the right of way – and it just launched me to the back of the fleet, so I’m pretty upset about that.”

Lettsome rounded the 2nd mark in position 21 and in position 38 around the final marks. On racing in the top 12 of the fleet upwind to the first mark, Lettsome said, “It shows that I can do it, but I just have to work on some little things and a couple of decisions, because the group ahead of me was just that further ahead and they didn’t end up in the mix that I did. I knew I was doing well so I am encouraged to hear that I was 11th rounding the mark and plan to do it again tomorrow.”

Watching the racing from the venue at Plage de Prado, Team Leader Tamsin Rand explained that sailing in the lead pack – at times in 8th and 9th position – was no mean feat.

“Thad’s still young and he’s racing against much more experienced sailors, so to make it up in the top of the fleet and sustain the position rounding the mark is really quite remarkable,” said Rand. “It’s all about making the right decisions in these races. He’ll be going over today’s race with Coach Chris Watters and reviewing his tactical decisions to make adjustments in his next events.”

Lettsome competes in ILCA7 races 3 and 4 on Friday, August 2 with further twice-daily races on August 3, 4 and 5. The medal race takes place on August 6. The race schedule and results can be found on Paris 2024.sailing.org.

Lettsome, who was a Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony, is the first BVI sailing Olympian to compete at an Olympic Games since 1996.

Track and field events for the VI athletes take place at the Stade de France in Paris and start on August 3 when Brathwaite will compete in the 100m rounds starting at 5:45am AST. Hodge will take to the blocks in the 200m rounds on August 4 starting at 4:55am AST. McMaster competes in the 400m hurdles heats on August 5 starting at 4:05am AST.

Approximately 10,500 participants from over 200 Olympic Delegations will compete in 32 Olympic sports. The Games can be followed live on SportsMax Channels.  

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Flagbearers and athletes prepare for Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony

The four athletes that make up Team BVI competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take part in the Opening Ceremony on a 3.7 miles parade along the Seine River in Paris, from the Pont d’Austerlitz to the Pont d’Iéna starting at 7:30pm local time (1:30pm BVI time) on Friday, July 26. The named flag bearers are Olympic debutants Thad Lettsome, (ILCA 7 (laser)) and Adaejah Hodge, (200m). They will be accompanied by Kyron McMaster OLY (400m hurdles) and Rikkoi Brathwaite (100m), who will also be making his Olympic debut at the Games. Chef de Mission Tahesia Harrigan-Scott OLY will join the team.

“The Opening Ceremony of an Olympic Games is always such an exciting time as it symbolizes the start of the biggest event of an athlete’s career in a quadrennial,” said Harrigan-Scott. “I am so proud to be walking with our team who have worked so hard to make it to the Olympics. We are also looking forward to stepping out in style in the Opening Ceremony wear which was specially created for us by Kristin Fraser of Trefle Design!”

This will be the first time that an Olympic Ceremony will be held outside of a stadium. The BVI team will be on one of 100 boats along with other small NOC teams and will pass under historic bridges and by iconic landmarks, such as the Notre-Dame and the Louvre and some Games venues. They will arrive opposite the Trocadero – the esplanade across from the Eiffel Tower – where the official protocols will be carried out, the Olympic cauldron lit, and the Paris 2024 Games officially declared open.

Lettsome, who arrived in France in July 17, will be travelling to Paris from Marseille where the sailing events will take place. McMaster, Brathwaite and Hodge arrived in Paris on July 24 where they were welcomed by the Chef de Mission at the Athletes’ Village.

The schedule for the ILCA 7 races runs from August 1 – 6 in Marseille in the south of France. Track and field events for the VI athletes take place at the Stade de France in Paris and start on August 3 when Brathwaite will compete in the 100m rounds starting at 5:45am AST. Hodge will take to the blocks in the 200m rounds on August 4 starting at 4:55am AST. McMaster competes in the 400m hurdles heats on August 5 starting at 4:05am AST.

“The BVIOC is exceptionally proud of our four athletes that will be representing the territory at the opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games ahead of their events,” said BVIOC President Ephraim Penn. “The field of competition is tough, and we wish Kyron, Thad, Rikkoi and Adaejah the very best as they take to the biggest international stage in sport over the next couple of weeks. Their focus over the past quadrennial has been on securing their spots at the Games and to perform to the best of their abilities at the Olympics. We are excited to be cheering them on in each of their events.”

The VI delegation includes BVIOC President Ephraim Penn, Secretary General Lloyd Black, sailing coach Chris Watters, sailing assistant Tamsin Rand, National athletics coach Willis Todman, track coaches Gerald Phiri and Jean-Carlos. Sofia Fay attends as Press Attache.

The Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourabale Sharie de Castro will attend the Games from August 1 – 10.

Approximately 10,500 participants from over 200 Olympic Delegations will compete in 32 Olympic sports. The Games can be followed live on SportsMax Channels.