All Hail Keshorn and team TT!

Walcott’s feat extends far beyond the 85.38m he threw to secure bronze in Rio. He joins a rare group of Trinidad and Tobago nationals who have won multiple medals at the Olympics.

Even before securing a medal, we had reason to be proud. The Toco boy who stunned the world in London 2012 startled once more with a first-place qualifying throw last week. And what makes this all the more special is the fact that “we ain’t seen nothing yet.” He is just 23.

Keshorn’s best is 90.16m.

Walcott is a rare example of an Olympian who has trained at home. He has been able to do so where others have had cause to be based abroad.

We also congratulate Germany’s Thomas R?hler and Kenya’s Julius Yego for their first and second place finishes respectively. After the competition, all the medallists displayed the camaraderie that befits the best ideals of sportsmanship.

Indeed, that has been one notable feature of the entire Olympics.

Time after time, race after race, no matter how stiff the competition, the athletes have appreciated the efforts of each other.

Walcott’s medal came as the curtain closed on TT’s 2016 Olympic campaign. While it would have been great if we could have replicated some of the successes of Olympics past, we still say congratulations to the national team.

We have broken important barriers, competing in three new disciplines (gymnastics, rowing and judo). We also sent the most women ever to the games. Some will be able to look back at the experience and build on it for the future.

Now that the Olympics are over, we should turn our focus to ourselves.

We condemn the very acidic criticisms that were thrown on social media by persons who have likely never even picked up a stone to pelt a mango. It is easy to talk the talk but how many of us walk the walk? Our Olympians have done so.

They are the ones who placed their lives on hold – some suspended studies, some deferred having families, some sacrificed for years and years. To qualify to compete is very competitive.

Let us also not forget training also requires are certain facilities.

Instead of just bashing the athletes at precisely the moment when they need our support most, perhaps voices should have been raised to lobby the powers that be to focus on the provision and maintenance of facilities and coaching support.

As gleaned from the remarks of Walcott post-competition, it is not just the physical things that count.

Missing this year, he said, was a feeling of togetherness, of being in a team. We have absolutely no doubt this was worsened by all the negative banter. Instead of providing an aura of support, some of us just sought to tear down, demonstrating no tact, no timing.

The rabid disappointment demonstrates something we often say, all that glitters is not gold. In the manic quest for silverware we are forgetting what matters, including being civil and considerate.

Sadly, we are not alone in this regard.

Over in Jamaica, despite that country’s amazing achievements this Olympics, social media went abuzz this weekend when Omar McCleod created history by becoming the country’s first 110m hurdles gold medallist. Despite this achievement, homophobic vitriol overwhelmed social media. Clearly, our priorities are not right.

Big up Keshorn and team TT. We may have wished for an even better outcome, but you did us proud.

You have proven we remain among the world’s best. And among the most enduring of hearts