More applause

Tonight all eyes will be on the 4x100m finals for women at the Olympic Stadium in Rio, thanks to the efforts of Semoy Hackett, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Kelly-Ann Baptiste and 18-year-old Khalifa St Fort. Yesterday they passed the baton without difficulty in a dramatic heat which saw the world record-holder, the US, falter.

It will be the third finals in a row for Ahye, who can hold her head up high as this country’s most successful female sprinter.

She pushed herself beyond her comfort zone to make the 200m final, placing sixth even though it was her first appearance in that format at an international meet.

This followed her impressive sixth place in the 100m finals.

A medal tonight would be icing on the cake.

We also applaud the efforts of Keston Bledman, Rondel Sorrillo, Emmanuel Callender and Richard “Torpedo” Thompson who will tonight also go for gold. The men have demonstrated that being in the Olympics is no walk in the park. Many have nursed challenges throughout the season. Yet they have made it this far.

They have done TT proud, allowing us to appear in our fourth straight 4x100m Olympic finals.

That alone is a remarkable feat, proving to naysayers that this country maintains its standing among the great sprint nations of the world. That we do so in the absence of sustained programmes such as those in place in countries like our neighbour, Jamaica, is all the more remarkable.

And what can we say about Keshorn Walcott? On Wednesday he set out to make a statement.

And what a statement he made! His throw of 88.68m was the top throw in qualifications for tomorrow’s finals.

Our defending champion, who is still just 23 years old, set out to prove to the international audience that London 2012 was no fluke. With a cheeky wink to the camera, the humble and hard-working Walcott assured the nation and the world: he is here to stay.

While the last 13 days have been historic, these final days are red-letter days for TT. They are our final opportunities to medal.

The results recorded in the coming hours will set the bar in the years leading up to Tokyo 2020 and to the games due to be held in 2024.

The TT Olympics Committee has an ambitious mandate in the years ahead. The aim is for this country to win ten medals by 2024.

Some have lamented that this country has not won a single medal as yet. There has been heated debate over the performance of our athletes, scrutiny over levels of State support and some harsh – and at times downright nasty – criticisms on social media.

It is understandable why some have been disappointed. In fact, this negativity is actually a mark of our success. In a strange way it reflects the fact that by now we have become accustomed to success.

Gone are the days when we feel lucky to win just one bronze or silver. Multiple medals are now regarded as par for the course.

However, the negativity reminds us of something often said. Rum done, money done, friend done. When we have medalled in the past, things have been hunky-dory. Yet the prospect of no medal has suddenly turned people bitter.

Undoubtedly, there is value in winning medals on a world stage.

But success is judged not by medals alone, but by the human heart.

We are inspired by the Herculean efforts of our entire team. They should not feel dejected by the adverse comments. They would do well to remember that when one door closes, five windows open. What does not meet you does not pass you. And wonders never cease.

Let’s have more applause please.