Hail Jereem!

But Richards had more than luck. He had faith in himself and in something he holds dear: his God.

“Put everything in the hands of the Lord and just watch him work wonders,” Richards declared a few weeks ago as he continued his preparations for London’s 2017 IAAF World Championships. Those preparations involved intense races and a constant battle to remain in good health.

With his bronze medal on Thursday, Richards has demonstrated his potential most flagrantly, proving he stands among the best in the world. In the eyes of one commentator, the athlete can go even further once he gains experience. It is a matter of turning the bend, both literally and metaphorically.

There may be more big things in store for us in London.

Today, our two-time Olympic medalist Keshorn Walcott will throw the javelin in the final round of that contest. He will seek to reverse the trend of the last two world championships he attended (2015 – Beijing, 2013 – Moscow) by making an impact on par with his stellar performances in other international meets. Will he match his best of 90.16m? We congratulate Richards and the entire team for their efforts thus far, mindful of the amount of work that goes into an appearance at any international event.

Kudos must go out to all who ran.

On the same day as Richards’ triumph, Semoy Hackett finished seventh and last in the women’s 200m semi-final, a disappointing result after her return to competition in the wake of two drug bans. The result will no doubt make many question the future of her career in competition.

The officials who determine who gets to represent Trinidad and Tobago will take note.

The medal haul at this year’s championships is likely to provide a good prognosis of how far along we are on the road to ten medals by 2024. That goal is not only achievable, it is in our best interest at this stage in our development.

The jubilant scenes that played out in Richard’s family’s Point Fortin on Thursday were likely replicated in households around the country. They point to the undeniable fact that sport is among one of the most powerful things uniting us as a nation.

And when our athletes perform well on the world stage, they help bolster the confidence of current and future generations.

Though we need no external validation of our self-worth, sport reminds us of our true potential.

It is a powerful magnet that engages youth to divert their energy into productive pathways to success.

Therefore while the State has a responsibility to ensure our athletes are supported, the private sector also has a stake in facilitating the needs of these women and men who do us proud. All should hail Jereem and the team!