Should we just ‘Let it go?’

This week let’s jump on the Olympic bandwagon for a bit. Marisa Dick competed last Sunday and failed to move past her heats. This officially brought an end to Marisa’s Rio Olympic run. The online commentary of course was far more entertaining than her performance. Some folks posted less than flattering tweets, including one that read simply, “poetic justice,” which was deleted shortly after posting. Others referred to the laws of karma.

Following Marisa’s elimination, a raging debate then ensued with a few folks who feel that as true Trinbagonian patriots, we should support her because she is repping TNT and we should be proud of all of our athletes. Countless others called out that argument as (the local term for hogwash), maintaining that her being at the Olympics represent everything that is wrong with this country – cronyism, nepotism and being rewarded for someone else’s hard-work.

Let me warn you, the Girlfriends didn’t hold

back on this one.

KC: I think people missing the point. It’s not about her failing (miserably, which made it sweeter) because even if she did well the reaction would be the same. If Thema went and did badly I don’t think anyone would have said “we shudda send Dick”. I think Thema would have been supported regardless. It’s about someone literally stealing a spot and throwing a TT shirt on. Who wants to support that? She openly said in an interview she knows she’s doesn’t have the TT support but she doesn’t need it.

Staci: I will maintain she is not and never was an innocent bystander and she had a part to play in all the scheming to rob a far better athlete and who by virtue of her hard work and dedication brought TT to the cusp of qualifying for the Rio Olympics of her rightful place. For that reason, I have no problems supporting team TTO minus one.

KC: Agreed. It’s not about being a sore loser or even the dumb argument that she’s not from local soil. That’s dumb cause I was pro-Birchall. It is about earning a spot fairly.

Staci: I know there are people out there who feel we should put aside what has happened and move on. So ladies what allyuh think, should we support Ms Dick for love of country let it go?

Katherine: I’m quite happy with her epic failure. I felt like she got there maliciously. She took away someone’s opportunity who worked hard and qualified. Someone who would have been proud to represent our country.

Staci: Even the opening ceremony everyone waved their Trini flag and she there with her “diva” wave.

Lis: Thank yuh, I ain’t even see her wave a flag.

KC: She has a red and black kit and a white kit like everyone else.

Katherine: Even though Thema may not have medalled, her pride of country would have been sufficient for me.

Staci: I don’t think medalling was the issue. We would have been proud regardless, it’s how she forced her way there to me is still the issue.

Mel: If she had win ah medal, I wasn’t accepting it! Just like I didn’t accept a certain Miss TT’s fresh water accent in Miss Universe. This isn’t just excellent in sport for TT - this is bigger than that! I want the right people flying our flag! And she is not one of them! She never post a pic of ah doubles, Maracas – nutten!

Lis: Not supporting her scheming ways does not make me less patriotic

KC: That’s a good example Mel cause Miss TT “won” her opportunity fairly, so in that case we as a country should have supported her.

Lis: Like I said on Facebook, it’s about something more than yourself and your achievements, it’s about love of country and pride...if you doh have that you shouldn’t be there.

Staci: So nobody here thinks we should show her love because she’s flying our flag as the first Trinbagonian EVER to compete in the sport at the Olympics?

Lis: Hell no!

Mel: Steups…

Staci: I’ve read some comments that implies she is a child and cyber bullying is wrong…

Lis: Child my a$$. Nineteen is an adult. She knows right from wrong.

KC: She’s not a child.

Mel: Expressing a negative opinion against someone online is not cyber bullying. She is also a public figure; it comes with the territory!

Kimba: They stole Thema’s spot. She was complicit. She should not be supported. Done talk. Party Done.

Staci: Technically I have no issue with the fact that she claimed her “Trini by parentage” right because she is. Butttt I feel like she only did so because it was to her benefit.

Lis: Well the Canadians didn’t want her, so even to a blind man claiming your Trini roots just to be able to compete was an opportunistic move.

Mel: It’s her IG post that angered me. When she said “I may be Trinidadian on the Floor but I’m Canadian at heart”. Yuh does big up ya ex-husband on ya next wedding day? No class.

Elli: It was never about representing Trinidad or even placing for her. All she wanted was to have her name go down in the books as an Olympian and even better she got the opportunity to make history, being the first person to represent TT in gymnastics at the Olympics. It’s funny though, second day in and she’s already out.

KC: You know what even if it was neck and neck and she just got picked over Thema I can live with that too, but she didn’t.

Mel: Did you guys see this guy’s post? And I quote “Somehow fighting down your own athlete, who went to represent you to the world because to you she didn’t deserve her spot, just doesn’t seem to be in keeping with the Olympic spirit that you think her selection violated. But hey continue with the hypocrisy, that’s the Trini way.”

Lis: What an a-hole comment! The Olympic spirit was violated when she and her mother schemed to replace a more deserving athlete and that is public record.

Mel: Even if there was no Thema, I still would be mad. She didn’t walk the walk.

Elli: She is mediocre at best. You have (US gymnast Simone) Biles and the other girls scoring 15+ on all their routines, she score 13.9 on her vault and that was her big rejoicing moment.

Lis: From all the tryouts before coming to Olympics, she hasn’t even upped her game. You woulda thought she would put a lil extra effort as it’s the pinnacle she reach.

Elli: Yeesss. The girl come with the same thing. Did y’all spot the Dick Mount 2? Her new move, lol, I couldn’t even tell the difference between that and the original one.

Ronz: Considering all the scandal, backstabbing, and scheming that went on I can’t see how any Trinidadian could feel proud of her as a representative, especially as she’s a conveniently Trini. It serves all the people involved right that she didn’t advance and while they’re in court having to defend themselves they can think about their crap decision and whether it was worth losing their reputations, careers, etc over. As for cyber bullying, she shouldn’t be surprised by people’s negative comments and feelings towards her. What did she expect?! Support and a collective shoulder to cry on? Steups eh.

Kimba: “Getting that skill named after myself is what I wanted most out of this whole experience. So getting it feels really good” she actually said that to a local reporter after her performance last Sunday.

Lis: She is so self-serving! So performing well for her country or making TT’s first effort a noteworthy one is not what she wanted out of the experience?!

Ronz: Steups, you see dem scores?!

Mel: She do dem bars like she was de French man - AFTER he break he foot!

Kimba: She was a hot mess, but her move; her move was perfect.

Ronz: You know she could be a little humble, if all you wanted was your move named then just smile and shut up, nobody had to know that it was really all about you, now she open her mouth and confirm it.

Lis: Well I just read the part in the interview where she says she wanna be a double Olympian...puhlease, whose position she tiefing next time?

Elli: Btw Kimba she wobbled on her own move eh, the Dick mount 2.

The Girlfriends is a group of 15 women between the ages of 26 - 45 who are willing to give an unadulterated look into their own experiences. Some names have been changed for privacy.