media_artricles :: 2015

Borel dedicates Pan Am gold to young athletes

Pan American Games gold medallist Cleopatra Borel has described her shot put victory at the championships held in Toronto, Canada, last month as crucial boost to her confidence.

Speaking to the T&T Guardian from Switzerland where she is preparing for this month’s World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, she said: “When I received my gold medal after so many tries, I felt blessed to have accomplished a major goal for the 2015 season.

“I was very excited when I arrived in Toronto. I was throwing well. I had done three meets in Europe before the games and I felt ready.”

“However, Toronto was not as organised as it could have been. It was a little difficult for us because the gym facility was not conducive to our training. For example, when I snatch, I typically drop the weights on the floor.

“This was not possible in the Pan Am Village Gym, so coach had to help me lower the weights to the floor from above my head. There was also a long bus ride—45 minutes to an hour to and from the track training venue.

“So the logistics was not as simple as the Commonwealth Games (in Glasgow, Scotland). For me the Pan Am Village life was a little difficult. It was loud at night when you needed to sleep and the beds did not help.”

Even so, Borel knew she had worked too hard to allow distractions to force her from her prime objective.

The number of T&T nationals at the Games and in the Village delighted Borel. The staging of the Pan American Games coincided with pre-Caribana (T&T style Carnival) in the North American and the organiser’s hosted a festival parade one night.

“I think this is one of the best supported meets, in terms of people from T&T. During the anthem I sang with all my heart. There were lots of flags in the crowd and soca music on the back of a truck: a pick-up truck!

“After the competition, a group of Trinis called me over. They had flags and T&T shirts and were all so excited. One of my friends from St Stephen’s College, Brian Jackson was there with his wife and young son. Everyone was so happy.” she said.

Apart from the well-deserved fun moments Borel was able to experience, she did not forget what got her there.

“It is important for us (athletes) to get away from all the distractions of our daily lives and just focus on training and nothing else. I think this sort of focus pays of during big meets when every moment counts.

“I think that my experience allowed me to stay composed during the Pan Am Games. I really wanted to win a gold medal for T&T. I wanted our young athletes to know that it’s possible to live and train in T&T to be a success.

“It is my hope that I’ve opened the door for our female athletes and in four years, we will have many more medals on the female side.”

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