media_artricles :: 2016

Shot put rivals join forces to promote women in sport

While they may be fierce rivals in the event of shot put, Cleopatra Borel and USA's Michelle Carter are united in their promotion of women in sport. The shot put event, with its reputation of muscle bound athletes relying on explosions of immense power to launch their projectiles, may not be every girl's first choice of an elegant ladylike sport, yet Borel and Carter are living proof that women's shot put can be home to beauties rather than beasts.

The two athletes have built a global reputation on the field and, it's fair to say that they will both be competing for a medal position at the Olympics in Rio, Brazil, in August.

Carter won bronze in the 2015 World Championships in Beijing and has just scored a gold medal in the 2016 World Indoor Championships in Portland. Meanwhile, Borel won gold at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games and also at the Pan American Games last year in Toronto.

And while Borel may have been disapointed to finish fourth in the World Indoor Championships, this time it will be the girl from Mayaro with the home crowd support.

"It's difficult to explain how important it is to compete in front of your home crowd," said Borel. "The reason why it's difficult to explain, is that in all my 14 years in athletics, I have never competed in a full international track and field event of this magnitude in T&T!"

The T&T Grand Games, which takes place on Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, will be the first fully sanctioned international event to be held in T&T for 32 years.

"I am so excited," said Borel. "I have received so much support from my family, the citizens of T&T, from the government and from corporate sponsors, yet they have never seen me compete at this level. Being here for the Grand Games is my chance to say thank you for all my support in the past."

Carter, the US record holder, said that competing in front of your home crowd inspires you to achieve.

"It's no coincidence that I won my World Indoor Championship in Portland. There's just an extra buzz, a little more adreneline, more pride. There's no way that you want to hear another country's national anthem played in your back yard!"

Grand Games CEO, Regina John said, "Can you imagine if Manchester United or Barcelona never played in front of their own supporters? Would they be as successful? While we, the taxpayers, happily watch the Ministry of Sport fund our elite athletes to train and compete overseas, we never have the opportunity to see our star athletes compete live at the highest level.

"International athletics events sell out across the world. It is a totally unique experience knowing that you, as a spectator, can influence our home athletes just by cheering them on. This hasn't been experienced for 32 years. On the 21st May, we will see 117 athletes from over 25 countries compete in 16 events. Our 25 local athletes will all be aiming to reach Rio and this is fantastic preparation. Every athlete will be in the worlds top 40 rankings, so the standard will be high."

The day before the event will see a free mentorship conference for school children. The event, also held at Hasely Crawford Stadium, will see children have the chance to meet the athletes and watch them train.

"This is a very important element of the Grand Games," said Borel. "The children will be able to meet international athletes whom they will be watching in Rio on television. It will bring a unique reality to the Olympics that kids in T&T have never experienced before.

"I can't wait to meet the children of T&T," said Carter. "When you are constantly travelling and competing, countries often become a blur. It's the people that instil the memories. The young people are always amazed when they meet you because your persona on the field is very physical and aggressive. When they get a chance to meet athletes like myself and Cleo, they see a totally different side to us. It's at this point that you have the chance to inspire them to turn to athletics. While I am coming to Trinidad to compete, I feel it is also my duty to promote the sport and encourage young people to look at the opportunities that sport offers."

Borel added, "I think its fantastic that children can meet the athletes, hear their stories and even get information about sport scholarships. If we can only inspire one young person to turn away from negative influences and embrace sport, the Grand Games will be a success."

The T&T Grand Games takes place on Saturday from 6 pm Tickets also provide free entry to the after party at Jean Pierre Complex. Admission to the Mentorship Conference on Friday is free.

Some of the nations being represented include Canada, Great Britain, Kenya, Nigeria, Mexico and Turkey.

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