Laser sailor Thad Lettsome will be the first of four Virgin Islands athletes to compete at the Paris Summer Olympic Games starting today.
Three other VI athletes will join Mr. Lettsome at the Games. They include Rikkoi Brathwaite (100 metres), Adaejah Hodge (200 metres) and Kyron McMaster (400-metre hurdles).
Mr. Lettsome will face 44 other top sailors from 43 nations around the world competing in the ICLA7 Laser division. The ILCA, formerly known as the Laser, has been part of the Olympic Games since 1996.
The 22-year-old VI sailor is one of the youngest competitors in the event. The oldest in the field is 44, while the youngest is 17.
Mr. Lettsome will compete in 10 races over five days. Each race lasts about 45 minutes and will be held off the coast of Marseille in the south of France.
“Everything is going well so far here at the sailing venue in Marseille,” Mr. Lettsome said. “I’ve had just over a week of pre-regatta practice against a majority of the Olympic fleet. The practice has proven invaluable as it serves as a last minute learning opportunity, an evaluation and a chance to calm nerves. The conditions are great: warm and sunny with the wind being slightly on the lighter side.”
Mr. Lettsome participated in the opening ceremony and shared flag bearer responsibilities with Ms. Hodge. The event’s format was was a first for the Games, as athletes from their respective nations floated down the Seine on a boat in front of thousands of fans along the banks of the river in Paris.
“The opening ceremony was an incredible experience,” said Mr. Lettsome. “It was amazing to see how many people were able to view it. We had people on the riverbanks, people in buildings, on bridges and on rooftops, so it was amazing to be able to show off the BVI and represent the BVI in front of so many people with Adaejah and the others.”
The VI first competed in sailing at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. The last time the territory competed in sailing at the Games was in 1996, when Robbie Hirst sailed the laser.
The top 10 sailors will advance to the finals on Aug. 6.
Mr. Brathwaite and Ms. Hodge will be making their debut at the Olympics.
Mr. Brathwaite is the VI national record holder in the 100 metres. It is the second time he has been to Paris.
“The last time I came to France I was about 5 years old, so I barely have any memories,” Mr. Brathwaite said. “It was for a Disney trip. I met Goofy and Mickey and I was a little bit afraid of them, to be honest. This time around is much different, because I am all grown up and get to represent my country at the prestigious Paris Olympic Games 2024.”
Ms. Hodge is the VI’s youngest Olympic athlete at 18 years old.
“I was pretty excited going into the opening ceremony, especially as the flag bearer,” Ms. Hodge said. “I was just grateful to have the opportunity. … Being my first opening ceremony, I had nothing to compare it to. But hearing from other people, they said it was ultimately better. I really didn’t get to experience much of the show, because I was part of the opening ceremony. But just being able to pass by all the historic buildings and the history of Paris was a blessing.”
The VI Olympic athletes wore outfits created by Kristin-Frazer of Trèfle Designs during the opening ceremony.
Despite the rain, former VI Olympian and Chef de Mission Tahesia Harrigan-Scott said the Olympics kick off in grand style along the Seine.
“We were excited to be part of the first experience of the opening ceremony on the water, it was way less stressful on the athletes’ bodies, so that was a plus for Paris,” Ms. Harrigan-Scott said. “The energy of the crowds was amazing; the athletes were very excited to be part of the event, especially Adaejah and Thad, who not only carried the flag but also waved it with pride.”
Mr. McMaster will compete in the 400-metre hurdles for the second time at the Olympics for the VI. In 2021, Mr. McMaster took fourth in the event at the Tokyo Games. He was second in last year’s World Athletics Championships.
The VI government has pledged to pay athletes on their performances at the Games. An athlete who makes the finals will receive $12,000. A bronze medalist will receive $25,000, while a silver medalist will earn $35,000 and a gold medalist will take home $60,000.
“This has been a unique experience for the BVI delegation,” said BVI Olympic Committee President Ephraim Penn. “We are certainly looking forward to the coming days and to supporting our athletes as they enter their competitions to execute their races.”