Flow Sports Brand Ambassadors Machel Cedenio, Andrew Lewis and Khalifa St Fort were celebrated for their participation in the Rio Olympics with a luncheon hosted by the telecommunications provider at Prime Restaurant, Invaders Bay, yesterday. The event brought together a collection of local sporting greats also including Olympic medallists Hasely Crawford and Ato Boldon.
Addressing the gathering, president of the T&T Olympic Committee Brian Lewis urged the public to rally around the country’s Olympic athletes despite the perceived disappointing medal haul in Rio.
“I’m exceedingly proud of all the athletes of Team TTO and I want to say to everyone that we must press on and continue to support each other because T&T is a country with the potential to be world class. Let us not be deterred,” he said.
Sailor Lewis took the opportunity to praise the TTOC president for his commitment to the team.
“I would like to commend Brian for all he’s done for the athletes. He’s worked extremely hard. I think he’s done everything he possibly could have as president to make sure that the athletes felt that they got the best support possible. People would say that we’re in challenging times but he took what he had and gave us the best.”
Eighteen-year-old St Fort, a member of the fifth-place finishing 4x100m Women’s team, thanked Flow for the role it had played in her developing career.
“Through their continued support as well as the interactions I have with them, I feel like I have been invited into a family and not just a business relationship,” she said, adding the Games had been a source of great pride for her.
“Although we didn’t medal in Rio we did our best. It was the Women’s 4x100m team’s highest placed finish in any Olympics so for us it was a big accomplishment.”
Meanwhile, Cedenio, who set a new national record to place fourth in the Men’s 400m final, said he had also taken personal satisfaction from the trip.
“I gave my all to represent T&T to the best of my ability and although we did not get a medal, my accomplishment, breaking the national record was the highest point in my career.”