A truly memorable Olympic Games came to an end yesterday here in London, England, with T&T still celebrating its four medals—one gold and three bronze. Keshorn Walcott, in his debut, created the frenzy when he inspired T&T’s second-ever Olympic gold medal with a spectacular performance in the in the Men’s Javelin. Walcott’s tremendous feat later inspired the local 4x100 metres relay team of Richard Thompson, Keston Bledman, Emmanuel Callender and Marc Burns, to third place. It was also a special occasion for another debutant Lalonde Gordon, who picked up two bronze medals, first in the individual 400m, before combining with Jarrin Solomon, Deon Lendore and Ade Alleyne-Forte in the 4x400m relay final. T&T was not the only Caribbean country in a celebratory mode, as triple-gold medallist Usain Bolt led the Jamaican contingent which surely had a lot to cheer about, as well as Kirani James’ Grenada and Chris Brown’s Bahamas. Jamaica’s overall medal tally was 12—four gold, four silver and four bronze while James gave Grenada its first medal at the Games in the 400m, and Bahamas topped the 4x400m, a beautiful ending for the Caribbean.

Their performances caught the attention of former T&T sprinter medallist Ato Boldon, a four-time Olympic medal winner himself. “You cannot doubt that the Caribbean has had an absolutely phenomenal games. A phenomenal games for me is not just Shelly–Ann Fraser-Pryce and Usain Bolt, who you’d expect to come here and do well because they have done well here before,” said Boldon.  “Obviously, Kirani James winning Grenada’s first Olympic medal and its gold, Keshorn Walcott from T&T, just the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen from a T&T national. “Lalonde Gordon’s bronze in the 400m was special. T&T relays, both getting third and Jamaica world’s record. Overall it was phenomenal performance.” Despite being pleased with the achievements of the youngsters, Boldon called on each country to start preparing now for the future. “To come to your first Olympic Games as a teenager and win a medal—specifically T&T, we have a bad habit of not making things that are really great in our sporting past be that catalyst to make things be better. “In both T&T and Grenada, it would really be a dis-service to Keshorn and Kirani, if 10, 15 or 20 years from now you can’t point back and say 10 or 15 years ago when that happen we did ‘x’ and that is why we have three or four medallists now.”

Boldon said it was obvious eveyone would want to celebrate this great achievement. “My concern, (is that) it is not a reason to exhale.” He encouraged the other Caribbean heads to follow in the footsteps of Jamaica. “Jamaica never takes their foot off the gas. If Jamaica came home from London with 20 medals, they will be trying to figure out how to get 25. I would like to see the powers that be, the government, get serious about Olympic athletes.” At the closing ceremony last night, George Bovell carried the T&T flag. Bovell, who made his fourth appearance at the Games, competed in the final of the 50 metre freestyle event and finished seventh. He represented T&T at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics. At the 2004 edition, he won a bronze medal in the men's 200 Individual medley (IM). It was also the first-ever Olympic swimming medal for the country, and T&T's only medal from the 2004 Olympics. Bovell also carried the T&T flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.