Fortune: T&T MMA athletes were prepared

After winning 12 medals across multiple weight classes, the country’s mixed martial arts team returned from the Pan American Mixed Martial Arts Championships in Bogotá. Colombia, Monday (September 15).

The contingent of 12 fighters, including Rene Fortune, the lone gold-medal winner, along with coaches Kerry Grant and Richard Acosta, and Adam Chin Leung Kam, arrived at the Piarco International Airport to a rousing welcome by fans, relatives, and other well-wishers, having exceeded expectations at an international tournament of that magnitude.

The contingent returned home with 12 medals, including a gold medal won by Fortune when she stopped Colombian Daniela Leal in the final of the girls’ under-18 72.6 kg final; however, both Fortune and Grant were anything but surprised by the achievements.

Fortune, the world champion in her category, assured the media that their preparation enabled her to be ready for the gold medal. “Honestly, it feels amazing to do this not only for my country but also for my supporters. I have been blessed with an amazing opportunity and supported by so many. I went into the cage with full confidence. I expected the gold medal, and my coaches expected it too.”

“My supporters expected it. We trained for this, we prepared for it, and I went in and I did it. It feels amazing to be recognised for the hard work that not only I did, but also my coaches and teammates put in. It really is refreshing; it is a nice feeling,” Fortune revealed.

Apart from Fortune, Seon Adhar lost out to Colombian Thomas Amaya in the 52.2 kg semifinal contest, and Amy Rajkumar went under in the women’s 56.7 kg semifinal to Nicaraguan Dayanna Rodriguez for two out of the seven bronze medals won by the charges in red, white, and black.

Altogether, the medal tally comprised a gold, four silver, and seven bronze medals, putting them behind the host, who claimed the top position with 26 medals, with Mexico in second with a total of 22, and the United States.

National coach Grant could not be silenced at the airport, as his loud chants made it known to passersby the achievements of his lads. “It feels amazing. I am ecstatic about it. As Rene would have said, we trained for this. We prepared for this. This is not something new; we have been doing this sport for many, many years. This is just a result of the hard work, dedication, and, of course, the discipline of the team.”

In addition to quality fighters, high altitude conditions provided an added challenge for the T&T fighters, all of whom were under the age of 20 years. Still, there was no stopping the charges in red, white, and black. “We were hoping for all gold for our athletes. But of course, this is an international tournament of the highest level, so of course, we would have been coming up against combatants that are training and that have the funding, first of all. They have the technology, and they have the infrastructure that can assist in their fundamental training. And of course, the basics of it to get them to that point.”

According to Grant, “We would have done an amazing job with what we have here in Trinidad and Tobago. And of course, we are going to continue pursuing the government, of course, the Ministry of Sport, to assist and fund this team, this national team going forward.”

When asked what he saw as his biggest challenge at the international tournament, Grant made it clear, “For this particular tournament, it was the altitude, which we knew we were going to be competing in a very high-altitude environment, so we did what we can in training here. I mean, the highest point in Trinidad and Tobago is 3,100 feet, so we just had San Fernando Hill; we had Chancellor Hill to train on, but it can’t compare, so we would have employed other techniques and so on that would have gotten our lungs prepared for the event,” the coach explained.

The team will now shift its focus to the World Championships in December. Last year, Grant and company took 14 athletes to the World Championships and returned with 14 medals.