TTOC rewards CAC Games athletes with $150,000 in medal bonuses

NIGEL SIMON

Senior Multimedia Reporter

[email protected]

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) distributed TT$150,000 in bonuses to national athletes on their medal achievements at the July/August Central American and Caribbean Games held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The presentation was held at the TTOC Olympic House, Woodford Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday under the supervision of its President Diane Henderson.

At the CAC Games, the T&T contingent of 148 athletes (74 men and 74 women), supported by 71 officials, captured 21 medals (six gold, five silver, and ten bronze) over two weeks in 25 multisport events, which comprised individual, team, and combat sports.

​Leading the medal haul for T&T was swimmer Nikoli Blackman with two individual gold medals in the men’s 50 metres freestyle and 100 metres freestyle, along with a gold in the men’s 4×100 metres freestyle relay with Liam Carrington, Dylan Carter, and Zarek Wilson.

The other gold medals came via Carter in the men’s 50m butterfly, his sixth individual gold medal in the Games’ history and seventh overall among his 11 medals, while cyclist Kwesi Browne (men’s keirin) and the T&T women’s netball team added the remaining gold medals. Overall, T&T finished ninth on the medal table, the highest position of any English-speaking Caribbean nation.

The winners of silver medals for T&T were swimmer Carrington (men’s 50m backstroke), cyclist Teniel Campbell (women’s road race), track athlete Rinaldo Moore (men’s 110m hurdles), the T&T men’s hockey team, and sailor Kelly-Ann Arrindell (1 person, women’s dinghy).

Among the bronze medallists were cycling’s Kwesi Browne (men’s individual sprint), Teniel Campbell (women’s time trial), and Akil Campbell (men’s omnium); the men’s cycling team sprint trio of Kwesi Browne, Danell James, and Ryan D’Abreau; the women’s cycling team sprint team of Teniel Campbell, Kyra Williams, and Phoebe Sandy; the women’s Madison team of Teniel Campbell and Alexi Costa-Ramirez; and swimmers Carter (men’s 100m butterfly) and Blackman (men’s 200m freestyle), sprinter Aaron Charles (men’s 200m), and boxer Abdul Taylor (men’s 60 kg).

In her brief address, Henderson first acknowledged it has been a busy year of 2026 so far, having had the CAC as well as the Commonwealth Games and the Winter Games, and we have the Youth Olympic coming up.”

She added, “We are here today (Tuesday), however, to recognize the Central American and Caribbean Games medallists. It was the 100th anniversary of the games of Central Caribbean sports and the games in 2026 and the 80th anniversary of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee.”

Henderson, in recognizing the efforts of the athletes present at the function, said, “As we prepare to pay the medal bonuses for the athletes who were successful in reaching the podium, we want you to know that this moment is about far more than a cheque, I hope.”

“It’s about acknowledgement. It is about this nation saying to each and every one of you, ‘We saw what you did, we know what it cost you, and we are proud. It may not seem so at times, but we are. Standing on a podium at the CAC games does not happen by accident. It is the result of years of sacrifice, early mornings, long training sessions, setbacks overcome and a decision made over and over again to keep going when it would have been easier to stop.”

She said, “This bonus is a tangible expression of our gratitude, but please know that your value to this nation goes well beyond. You are the inspiration of the next generation of athletes who are watching, dreaming, and working toward their own podium moment.”

Chef de Mission of the T&T CAC Games contingent, Lovie Santana-Duke, admitted that she was proud to be head of the delegation.

She said, “As Chef de Mission for Team TT at the CAC games in Santo Domingo, standing here today (Tuesday) is an incredibly proud moment. To our medallists being honoured today (Tuesday), you represented the red, white, and black with exceptional grit, discipline, and pride. You prove once again that despite our size, Trinidad and Tobago remains a formidable force in sport.”

In her opening remarks, Kwanieze John-Felix, T&T Olympic Committee Athletes Commission Chairman, said that the occasion was more than the distribution of medal bonuses but an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work, the discipline, perseverance, and commitment that our athletes have demonstrated in representing our nation.

She said, “Team TTO secured a total of 21 medals at the CAC Games, six gold, five silver, and 10 bronze medals across seven sporting disciplines, and these achievements are a source of pride for Trinidad and Tobago and reflect the dedication of our athletes and the support of those who work alongside them. And today we celebrate the athletes whose performances have contributed to Trinidad and Tobago’s achievements at these games.”