Historical Overview of Overseas Territories at the Olympics
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have a rich Olympic history, competing independently and contributing to the Great Britain (GB) team. Bermuda was the first OT to establish its own Olympic Committee in 1936, participating in the 11th Olympic Games in Berlin. It has since won two Olympic medals: a bronze in boxing by Clarence Hill in 1976 and a gold in triathlon by Flora Duffy in 2020. Bermuda has showcased its athletic prowess in various sports, including equestrian, rowing, sailing, diving, swimming, cycling, tennis, and athletics.
The first Bermudian and BOT to go to the Olympics, competing in the Berlin 1936 Olympics.
Source: Who were the first Bermudian Athletes to go to the Olympics? – The Bermudian Magazine
The Cayman Islands followed suit by forming their Olympic Committee after separating from Jamaica’s team, debuting in sailing at the 1976 Olympics. They have since expanded their participation to gymnastics, athletics, cycling, and swimming. Meanwhile, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) made their Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 1984 with athletes in athletics and sailing. Although they have yet to win medals, their participation is significant. The BVI expanded their Olympic sporting profile by sending its first swimmer Elinah Phillip to the games in 2016 and 2020, overcoming the challenges posed by the lack of suitable facilities.
A photo of the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic stadium, the first Olympics the BVI participated in. Source: Experiencing Los Angeles: Los Angeles’ Moment: the 1984 Summer Olympics (experiencingla.com)
All three OTs have made their mark in the Winter Olympics, competing in skiing, speed skating, tobogganing, and bobsleighing. While none have won medals in the winter games, their qualifications are notable achievements, given the limited popularity and funding for winter sports in tropical regions.
Contributions to Team GB
The majority of OTs do not have national Olympic committees. Those that do not have independent teams still contribute significantly to Team GB, leveraging their status as British citizens. Territories like Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos Islands have produced notable athletes. Shara Proctor and Zharnel Hughes from Anguilla have showcased their talents at the Olympics, with Zharnel winning bronze in the men’s 4×100 metres relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking him the second Anguillan-born to win Team GB a medal, after Keith Connor’s bronze in 1984. As the anchor of the relay, Zharnel’s performance exemplifies the resilience and talent of the OTs within the broader British community.
Delano Williams from the Turks and Caicos represented Great Britain in the 4×400 metres relay in 2016, further underscoring the OTs’ importance in international competitions.
The BVI at the Paris 2024 Olympics
The BVI proudly sent four athletes to the Paris 2024 Olympics, competing in athletics and sailing. Kyron McMaster OBE, a world-class competitor in the men’s 400-metre hurdles, won a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships and finished fourth in Tokyo 2020. In Paris, he placed 5th in the finals with a time of 47.79 seconds.
Adaejah Hodge, at just 18 years old, was the BVI’s sole female athlete, competing in the 200-metre event. She reached the semi-finals at the 2023 World Championships and finished 8th in her semi-final at the Olympics with a time of 22.70 seconds, becoming the first BVI athlete to advance to this stage in the 200 metres.
Rikkoi Brathwaite, the national record holder in the men’s 100 metres, finished 8th in his semi-final race with a time of 10.15 seconds, marking him as the first BVI male to reach this level in the event.
Thad Lettsome, the first BVI sailor in 28 years, represented the territory in sailing, finishing as high as 2nd in race 4 of 10 and 38th out of 43 competitors overall after several races were cancelled due to lack of wind.
These achievements reflect the dedication and talent of the BVI athletes on the world stage.
A collage of the four BVI athletes competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. On the left is Kyron McMaster, the middle left is Adaejah Hodge, the middle right is Rikkoi Brathwaite and the on the right is Thad Lettsome.
Source: Todd Vansicle, Hannah Peters/Getty Images, Citius Mag, Alex Pantling/Getty Images, Phil Walter/Getty Images, Robert Daeves UK and Royal BVI Yacht Club
The Cayman Islands and Bermuda at the Paris 2024 Olympics
The Cayman Islands also had four representatives at the Paris Olympics, including siblings Jillian and Jordan Crooks in swimming, sprinter Davonte Howell, and sailor Charlotte Webster. A world class swimmer and medallist Jordan made it to the finals of 100 m freestyle in Paris placing 8th and was also a finalist in the men’s 50 m freestyle. Jordan is the 2022 World Short Course Championships gold medallist in the men’s 50m freestyle.
Bermuda sent an impressive eight athletes to compete in five different events, including Flora Duffy, the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist in triathlon, along with the swimming siblings Emma and Jack Harvey, as well as competitors in sailing and rowing. Their diverse participation highlights the depth of talent across the OTs.
Final Thoughts
The historic achievements of the OT athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics showcased their contributions to the success of the British OT family in global sports. Congratulations on your accomplishments as you pave the way for future rising stars.
A collage of the OT athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Team Bermuda on the top left, Team BVI on the top right, Team Cayman Islands on the bottom left and Zharnel Hughes pictured with his bronze medal representing Team GB.
Source: Bermuda Olympics Committee, BVI Olympic Committee, Cayman Islands Olympic Committee and Getty Images