Saturday, August 18 2012

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Cleopatra Borel-Brown...

Shot putter Cleopatra Borel-Brown has been added to the list of Trinidad and Tobago Olympians who made it to the finals of their sport in the just-concluded London Olympics.

Minister of Sports Anil Roberts announced yesterday, as the House of Representatives congratulated local Olympians, including gold medallist Keshorn Walcott, that Borel-Brown’s elevation has brought the number of TT Olympic “finalists to 13.”

Borel-Brown’s move from her 13th position to 12th in the women’s shot put made her a finalist due to Russia’s Nadzeya Ostapchuk being stripped of the gold medal due to doping violations, Roberts said. Borel-Brown is currently taking part in the elitist Samsung Diamond League in Stockholm, Sweden.

In a running commentary in the Parliament Chamber, Roberts said TT had 31 qualifiers for the Olympics, with 30 representing TT. Josanne Lucas of Tobago, who had qualified in the women’s 400 metre hurdles, was unable to compete due to injury.

He thanked the athletes, coaches, and Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee for “bringing home to Trinidad and Tobago the greatest Olympic team performance in the history of our twin island republic.”

He made special mention of Walcott’s Cuban coach Ismael Lopez Mastrapa.