The 2012 Olympic Games in London came to a close Sunday evening with a lavish presentation by the next host country Rio de Janeiro, which also featured a rock and roll nostalgia tour with top of the chart classics by well known British performers including the Spice Girls.
From a performance standpoint, this Olympics will be remembered for the thrilling moments and medals accumulated by the most decorated Olympian of all Michael Phelps of the USA and closer to home, the heroics of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. He was again a dominant figure on the track coming away with three gold medals and was easily the most charismatic athlete at Games.
The Jamaicans accumulated the most medals among Caribbean nations finishing 20th overall with four gold medals, with the same number in silver and bronze.
Bolt won the 100 metres (m), 200 m and anchored the 4×100 m gold medal record setting relay team. The other gold medallist was Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce in the women’s 100 m. She also placed second in the 200 m and was a member of the winning 4×100 m relay team.
Yohan Blake came away with two silver medals finishing second to Bolt in the 100 m and 200 m and was also a member of Jamaica’s winning 4×100 m relay team.
Jamaica also took home the silver medal in the women’s 4×100 m relay.
Bronze medals went to Warren Weir (men’s 200 m), Veronica Campbell Brown (women’s 100 m), Hansle Parchment (men’s 110 m hurdles) and the women’s 4×400 m relay team.
Lalonde Gordon.
Trinidad and Tobago captured one gold and three bronze medals. In one of the biggest surprises of these Olympics, Keshom Walcott struck gold in the men’s javelin event. Their individual bronze medallist was LaLonde Gordon (men’s 400 m), with T&T accumulating two additional bronze medals in the 4×100 m relay and 4×400 m relay.
For the Dominican Republic it was gold and silver. Felix Sanchez was first across the finish line in the men’s 400 m hurdles while Lugvelin Santos placing second in the men’s 400 m.
The Bahamas and Grenada both came away with gold medals on the track. In the 400 m event which has been dominated in the past by the United States, the Bahamas were the winners here.
For Grenada, it was euphoria after capturing their first ever medal at the Olympic Games. It came courtesy of 19 year-old Kirani James, who made it look easy in winning the men’s 400 metres.
While Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, the Bahamas and Grenada all appeared on the podium, for neighbouring islands like St Lucia, St Kitts Nevis, Dominica and surprisingly Barbados who were not among the medallists. Hopefully, it’s better days or in this case better years ahead at the next Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
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