KESHORN WALCOTT and Cleopatra Borel’s coach, Ismael Lopez Mastrapa, expressed his satisfaction with the performances of his athletes following the conclusion of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil, which ended on August 21.
Walcott, who won gold at the 2012 London Olympics, grabbed bronze in the men’s javelin earning Trinidad and Tobago’s only medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Walcott’s second attempt of 85.38 metres earned him the bronze medal behind German Thomas Rohler (90.30m) and Kenyan Julius Yego (88.24m).
Mastrapa, who is Cuban, said he was happy with the efforts of Walcott and Borel when he returned to TT last week. Discussing Walcott’s performance at the Olympics Mastrapa said, “Any medal at the Olympics is good. Gold is the best but bronze is a good position.” Mastrapa added, “Keshorn did not have the best season and nobody expected that he would get a medal.
At the training camp in Sao Paulo we fixed many things in his technique and at the end of the day he had the best throw in the qualification round and in the final he got the bronze medal. So for me that was very good.” Borel, competing in her fourth Olympic Games, finished seventh in the women’s shot put final with a top throw of 18.37 metres. Mastrapa knew that Borel will finish in the top eight.
“I told Cleo you can be in the top eight and she finished seventh.
It is her best performance at the Olympic level and for her and for me that was great.” Borel, now 37, said she will not compete at the Olympics again and Mastrapa says the decision is up to her.
“That is Cleo’s decision because she is now 37. I am not saying she is old. The human body does not have limits you can go as far as you want.”