Former President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) Brian Lewis says that while everyone wants gold medals they are not willing to do what it takes to get it.
He told the Power Breakfast Show this morning that the lack of Olympic medals for T&T while disappointing reflects a lack of what’s necessary for the athletes to soar.
He said that while people want to count the achievements they don’t want to pay the price.
He explained that in many countries athletes begin working from a very young age and are exposed to state of the art facilities, training and coaching and this result in gold medals.
He stated that Trinidad and Tobago is not necessarily willing to pay that price.
T&T did not medal recently, however they medalled in 2012 and 2016.
Lewis said he thinks the reason for this is the difference in the pool of athletes that would have represented T&T from that time to now.
He maintained that as soon as an athlete hits 30 they begin to go against the grain.
He said the question is; who is being groomed to come after?
He disclosed that this is where the governing body comes into play.
Lewis was asked whether or not he believed the Sport Minister bore any responsibility for the failure to bring home a gold medal and for that matter failure to adequately prepare the athletes for international competition.
He revealed he felt that the responsibility lay squarely on the shoulders of the National Governing Body.