Barbados’ GOLD RUSH in regional sports is not yet over.
That was seen yesterday when youngsters Tristan Forde, 14, of Harrison College and Nathan Weithers, 15, of Queen’s College returned with shiny gold medals from The Bahamas Open 2013 Judo tournament which formed part of the Caribbean circuit.
Accompanied by national coach Ian Weithers and manager Hoskins Caddle, the duo, although expressing fatigue after their long trip home, said that they felt elated to have captured the top spot in their cadet category.
Soft-spoken Forde took bronze in the under-45 kilogram category when he appeared at the last tournament in The Bahamas, while better known Weithers was taking part for the first time in the under-60kg.
“The last time I had won a team gold and although I had only taken the bronze in the individual event. I did not enter the arena with any belief that I would take the gold,” said Forde.
“I was focusing on following the coach’s instructions, to enjoy the competition, to have fun and to execute when I had been practising,” he added.
Young Weithers did not feel any pressure following on to Forde’s gold and while his ultimate focus is to make the Olympics in judo like Kyle Maxwell, the Queen’s College student who is surrounded by a judo family was cautious about taking his steps in measured strides.
“I want to continue training just as hard – six days a week both morning and evening since I want to be just as successful in the qualifiers in Miami in August to reach the Junior Olympics in Nanjing in 2014,” said Weithers.
Although the affable youngster was the more outspoken and confident of the two, he modestly forgot to mention his toss of the tournament which came against a hometown competitor from Bahamas.
Coach Weithers said: “Nathan did not attend the last tournament so he was unknown this time around. When he tossed the top CAC and junior from The Bahamas to earn full points, the crowd was shocked into silence and everyone began to take note of the Barbadians.”
However, while coach Weithers was confident of the duo’s making all of the correct strides towards international success, he was worried about the Judo Association’s struggle for finance to prepare for competition. (KB)
GOLDEN BOYS: Barbados’ gold medal winners Nathan Weithers (left) and Tristan Forde (third left) sharing their success with team manager Hoskins Caddle (second left) and coach Ian Weithers. (Picture by Kenmore Bynoe.)
