A new element has surfaced concerning the controversy over T&T’s qualifying spot in gymnastics in the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, which runs from August 5-21.
On Sunday, Marisa Dick participated in the Aquece Rio Final Gymnastics Qualifier at the Rio Olympic Arena and qualified for the premier sporting event in the world, the first T&T gymnast to do so after placing 55th out of 66 competitors.
At short notice, Dick replaced Thema Williams, who was pulled by the T&T Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) from the Olympic Test event. For all who wanted to be part of the Olympic rendezvous, this was the last opportunity.
According to the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) website, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) with more than one gymnast may choose which gymnast to send to the Olympic Games, provided both are placed higher than the lowest ranked qualifier so then why was Williams not allowed to compete in the event which she had qualified for at the World Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow.
Williams and Dick both competed in the artistic women’s individual qualification at the championships, with Williams finishing 59th and Dick ending 77th overall out of 192 participants.
Coincidentally, a number of gymnasts who had placed lower than Dick at the championships were among those named on the provisional list of qualifiers for the Olympics. Notable also was a number of countries fielded more than one participant.
After failing to contact TTGF president David Marquez by phone, a text message was sent to him asking how many athletes were eligible to compete at the test event for T&T. Still no answer or response.
Williams who had already landed in Brazil and was 24 hours away from possibly booking her spot in the Olympics when she got word that an injury reported by her coach John Geddert through an email to the TTGF, resulted in her being withdrawn.
In a tweet on Sunday night, Brian Lewis, president of the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC), revealed that his organisation had the final say on the Olympic spot in gymnastics.
“As long as people understand it’s @TTOlympic that has the final say in respect of #TeamTTO selection for the Olympic Games. Plain talk.”
However, according to the rules of the test event it is the athlete that participates and qualifies that goes to the Rio Olympics. In February, the controversy between the two local gymnasts exploded when semi-nude photographs of Williams and Dick circulated on social media which forced the TTGF to take the matter to the Federation’s Disciplinary Committee.
Williams’ attendance at the test event was then in doubt but after deliberation the TTGF confirmed last month that Williams would have been T&T’s representative at the Rio Test event.
Rio test event results
Aquece test event, women’s qualifying results Provisional qualifiers (unofficial) to the 2016 Olympic Games after four sub-divisions:
Individuals:
(Unofficially, all but Nekrasova and Abdul Hadi have qualified for the Olympics. All countries with two gymnasts, except Austria, can choose which of the two to send to the Olympics).
1. Ana Sofia Gomez (GUA): 55.498
2. Jessica Lopez (VEN): 55.265
3. Vasiliki Millousi (GRE): 54.431*
4. Zsofia Kovacs (HUN): 54.399*
5. Ana Perez (ESP): 54.199*
6. Angelina Kysla (UKR): 54.199
7. Alexa Moreno (MEX): 54.065*
Ana Lago (MEX): 53.932*
8. Marcia Vidiaux (CUB): 53.832
Claudia Colom (ESP): 53.732*
9. Filipa Martins (POR): 53.574
10. Katarzyna Jurkowska-Kowalska: (POL) 53.440*
Gabriella Janik (POL): 53.333*
Argyro Afrati (GRE): 53.165*
11. Lisa Ecker (AUT): 53.132*
12. Toni-Ann Williams: (JAM) 52.931
13. Irina Sazonova (ISL): 52.931
14. Phan Thi Ha Thanh: (VIE) 52.700
15. Dipa Karmakar (IND): 52.698
16. Barbora Mokosova (SVK): 52.532
17. Courtney McGregor (NZL): 52.465
18. Oksana Chusovitina (UZB): 52.465
19. Houry Gebeshian (ARM): 52.415
20. Ariana Orrego (PER): 52.232
Noemi Makra (HUN): 51.932*
21. Simona Castro (CHI): 51.857
22. Teja Belak (SLO): 51.665
23. Tutya Yilmaz (TUR): 51.632
24. Emma Larsson (SWE): 51.499
25. Marisa Dick (TTO): 51.365
26. Ana Derek (CRO): 50.974
27. Catalina Escobar: (COL) 50.899
28. Kylie Rei Dickson (BLR): 50.798
29. Ellis O’reilly (IRL): 50.032
30. Ailen Valente (ARG): 49.598
31. Marina Nekrasova (AZE): 49.133
32. Farah Ann Abdul Hadi (MAS):49.132
Jasmin Mader (AUT)” 46.898*
(NOCs with more than one gymnast may choose which gymnast to send to the Olympic Games provided both are placed higher than the lowest ranked qualifier.)