The British Virgin Islands saw two of their Olympic athletes participate in the finals of their events as Kyron McMaster, a 400m hurdler, and Chantel Malone, a long jumper, made it to the medal rounds of their respective events.
Mr. McMaster placed fourth in his event and set the B.V.I. record in the 400m with a time of 47.08 according to the Tokyo Olympics App.
He was bested by Karsten Warholm, of Norway, who set the World Record in the event to win the gold medal with a time 45.94, American Rai Benjamin won the silver medal with a time of 46.17 and Brazilian Alison Dos Santos won the bronze medal with a time of 46.72.
A Facebook post by the B.V.I Olympic Committee said “We are ridiculously proud of you Kyron.”
Ms. Malone’s longest jump in the final round was 6.5 meters. In the preliminary round she jumped 6.82 meters. She set her personal best of 7.08 meters in March according to the B.V.I. Olympic Committee.
Malaika Mihambo, of Germany, won the gold medal for the long jump with a jump of 7 meters, Brittney Reese and Nigeria's Ese Brume were tied with a jump of 6.97 meters. Ms. Resse was awarded the silver medal and Brume won the bronze medal because Ms. Resse’s second longest jump was further than Ms. Brume’s second longest jump, the tiebreak for the event.
In a Instagram post after the event Ms. Malone said “To be grateful and disappointed at the same time is such a confusing battle!”
She was grateful because she picked up an injury just two weeks before her competition and didn’t know if she would be able to compete.
She said “If I executed and lost then I would be ok! But my failure to be able to execute is what I’m disappointed in.”
While she didn’t perform up to her personal expectations in the finals she seemed motivated to work hard and keep improving as an athlete. “Although I made history for my country, I can’t help but feel that ache of a dream/goal unaccomplished. It’s back to the drawing board” she said in the post.
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