Raucous in Rio: Yu who? Bovell falls to rising star; Chris eliminated by Myanmar man

Who the hell is Yu?

Veteran Trinidad and Tobago swim star George Bovell’s Rio 2016 Olympic campaign ended in just 22.30 seconds, as he was beaten at the line by 20 year old China rising star Yu Hexin (22.20) and 25 year old Poland swimmer Filip Wypych (22.23) in the heats of the 50 metre freestyle event.

So it would stretching it to say old Georgie, who is 33, could have been Yu’s pappy—although the very thought of that might be another reason to outlaw child weddings. But they might easily refer to Trinidad and Tobago’s 2004 Olympic bronze medal as “uncle”.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago's George Bovell waits for confirmation on his finish in the 50 metre freestyle event in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on 11 August. Bovell finished third in his heat and did not qualify for the semifinal round. (Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago’s George Bovell waits for confirmation on his finish in the 50 metre freestyle event in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on 11 August.
Bovell finished third in his heat and did not qualify for the semifinal round.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

Mr Live Wire can just picture Yu now chatting with his little 20 year old “Belieber” buddies: “He won a medal in 2004?! OMG, wasn’t Blackberry like number one then?!”

Okay, that probably is not what 20 year old Chinese young men sound like. But the truth is Bovell three years ago—when he clocked 21.20 to take silver in the FINA World Cup—would be on his way to another Olympic final right now. And Yu, who set the new Youth Olympic record of 22 seconds in this event two years ago, would be leaving teary-eyed messages into SnapChat.

The 33 year old Bovell, who has suffered some injuries in recent years, has not been quite as dashing. He was still good enough to earn his spot among the best swimmers on the planet. But he could not break into the elite category of the best 16 athletes in his event.

Bless up, Georgie boy. Five times an Olympian. You’re still Trinidad and Tobago’s premier “wetman”!

Trinidad and Tobago judoka Christopher George didn’t quite have the performance of his dreams either, as he lost out to Myanmar’s Naing Soe Yan in his first and only outing in the 100kg judo division.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago's Christopher George (background) congratulates Myanmar’s Naing Soe Yan after their judo contest at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on 11 August. (Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago’s Christopher George (background) congratulates Myanmar’s Naing Soe Yan after their judo contest at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on 11 August.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

George and Yan both made their Olympic debuts today. Only the Myanmar man—wait, did we get that right?!—is in his 17th year as a judoka while his Trini opponent, who is a chartered engineer by profession, only discovered the sport in 2009.

Hard luck Christopher.

Considering that Myanmar is notorious for human rights abuses, civil wars and military juntas, maybe the Sport Company should send George to Longdenville to prepare for the 2020 Olympics!

Tomorrow is another day and, with all due respect to the previous competitors, nobody can doubt that the size of balls being cupped by Trinidad and Tobago’s next athlete. It has been measured at between 95 to 110 millimetres in diameter and tips the scale at four kilos.

And, of course, Mr Live Wire is referring to our shot put queen and 2015 Sportswoman of the Year, Cleopatra Borel.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago shot put champion Cleopatra Borel ponders her next throw at the 2016 NAAA National Championships. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/CAI Images/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago shot put champion Cleopatra Borel ponders her next throw at the 2016 NAAA National Championships.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CAI Images/Wired868)

Wait… What did you think we were talking about?!

Borel’s event tosses off at 9am while the preliminary round of the women’s 100 metre dash gets going from 10am with Michelle-Lee Ayhe—a dream combination of syllables for excitable commentators—Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Semoy Hackett and teenager Khalifa St Fort all set to face the starter’s gun.

There is more action from 8pm on Friday night as the trio of 2015 Sportsman of the Year Machel Cedenio, 2012 Olympic individual and 4×400 bronze medalist Lalonde Gordon and 2012 Olympic 4×400 metre bronze medalist Deon Lendore will get going in the 400 metre individual event.

The meet of that glorious sandwich is Mr Anti-Bulls**t himself, Njisane “J-Boy” Phillip, who will look to lend his swag to the cycling sprint event from 3.14pm.

Make them eat dust J-Boy!

Photo: Njisane Nicholas Phillip celebrates after defeating Germany's Robert Forstemann during the London 2012 Olympic Games men's sprint round at the Velodrome in the Olympic Park in East London on 4 August 2012. (Copyright AFP 2016/Leon Neal)
Photo: Njisane Nicholas Phillip celebrates after defeating Germany’s Robert Forstemann during the London 2012 Olympic Games men’s sprint round at the Velodrome in the Olympic Park in East London on 4 August 2012.
(Copyright AFP 2016/Leon Neal)

And, lest we forget, Andrew Lewis is still sailing tomorrow. Yeah, it is the same Laser event that he started on Monday. No, it’s not done yet.

Imagine people thought cricket test matches go on forever! Hang in their Laser blazer!

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About Mr. Live Wire

Mr. Live Wire is an avid news reader who translates media reports for persons who can handle the truth. And satire. Unlike Jack Nicholson, he rarely yells.

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44 comments

  1. This documentary says it all. Particularly the last 20 minutes

  2. ah wonder if Bovell did win the Gold medal…if he would talk all that trash???? trini ride out gracefully…

  3. Bovell has been quite vocal about FINA and doping in the past. H3 regularly tweets about it. Similar to Darren Sammy he chose the biggest stage to make his statement. Not sour grapes imo

  4. ..All these infinitely “perfectible” athletes dope..

  5. less stupid talk and more medals…trini…

  6. Kudos to you.and Thank You we Love You’re a Champion….

  7. Quote from anonymous person on George Bovell’s criticism of FINA:
    Bovell’s announcement brings to mind a government employee giving a speech at his 60th birthday party and dramatically declaring “I now resign in disgust from the public service, because I am fed up with its inefficiency” ???

  8. Quite frankly, Katinka Hosszu is under speculation because she’s not from a white English speaking country.
    No swimmer has been more dominant in the last four years than Katie Ledecky and any suggestion that she is doping is swiftly dismissed by the Americans as ludicrous and outrageous even though Katie literally trains with the guys.
    The Americans are always quick to throw shade at athletes from non white, non English speaking countries.
    Maybe they have insider info though…
    I really don’t know who is doping and who isn’t.
    Either way, doping only affects the doper’s times, not their competitors.

    • I don’t doubt that’s that main reason. But as a lay person I’ve watched most of her races and after breaking world records by amazing times this woman doesn’t even breathe hard. Sometimes it looks almost as if she’s deliberately making a show of breathing hard after the race. I still waiting until all the testing done to clap her yes.

    • Maybe she’s doping. Maybe she’s not. I really don’t know. Just saying there are others who are dominating just like she is and not getting called out.

  9. In every timed sport the record will be broken! It will not be because the athletes are doping. It’s because the techniques of sprinting, throwing, jumping, swimming etc have been improved. Bolt wins because of technique, not simply raw speed and not drugs as many suggested then and still suggest today. When Michael Johnson won the 400 and 200 by ‘miles’ it was improved technique not drugs as some tried to suggest. If you understand the phases of a 100, a 200, and a 400 and the sprinting techniques and training required the last thing you would ever assume is that drugs are involved.

  10. Seriously though. When I look at some of the times the 30-something year old Americans are making my mind runs on Justin Gatlin. A clean athlete George age doesn’t stand a chance. It’s not like it’s just the 20 year olds making freakishly fast times which would be perfectly understandable in a sport like this.

  11. what do you have against sailing? …lol … that is the sport I grew up in. ..

  12. All times are submitted electronically. Meaning it’s just importing a file with the times, so there really shouldn’t be issue with an athlete not being entered with a time that he/she submitted.
    International competitions, especially ones like the Olympics that have qualifying standards generally require proof of times, meaning when you submit your entry file, you just have to click a setting to show which meet the time was done at…
    Armed with that knowledge, conclude away… Lol.

  13. I’ve read some of the issues in swimming. Like the Mexican federation admitting to lying about the times of its athletes.
    Clearly Fina is a body that is either crooked or tolerates cheats.

  14. Thank you for representing T & T, all the best in the future.

  15. I saw most of the heats…many of these swimmers clocked under 22s…At one time, maybe half way down the pool, George Bovell was in the lead…
    Just could not take it home..George, I know you tried your best..five Olympics…
    Best wishes man…

  16. Hey, these guys I congratulate their effort, their sportsmanship, and how well they’ve represented our country. Keep working hard, and striving for excellence. They’re winners in my book. Team T&T, all the way. Minus the Dick of course. #TeamTrinbago, #GeorgeBovell, #ChristopherGeorge, #Swimming, #Judo

  17. Can’t wait for the track and field. It was heartbreaking to see George go out like that. He’ll always be one of our best loved athletes in my opinion. Humble and down to earth with lots of poise and passion in his writings. Hopefully he will still find a way to contribute to the sport locally and hope that the govt gives him a tangible recognition for his efforts. He’s such a likeable guy it makes me cringe when people waste down his efforts. Waiting for some reporter to ask “what went wrong?”

  18. Your reporter in Rio is called Raucous Lasana?

  19. You sure get to soak up the full Olympic experience in that event. Lol

  20. This sailing is like Tour de France on the water or something…

  21. Trinidad’s Premier “Wetman” love it

  22. More accurately, George’s best time is 21.52 without the aid of a non-textile suit. The 21.20 from the world cup was done in a 25m pool which usually produces faster times at elite level. Olympic swims are done in a 50m pool.

    He has also done 21.20 in a 50m pool with a full body suit back in 09.

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