On 7 August 2016, 19 year old Marisa Dick will become Trinidad and Tobago’s first ever gymnast to participate in an Olympic Games. But the cost of her achievement could be the financial ruin and permanent loss of reputation of the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) and, in particular, …
Read More »Get ready to tumble! Thema sues TTGF officials for destroying her Olympic dreams
Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) president David Marquez, first vice president Akil Wattley, second vice president Ricardo Lue Shue and his wife and assistant treasurer Donna Lue Shue will have to defend their controversial omission of 20 year national gymnast Thema Williams in a local courtroom. At just after …
Read More »TTGF promises “fantastic event”; warns of possible repercussions for rebel clubs
The Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) vowed to put on a fantastic National Championship tomorrow despite receiving no funding from the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT). The TTGF is also facing a boycott from seven clubs and over 60 percent of the local gymnasts, including all of its …
Read More »Thema sues for $11.3 million! TTGF officials served pre-action protocol letters
What dollar value would you place on the trauma of being robbed the chance to compete at the Olympic Games? For 20 year old gymnast Thema Williams, it is worth TT$10 million. And Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) president David Marquez, first vice president Akil Wattley, second vice president …
Read More »Martin Daly SC joins “Team Thema”: Attorneys set for fresh assault on TTGF
The war between 20 year old Trinidad and Tobago gymnast Thema Williams and the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) might only be just getting started. Eminent local attorney Martin Daly SC has joined “Team Thema” and will add his expertise to Williams’ legal staff, which is headed by Keith …
Read More »The Great Training Robbery: TTOC sent wrong message to young athletes
Columnist Earl Best says Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) boss Brian Lewis made a ‘white-collar’ decision in selecting Marisa Dick for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Dear Brian, I don’t know what your experience has been but I know from my own experience that there are times when you have to cut off …
Read More »Ex-TTGF official takes responsibility for removing Lue Shue’s name from Dick’s FIG profile
A former Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) official, who asked to remain anonymous, has taken responsibility for changes to Marisa Dick’s profile on the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) website. More specifically, the official claimed that it was she—rather than the FIG—who deleted TTGF second vice president Ricardo Lue Shue’s …
Read More »TTGF: We are very grateful; Geddert: What a shameful moment in sports
“This circumstance and situation is a dark cloud over the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic movement,” said Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis. “It was one of the most gruelling and difficult situations that the TTOC has ever found itself in. We could have made decisions on the …
Read More »Thema’s options narrow; T&T gymnast may not qualify for IOC Tripartite help
Thema Williams’ hopes of circumventing her controversial deselection from the Rio 2016 Olympic Test event, at the hands of the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastic Federation (TTGF), were a sliver to begin with. They look even thinner now, as it appears that the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) is not …
Read More »FIG responds: Only Dick can go to Rio; refuses to verify accreditation timeline
FIG Secretary General André Gueisbuhler responded today on the controversial deselection of gymnast Thema Williams and accreditation of her alternate, Marisa Dick, for the Rio 2016 Olympic Test event on 17 April 2016. And FIG’s response was identical, despite the specificity of the questions, to Wired868, Williams’ attorney Dr Emir …
Read More »Cut throat gymnast? Marisa always believed she could get Thema’s spot
On 9 November 2015, a letter was sent from the email address of Hannifer Dick, the mother of Trinidad and Tobago international gymnast Marisa Dick, to Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) second vice-president Ricardo Lue Shue. Marisa, according to the email, was “heartbroken” after discovering that was not selected …
Read More »Sliver of hope: Thema hopeful of Olympic spot; admits to friction with Dicks
“There does exist a chance of Thema (Williams) still going to the Olympics,” said Canada-based sport attorney Dr Emir Crowne. “There is a committee called the Tripartite Commission; and in every sport they deal with exceptions to the rule… “The deadline to file that application was January 15. But they …
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