Podium pride pays off as TTOC honors 21-medal CAC Games campaign

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) has distributed TT$150,000 in medal bonuses to athletes who helped the country secure 21 medals at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, during July and August.

The awards were presented Tuesday at Olympic House on Woodford Street in Port-of-Spain, with TTOC President Diane Henderson leading the recognition of the athletes whose performances delivered six gold, five silver and 10 bronze medals.

Trinidad and Tobago finished ninth in the overall medal standings, earning the distinction of being the highest-placed English-speaking Caribbean nation at the two-week competition.

The country's 148-athlete delegation, comprising 74 men and 74 women and supported by 71 officials, competed across 25 multisport events spanning individual, team and combat disciplines.

Blackman, Carter headline gold medal winners

Swimmer Nikoli Blackman emerged as one of the leading figures in Trinidad and Tobago's campaign, collecting two individual gold medals in the men's 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events.

He also contributed to the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay victory alongside Liam Carrington, Dylan Carter and Zarek Wilson, giving him three gold medals at the Games.

Carter added an individual gold in the men's 50-meter butterfly, earning his sixth individual gold medal in CAC Games history and seventh overall among his 11 medals at the competition.

Cyclist Kwesi Browne secured gold in the men's keirin, while Trinidad and Tobago's women's netball team completed the country's gold-medal tally.

The collective achievements across swimming, cycling and netball helped establish Trinidad and Tobago as the leading English-speaking Caribbean nation in the final standings.

Five silver medals across five disciplines

The country's silver-medal performances came from five different events.

Carrington claimed silver in the men's 50-meter backstroke, while cyclist Teniel Campbell finished second in the women's road race. Track athlete Rinaldo Moore earned silver in the men's 110-meter hurdles.

Trinidad and Tobago's men's hockey team also secured silver, as did sailor Kelly-Ann Arrindell in the women's single-person dinghy event.

Their performances contributed to a medal campaign that demonstrated the country's competitiveness across aquatic sports, athletics, cycling, team competition and sailing.

Cycling supplies a significant share of bronze medals

Cycling featured prominently among the bronze-medal achievements, with Browne placing third in the men's individual sprint, Campbell taking bronze in the women's time trial and Akil Campbell finishing third in the men's omnium.

The men's team sprint trio of Browne, Danell James and Ryan D'Abreau also earned bronze, as did the women's team sprint combination of Teniel Campbell, Kyra Williams and Phoebe Sandy.

Campbell teamed with Alexi Costa-Ramirez to secure another bronze in the women's Madison.

Swimming produced two additional bronze medals through Carter in the men's 100-meter butterfly and Blackman in the men's 200-meter freestyle.

Aaron Charles earned bronze in the men's 200 meters, while boxer Abdul Taylor completed the list of bronze medalists with his third-place finish in the men's 60-kilogram division.

Henderson: Recognition goes beyond the money

Addressing the gathering, Henderson placed the awards ceremony within the context of an exceptionally busy sporting year for Trinidad and Tobago.

“It has been a busy year of 2026 so far, having had the CAC as well as the Commonwealth Games and the Winter Games, and we have the Youth Olympic coming up.”

She explained that Tuesday's function was specifically intended to recognize the athletes who reached the podium at the CAC Games.

“We are here today (Tuesday), however, to recognize the Central American and Caribbean Games medallists. It was the 100th anniversary of the games of Central Caribbean sports and the games in 2026 and the 80th anniversary of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee.”

Henderson said the bonuses represented more than a financial reward, emphasizing the sacrifices required to achieve success at the regional level.

“As we prepare to pay the medal bonuses for the athletes who were successful in reaching the podium, we want you to know that this moment is about far more than a cheque, I hope.”

She continued: “It's about acknowledgement. It is about this nation saying to each and every one of you, ‘We saw what you did, we know what it cost you, and we are proud. It may not seem so at times, but we are. Standing on a podium at the CAC games does not happen by accident. It is the result of years of sacrifice, early mornings, long training sessions, setbacks overcome and a decision made over and over again to keep going when it would have been easier to stop.”

The TTOC president also encouraged the athletes to recognize the broader significance of their achievements, particularly their influence on young people aspiring to represent the country.

“This bonus is a tangible expression of our gratitude, but please know that your value to this nation goes well beyond. You are the inspiration of the next generation of athletes who are watching, dreaming, and working toward their own podium moment.”

Santana-Duke reflects on leading the delegation

Lovie Santana-Duke, chef de mission of Trinidad and Tobago's CAC Games contingent, also addressed the gathering, acknowledging that she was proud to have led the delegation.

The ceremony recognized not only the athletes' medal-winning performances but also the commitment behind a campaign that placed Trinidad and Tobago ninth overall and at the top of the English-speaking Caribbean nations.

With TT$150,000 distributed in bonuses, the TTOC's presentation provided a tangible acknowledgment of the athletes' contributions while underscoring their value as role models for the country's next generation of sporting talent.