The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Gymnastics Federation of The Bahamas is still in celebration mode after the country’s first CARIFTA Gymnastics team racked up 22 medals for a third-place finish at the inaugural CARIFTA Gymnastics Championships in Kingston, Jamaica over the weekend.

Team Bahamas hauled away 22 medals including four gold, seven silver and 11 bronze for the third podium spot. 

Trinidad & Tobago won the first CARIFTA Gymnastics with a whopping 161 medals and host country Jamaica came in second with 118 medals. Despite the success of Team Bahamas, gymnastics head coach Rashad Cunningham believes more can be done to assist with the development of gymnasts in The Bahamas.

“I think the biggest issue that we have here in the country is the lack of equipment and that is at all of the different clubs that we have. We have three clubs here in Nassau and one in Eleuthera and we do not have the necessary standardized equipment in our clubs that could definitely give our girls the best chances of training,” he said.

Coach Cunningham added that CARIFTA Gymnastics has a great opportunity to thrive at the same level of track and field and swimming if more funding can be provided for the necessary equipment.

“I realized by traveling throughout Jamaica that all of their clubs have the necessary equipment for them to be successful in gymnastics. It is the same with Trinidad & Tobago, who has about 21 gymnastics clubs. They were able to dominate CARIFTA not just because their kids are good but because their kids actually have the necessary equipment to train. If the government or powers that be can get standardized and up to date equipment for the various gyms where the children can not only just train but train safely, effectively and efficiently I believe that gymnastics is gonna be a dominating sport along with track and field and complementing swimming,” he said.

Skai Campbell got a bronze medal in the level three under-9 category for the floor exercise. 

Anai Ingraham also came away as a bronze medallist on the floor but in the under-11 category.

The level three team of Skai Campbell, Daelyn Jones, Ingraham, Rielle Whylly, Amelia Francis and Kaylie Bynoe clinched a silver medal finish.

The level six team including Rhianna Smith, Kia Bazard, Maleah Miller and Charis Edgecombe placed second overall.

Sade Hall, a level 9 gymnast, claimed four medals at the competition. She captured silver on the floor, bronze on the bars, silver on the beam and bronze in the all-around category.

Mikala Cartwright also racked up a few medals. She had a winning performance in the floor exercise, placed second on the beam and third on the vault. 

Prior to travel, the GFB made an appeal to corporate Bahamas for assistance with additional funding for travel expenses.

Kelsie Johnson-Sills, acting director of sports for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC), put out a statement last week stating that the ministry provided $20,000 to assist the GFB with travel expenses and preparation.

However, GFB president Cora Hepburn has since refuted those claims.

“The GFB would also like to set the record straight in reference to the statement sent by the acting director of youth, sports and culture in reference to $20,000 that was given to the federation for the CARIFTA games. Our records reflect no such thing. If there is evidence that the $20,000 was sent to the GFB, we would be more than happy to submit our records for public viewing, which would reflect otherwise.

“On November 6 2024 prior to leaving for the CARIFTA games, we received an annual $10,000 grant, like every other category C federation, which was used towards a three-week camp in September 2024 to prepare for the CARIFTA games. Despite the minimal support, out of 23 gymnasts, we were able to bring 22 medals for the country,” the statement said.

The GFB thanked sponsors including the Bahamas Olympic Committee, Sun Oil Limited, three managing directors of Lyford Cay Club, Leisure Tours and Islandwide Cabling and Consulting for their support.