From Anguilla News:

A number of athletes representing the tropical Caribbean region will participate in the 22nd Winter Olympic Games in the Black Sea city of Sochi in South-Eastern Russia from February 7-23.

Among the featured athletes from the Caribbean are a five-member Bobsleigh delegation from Jamaica, a husband and wife team from Dominica and athletes from the US Virgin Islands (USVI), the Cayman Islands and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

CEO of CANOC Broadcasting Inc. (CBI), Larry Romany said it’s another moment of pride for the Caribbean to have athletes representing their national countries at the Winter Olympics and vying for medals.

“Our Caribbean athletes have demonstrated that they have an unconquerable spirit and it is this undeniable perseverance and grit determination that has put them at the top of their field and also for many individuals, to achieve personal excellence.

“We know our Caribbean athletes in Sochi will make us proud and it will be another unifying period for our region to support these exceptional athletes who spent countless hours working hard to qualify for the Winter Olympics,” said Romany.

Jamaica’s five-member delegation to the games are pilot Winston Watts, brake-man Marvin Dixon, crew members Wayne Blackwood, alternate crew; Thomas Samuel, coach, and Nelson Christian Stokes, Chef de Mission.

The Jamaican Bobsleigh team gained international fame during their debut in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta as underdogs among the professional and was the inspiration for the major motion picture, Cool Runnings.

United States-based Gary di Silvestri and his Italian-born wife Angelica Morrone di Silvestri who have Dominican citizenship will represent the island at the Games. Di Silvestri will take part in the men’s 15-kilometre classical race and his wife in the women’s 10-kilometre classical race.

Jasmine Campbell, representing the USVI, Dow Travers, the Cayman Islands and Peter Adam Crook, the BVI said they were all looking forward to the Winter Olympic s and doing their personal best to represent their countries.

“I will be going to the Olympics trying to ski my personal fastest, my personal strongest, my personal best. That is all I can really hope to do. The Olympics are also about bringing the world together in a community of sport and human excellence. It’s a time to transcend beyond differences and divisiveness. I will consider my time at the Olympics a success by doing my own personal best, while connecting with this very special community of athletes,” said Campbell who feels honoured to represent the Virgin Islands.

Born and raised in the Grand Cayman, Travers, 26, competed for the island in the 2009 Val D’Isere Alpine World Championships and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The eldest of three talented athletic brothers, Travers who lives and works full time in the Cayman after graduating from Brown University with a degree in Geology-Biology said he’s fully prepared for the Winter Games.

“I believe I am prepared and as ready as I’ll ever be,” said Travers who has been training in Aspen with his brother Dean under Coach, former Olympic skier, Jake Zamansky and the Aspen Valley Ski Club.

Travers who will be competing in the Giant Slalom said he has been training during the week and racing as much as possible followed by strength training in the gym.

Crook who lives in Utah said he is “excited and a little nervous” about his first Winter Olympics and representing the small mountainous island of Tortola.

“When people hear I’m representing Tortola, they always ask me if I ski there! Is there snow there! And then I have to explain it all over again,” said Crook who started competing professionally four years ago.

“It’s a small island and the support for me from the people there is unreal. My biggest goal at the Olympic is to make it through the final round. You never know what can happen. I’d just like to make everyone proud,” he added.

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