USVI Youth Olympians return home

ST. THOMAS — Five jet-lagged Youth Olympians and one gold medal returned home yesterday.

The U.S. Virgin Islands sent a eight-athlete contingent to the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore almost three weeks ago and five returned to King Airport on Sunday after flying halfway across the globe. The Games was a major international sporting event that attracted 14- to 18-year-old athletes from more than 200 countries.

“It feels good to be home,” said Kadeem Jones, who competed on the USVI 3-on-3 basketball team. “We’re not all the way there just yet but it feels good.”

Four of the five who touched down on St. Thomas still had one more flight to catch to St. Croix.

Three other USVI 3-on-3 basketball players flew straight to Philadelphia to start their upcoming high school year at different schools in Delaware. The Games expenses and travel were paid for by the International Olympic Committee.

The one St. Thomian among the USVI contingent — Ian Barrows — was a little weary coming off the plane but a cheering section warmed him up and made the combined 40 hours of flying worth the trip.

“It feels great,” said the 15-year-old sailor, who became the very first Virgin Islander to win a medal at the Games. He won the gold in the boys Byte CII Class on Wednesday and sported the hardware around his neck at the airport.

With V.I. Olympic Committee board members Lyn Reid and Ansen Sligar in tow, the group left Singapore more than two days ago and landed in South Korea. The next stop was in San Francisco and after a multiple-hour layover in northern California, there was a stop in Dallas, then Miami, then home.

“We didn’t really sleep too much,” said Brigitte Rasmussen, who swam in several breast stroke events in Singapore. “Mostly on the planes. We never really stopped at a hotel or anything.”

With the first day of school originally scheduled for today, Hurricane Earl also supplied the youngsters with a welcome home gift.

“No school — we already heard,” Barrows said. “It should be nice to finally get some sleep.”

Barrows said he did not enter the Games expecting a gold medal but was hoping to snag a spot on the medals podium at the 29-sailor event. He grabbed the overall lead Tuesday before taking third in the medal race Wednesday to clinch the top spot. He said it took some time getting used to his boat in Singapore but once he did, that’s when he made his move.

Of course, winning a gold medal comes with its perks.

“Too many interviews,” the humble Barrows said when asked about the heightened attention he has received.

David Walter, who competed in the two 400-meter track races, befriended another Youth Olympian from Sierra Leone who did not speak English and did not have the best racing apparel. Walter lent him an extra pair of racing spikes he brought on the trip and he said he eventually just gave them to his new friend to keep.

“I should have autographed them,” Walter said. “Who knows, maybe I’ll see him again in London in 2012.”

The experiences shared off the basketball court, out of the pool, off the track and away from the sailing boats went a long way, Sligar said. Hanging out in the Olympic Village and meeting people were among the young athletes’ favorite part of the journey.

“It was just an amazing trip,” Sligar said. “The kids had a great time competing but I think all the cultural stuff they were exposed to meant so much more. I think it changed a lot of them. They made a lot of friends and they didn’t want to come home.”

— Contact sports rep

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