News Releases

UWI shares in Caribbean success at Tokyo Olympics

For Release Upon Receipt - August 9, 2021

UWI


 

Four medals from honorary grad, current and former students

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica. W.I. Wednesday, Monday, August 9, 2021—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is sharing in the Caribbean’s celebration of Olympic glory. UWI current students, alumni, coaches and sports medical support staff were among the Caribbean contingent at the Tokyo Games, including four athletes who collectively won two gold medals, one silver and two bronze. The UWI community proudly congratulates all the athletes and staff who represented both their countries, and the regional university by extension.

The four medals were won by Jamaican competitors: 2017 UWI graduate, Hansle Parchment who won gold in the men’s 110 metre hurdles; Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, an honorary graduate of the University, who also copped gold in the Women's 4x100m relay as well as a silver in the Women's 100m; and current Mona Campus students Candice McLeod and Roneisha McGregor who were part of the bronze medal-winning team in the Women's 4x400m relay.

Current UWI Mona students: 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Sportsman of the year and discus throw athlete, Fedrick Dacres, represented Jamaica; and 100m athlete, Emmanuel Archibald who competed for Guyana displayed standout showings during the Games. Another UWI Mona alumnus from Jamaica, Traves Smikle likewise delivered an impressive performance in the men’s discus throw.

In addition to the athletes, Throws Coach, Julian Robinson and Head Coach, Fitz-Albert Coleman, both from the Mona Campus were also among members of The UWI community participating in the Olympics. Although Coleman didn’t travel to the Games, he is credited with the top performances of Jamaica’s hurdle athletes. Open Campus student, Deon Sutherland doubled as President of the Belize Athletics Association and coach for the Belizean Olympic team and St Augustine Campus staffer, Mr. Shurlan Bonas was one of the massage therapists on the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic team.

As part of its mission, to foster the positive transformation of the Caribbean, The UWI is keen on nurturing and celebrating Caribbean sporting talent and becoming more recognised regionally and internationally as a centre for sports excellence. Towards this objective, the University launched its regional Faculty of Sport in 2017, with Academies of Sport operating at the Cave Hill, Mona, Open and St. Augustine Campuses. These Academies are responsible for sporting and academic activities, provide athlete support at all levels, as well as outreach to communities through sports.

When the 2020 Summer Paralympics begin on August 24, the Faculty will be represented by current Open Campus student, Shauna-Kay Hines who is pursuing a BSc Sport Leadership and Management. She will participate in Para-Taekwondo on behalf of Jamaica.

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About The UWI

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region.

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

Ranked among the top universities in the world, by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education, The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists. In 2020, it earned ‘Triple 1st’ rankings—topping the Caribbean; and in the top in the tables for Latin America and the Caribbean, and global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the top universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

For more, visit www.uwi.edu.

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

 

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