Unusual sports could bring success at major events, say pioneers

As the Olympics approach, the pipe dream of Cayman winning its first medal is starting to feel possible with swimmer Jordan Crooks, who many consider to be the country’s greatest chance of attaining that feat.

Some within the community believe Cayman athletes could have established themselves on the podium in previous years, not only at the Olympics but other major events if funds had been placed in sports that are considered unpopular.

“There are other sports that we can gain from and get a medal, not just at the Olympics but also … at [other] international games,” Craig Merren, a three-time Olympian told the Compass.

For Eddie Mclean, president of the Cayman Islands Sport Shooting Association, agrees with Merren.

“The Cayman Islands could have won Olympic medals if more investment had been made in shooting,” Mclean said. “Nonetheless, many factors, including talent, training, resources, and support systems, influence success in sports.”

Merren, a Caymanian sporting pioneer in cycling, said more attention could be paid locally to less popular – and less expensive – sports, like water-polo and archery.

“Those sports are not as expensive as, say sailing, golf; even in cycling, you can see it is very difficult,” Merren said. “I would love to see people form associations … and hopefully the government focuses as well.”

Research shows that a top-level bow and a set of a dozen arrows in archery can range from US$700 to US$800, in comparison to a pro golf set, which can average US$2,500.

The bikes featured in cycling at this year’s Olympics are priced in the tens of thousands, with some costing much more – like Australia’s which reported cost US$100,000.

Currently, coach Grant Ferguson is utilising Cayman’s public beaches free of charge to train athletes in water-polo, with the hope of forming Cayman’s first CARIFTA team in the sport and possibly taking them to the Olympics one day.

But for a sport like cycling, it’s rare to get anything for free. Merren explained what it would cost to take for a top-ranked Caymanian cyclists like Nathaniel Forbes to be classed amongst the world’s elite.

“If someone asked me, ‘What will it take to have Nathaniel train in Europe for eight months?’ It will take over 100-and-odd thousand dollars, no ifs, no buts,” Merren asserted of his prodigy Forbes.

Though Merren admitted success in sports like cycling is feasible, it comes with a large price tag, so investment in cheaper sports are the way to go.

“We will just be spending and wasting time and we have to wake up to the fact that we need a more professional approach,” he said. “You don’t want to be wasting money, like how I see certain associations are doing; sending people who are past the age limit, especially in cycling – it’s a waste of money from that sponsor.”

For Mclean, who competed for Cayman in various events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Island Games, where he won silver in the men’s skeet team, said it is essential to consider the various factors preventing shooting from progressing locally.

He noted that the sport requires specialised gear and facilities, which can be expensive and not readily available, in addition to adhering strictly to regulations for firearm use and licensing in the Cayman Islands.

“The law generally outlines that a firearm can only be legally owned with the express consent of the Commissioner of Police or the District Commissioner, following a thorough application and vetting process,” Mclean said.

“This process can be complex and time-consuming, potentially discouraging participation in shooting sports,” he added. While the challenges are significant, they are not insurmountable. With strategic planning, investment, and support, it’s possible to foster the growth of shooting and other sports in the Cayman Islands, potentially leading to future success on the international stage.”

It’s not unusual for smaller countries or individual athletes to make it to the Olympics by embracing a certain sport that they’re not normally associated with, like the unforgettable Jamaican bobsleigh team or Britain’s Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards who qualified for the 1988 Winter Olympics as the only ski-jumper from the UK to compete.

The Olympic Games in Paris begin on Friday, 26 July.