Sat | Sep 20, 2025

Richards renews call for more support for young T&T athletes

Published:Saturday | September 20, 2025 | 12:09 AM
Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards (left), silver medallist in the men’s 400 metres at the 2025 World Athletics Championships with gold medallist Busang Kebinatshipi of Botswana and bronze medallist Bayapo Ndori, also of Botswana.
AP
Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards (left), silver medallist in the men’s 400 metres at the 2025 World Athletics Championships with gold medallist Busang Kebinatshipi of Botswana and bronze medallist Bayapo Ndori, also of Botswana.

TOKYO, Japan (CMC):

Trinidad and Tobago’s World Championship silver medallist Jereem ‘The Dream’ Richards is still not satisfied with the level of support being given to the country’s young and upcoming athletes.

The 31-year-old set a new national record of 43.72 seconds on his way to finishing second in the men’s 400 metres at the 2025 World Athletic Championships on Thursday.

It was the second medal for T&T at the ongoing World Championships, following Keshorn Walcott’s gold medal winning performance in the men’s javelin, also on Thursday.

Speaking during a telephone interview on Isports on 195.5 FM, Richards continued his plea for T&T’s athletes to be given more encouragement and support.

“I just want to thank everyone that supported me; the fans, my friends, my family, the medical staff, the people who would have reached out to me, I just want to say thank you.

“I want to encourage Trinidad and Tobago to support track and field. I’ve been calling for this since 2017 and obviously we haven’t seen anything,” Richards said.

“We like to rejoice in medals when Keshorn wins, and when I win we’re able to rejoice, but come out and support the athletes, don’t wait until we win to come out and support us.

“We need people in the stands supporting us, we need the support from all sectors because it’s important.

“Once again we were able to show by the glory of God, by the grace of God, that track and field is a sport that will continue to put Trinidad and Tobago on the map, and I hope this is a turning point for sports in Trinidad and Tobago,” he further added.

Richards, who won gold at the 2022 World Indoor Championships and bronze at the World Athletic Championships in 2017, said he was looking forward to competing at the 2028 Olympics slated to be held in Los Angeles.

“Yes, that’s in the plans, but kind of just going with the flow. If it’s in God’s will it’s in the plans, if not then it’s not, but definitely I want to go out with a bang in 2028 God spare life,” Richards said.