Virgin Islands at the 2008 Summer Olympics
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The United States Virgin Islands competed in the
2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Na ...
, which were held in Beijing, the People's Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008. The appearance of its 23-person delegation marked its fifteenth appearance at the Olympic games, and its tenth appearance at the Summer Olympic games. In total, seven athletes participated on behalf of the Virgin Islands (
Tabarie Henry Tabarie Joil Henry (born 1 December 1987, in Saint Thomas) is a United States Virgin Islands sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres. His personal best time is 20.71 seconds in the 200 metres and 44.77 in the 400 metres, achieved in April 20 ...
and
LaVerne Jones-Ferrette LaVerne Janet Jones-Ferrette (born September 16, 1981) is a sprinter from the United States Virgin Islands who specializes in the 100 and 200 meters. She represented her country at the Summer Olympics in 2004, 2008 and 2012. She won the silver ...
in track and field, John and
Julius Jackson Julius Jackson (born August 1, 1987) is a professional boxer from the Virgin Islands who qualified for the 2008 Olympics at light-heavyweight, as did his brother John Jackson. Their father is boxer Julian Jackson. Amateur career At the 2007 Wor ...
in boxing,
Thomas Barrows III Thomas Barrows III (born November 2, 1987) is a sailor who lives in the United States Virgin Islands and attended Yale University, where he won the ICSA Men's Singlehanded National Championship in 2008 and earned the ICSA College Sailor of the Year ...
in sailing, Ned Gerard in shooting, and
Josh Laban Joshua Noel Laban (born December 25, 1982) is an Olympic swimmer from the U.S. Virgin Islands. He was the USVI's flagbearer for the 2008 Olympics and the 2007 Pan American Games. He attended college and swam at the University of Miami in Coral G ...
in swimming) in Beijing. Of those, John Jackson and Tabarie Henry progressed to a post-preliminary event, and Henry reached semifinals in his own. There were no Virgin Islander medalists at the Beijing Olympics.


Background

Between its beginning and the Beijing Olympics, the United States Virgin Islands have participated in fifteen Olympic Games, including five Winter Olympics. Of the ten Summer Olympic games, the Virgin Islands have sent a delegation for every game since the
1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XIX Olimpiada) and commonly known as Mexico 1968 ( es, México 1968), were an international multi-sport eve ...
in Mexico City excluding the
1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer Olympics (russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, Letniye Olimpiyskiye igry 1980), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad (russian: Игры XXII Олимпиады, Igry XXII Olimpiady) and commo ...
in Moscow. The first women in the team participated at the
1976 Summer Olympics Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phi ...
in Montréal, and the delegation has included women ever since, peaking at the
1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...
in Atlanta. The size of its summer Olympic team was largest between 1972 (16 athletes) and 1992 (25 athletes), and was at its all-time largest in the
1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the secon ...
in Los Angeles when 29 athletes competed for the country. After 1996, the team carried 15 athletes or less. In its entire history up to Beijing, there has been one medalist: Peter Holmberg, who medaled silver in the
1988 Summer Olympics The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...
in Seoul. Seven Virgin Islanders participated in the Beijing games, including five men and one woman in five distinct sports. There were no medalists, although boxer John Jackson and runner
Tabarie Henry Tabarie Joil Henry (born 1 December 1987, in Saint Thomas) is a United States Virgin Islands sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres. His personal best time is 20.71 seconds in the 200 metres and 44.77 in the 400 metres, achieved in April 20 ...
progressed to post-preliminary rounds. Josh Laban was the nation's flag bearer during ceremonies. The Virgin Islands' delegation to Beijing included five executives (among them, Virgin Islands Olympic Committee President Hans Lawaetz); the seven Olympians, along with nine assisting staff (coaches, etc.); and two youth camp athletes. Overall, 23 people composed the team.


Athletics


Men's competition

Then-attendee of the Kansan
Barton County Community College Barton Community College, previously Barton County Community College, is a public community college in Great Bend, Kansas. Its service area includes Barton, Ellsworth, Pawnee, Rush and Russell Counties, Stafford County north of US Highway 5 ...
Tabarie Henry qualified for the Beijing Olympics when he ran the 400 meter dash in 45.42 seconds at the John McDonnell Invitational in
Fayetteville, Arkansas Fayetteville () is the second-largest city in Arkansas, the county seat of Washington County, and the biggest city in Northwest Arkansas. The city is on the outskirts of the Boston Mountains, deep within the Ozarks. Known as Washington until ...
in April. His qualifying time passed the Olympic A standard and marked the 15th fastest time in the event's history and the 10th fastest time set that year in all the world. Henry's participation in Beijing marked his Olympic debut. At the Olympics, Tabarie Henry participated in round one of his event on August 17. He was placed in Heat 7 against eventual silver medalist Jeremy Wariner of the United States and Belgian runner
Cedric van Branteghem Cedric () is a masculine given name invented by Walter Scott in the 1819 novel ''Ivanhoe''.Sir Walter Scott, Graham Tulloch (ed.), ''Ivanhoe'', vol. 8 of The Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels, Edinburgh University Press, 1998, , "explanator ...
. With a time of 45.36 seconds, Henry ranked second of eight in his heat, behind Wariner by 0.13 seconds and ahead of van Branteghem by 0.18 seconds. Overall, Henry tied Nery Brenes of Costa Rica for 18th place out of 56 athletes. He progressed to semifinals. At the August 19 semifinal rounds, Henry was placed in Heat 1, again against Wariner and also versus Brenes and Christopher Brown of the Bahamas, among others. Tabarie Henry ran the event in 45.19 seconds, ending seventh out of eight athletes in the heat, at 0.13 seconds behind Cuba's
Williams Collazo William Collazo Gutiérrez (born 31 August 1986 in Antilla, Holguín) is a Cuban sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres. Career He won a bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2005 Central American and Caribbean Championships. ...
(6th place) and 0.45 seconds ahead of Italy's Claudio Licciardello (8th place). Overall, Henry ranked 17th out of 24 athletes, and did not progress to finals on August 21.


Women's competition

LaVerne Jones-Ferrette, the only female athlete to participate in the Beijing Olympics on behalf of the United States Virgin Islands, participated in the 100 meters and 200 meters dashes. Her participation in Beijing marked her second Olympic games, as she also participated in the 100 m and 200 m in the Athenian
2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...
. Jones-Ferrette's participation in the 100 m dash began with the August 15 first round. Jones-Ferrette was placed in Heat 1. She placed third behind Jamaica's Kerron Stewart (1st place) and Norway's Ezinne Okparaebo (2nd place) with a time of 11.41 seconds. Okparaebo was 0.09 seconds faster than Jones-Ferrette; Haiti's
Barbara Pierre Barbara Pierre (born April 28, 1986) is a Haitian-born American track and field sprint athlete who competed internationally for the United States. Her specialty is the 60-meter dash and the 100-meter dash. She had her highest world ranking in 20 ...
was 0.09 seconds slower. Jones-Ferrette ranked 20th out of 85 athletes in the first round, and progressed to round two. Jones was placed in Heat 1 during the second round, completing the event in 11.55 seconds and ranking fifth of eight athletes. Jones-Ferrette was 0.1 seconds slower than Kittitian runner
Virgil Hodge Virgil Hodge (born 17 November 1983) is a female sprinter from Saint Kitts and Nevis who specializes in the 200 metres. She was born in Basseterre.
and 0.1 seconds faster than Cameroon's Myriam Leonie Mani. Overall, Jones-Ferrette tied Ukrainian Natalia Pogrebniak for 29th place out of 40 athletes. She did not progress further. LaVerne Jones-Ferrette also participated in the 200 m dash. On August 18, she was placed in Heat 6 of the first round, completing the event in 23.12 seconds and ranking fourth place out of eight athletes. Jones-Ferrette was 0.04 seconds behind Cuba's Roxana Diaz, and was 0.29 seconds ahead of Brazil's Evelyn Santos. Jones-Ferrette ranked 16th overall out of 48 athletes. Jones progressed to the August 19 second round, and was placed in Heat 1 against athletes that included Jamaica's
Veronica Campbell Veronica Campbell-Brown CD ( Campbell; born 15 May 1982) is a retired Jamaican track and field sprinter, who specialized in the 100 and 200 meters.
and the Cayman Islands'
Cydonie Mothersill Cydonie Camille Mothersille (born 19 March 1978) is a female former track and field sprinter from the Cayman Islands. Her speciality at the beginning of her career was the 100 metres, while the 200 metres gradually became her main event. She ...
. Jones-Ferrette placed seventh out of eight with a time of 23.37 seconds. Overall, LaVerne Jones-Ferrette placed 24th out of 32 athletes. She did not advance to semifinals.


Summary

;Men ;Women ;Key * Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only * Q = Qualified for the next round * q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser ''or'', in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target * NR = National record * N/A = Round not applicable for the event * Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round


Boxing

The Virgin Islands qualified two boxers for the Olympic boxing tournament.
John Jackson John or Johnny Jackson may refer to: Entertainment Art * John Baptist Jackson (1701–1780), British artist * John Jackson (painter) (1778–1831), British painter * John Jackson (engraver) (1801–1848), English wood engraver * John Richardson ...
qualified at the first American qualifying tournament.1st AIBA American Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournament
His brother
Julius Jackson Julius Jackson (born August 1, 1987) is a professional boxer from the Virgin Islands who qualified for the 2008 Olympics at light-heavyweight, as did his brother John Jackson. Their father is boxer Julian Jackson. Amateur career At the 2007 Wor ...
earned his spot at the second qualifier.2nd AIBA American Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournament
The Beijing Olympics marked the first time that either of the Jackson brothers had participated in the Olympic games. Although neither medaled, John Jackson progressed to the Round of 16, which followed the preliminary round.


Sailing

Then-student of Yale University Thomas Barrows III was the only sailor to participate on behalf of the Virgin Islands during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His appearance in Beijing marked his first time at any Olympic games. He qualified for the Men's Laser class, which consists of ten races, and involved 43 athletes. In the first race, Barrows ranked 20th; in the second, 28th; in the third, 20th, in the fourth, 24th; in the fifth, 26th; in the sixth, 31st; in the seventh, 15th; in the eighth, 10th (his highest); and in the ninth, 21st. Barrows did not complete the tenth race. Overall, Barrows earned 195 points in total, but ended with 164 net points and ranked 21st in the event. He did not medal. ;Men M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race; CAN = Race cancelled


Shooting

Ned Gerard was the only shooter representing the Virgin Islands at the Beijing Olympics. He qualified for the shooting event men's 50 m small-bore rifle, prone. His participation in Beijing marked his Olympic debut. The shooting event took place on August 14. In the first round, Gerard scored 96 points; the second round, 96 points again; the third round, 95; the fourth round, 98; the fifth round, 97; and the last round, 98. Ned Gerard scored 580.0 points, ranking 53rd out of 56 athletes, and thus did not medal. He fell two points behind Cuba's Eliecer Perez and two points ahead of Kyrgyzstan's Ruslan Ismailov. Gerard was 122.7 points behind event leader
Artur Ayvazyan Artur Surenovych Ayvazyan ( hy, Արթուր Այվազյան; uk, Артур Суренович Айвазян, born 14 January 1973) is an Olympic shooter for Ukraine and Russia who won a gold medal in the 50 metre rifle prone event at the 200 ...
of the Ukraine. ;Men


Swimming

Former University of Georgia student Josh Laban was the only swimmer to participate on behalf of the Virgin Islands at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has known U.S. Virgin Islander swimmers
Kieran Locke Kieran Locke (born March 19, 1984) is a former national-team swimmer from the United States Virgin Islands. He is the older brother of fellow USVI swimmer Morgan Locke. He went to college and swam for the USA's Yale University, in the mid-2000s.
and Kevin Hensley since childhood, and competed alongside them during qualifying competitions. His participation marked his second appearance at the Olympics, with his first being at the
2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...
in Athens. In Beijing, Laban was placed in the seventh heat of the August 14 preliminaries round against swimmers that included Chile's
Oliver Elliot Oliver Eduardo Elliot Bañados (born June 19, 1987) is a Chilean people, Chilean freestyle swimmer. He Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 50 metre freestyle, competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics. In 2008, he joined the Pontifical Cat ...
and Romania's Norbert Trandafir. With a time of 23.28 seconds, Laban ranked seventh in the heat of eight athletes, defeating Kyrgyzstan's Vitaly Vasilev by 0.74 seconds and falling behind sixth-place swimmer
Martyn Forde Martyn Forde is an Olympic-swimmer from Barbados. He swam for Barbados at the 2008 Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event ...
of Barbados by 0.20  seconds. Laban was 0.53 seconds slower than Elliot, who led the heat. Overall, Laban ranked 53rd out of 97 athletes competing in the event. He did not progress to the semifinal rounds held later that day. ;Men


See also

*
Virgin Islands at the 2007 Pan American Games The United States Virgin Islands competed at the 15th Pan American Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 13 to July 29, 2007. Results by event Basketball Men's team competition * Team roster :* Steven Hodge :*Kevin Sheppard :*Carl K ...
* U.S. Virgin Islands at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games


References


External links

* {{Country at games navbox, Virgin Islands, Olympics Nations at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
Olympics The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...