Saint Kitts and Nevis at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Saint Kitts and Nevis at the
2020 Summer Olympics
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis
IOC codeSKN
NOCSaint Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee
Websitewww.sknoc.org
in Tokyo, Japan
23 July 2021 (2021-07-23) – August 8, 2021 (2021-08-08)
Competitors2 in 1 sport
Flag bearers (opening)Amya Clarke
Jason Rogers
Flag bearer (closing)N/A
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Saint Kitts and Nevis competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the event was postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] This was the nation's seventh appearance at the Summer Olympics since their debut in 1996. The delegation consisted of two athletes, competing in athletic events; Jason Rogers and Amya Clarke. For the first time, in an effort to promote gender equality, two flagbearers, one male and one female were allowed at the Olympics.[2] Both athletes from Saint Kitts and Nevis bore the national flag at the opening ceremony. Saint Kitts and Nevis did not win any medals during the Tokyo Olympics. Rogers ranked third in the first round of the men's 100 metres and advanced to the semifinals where he was eliminated. Clarke also ranked third in her preliminary round of the women's 100 metres and advanced to round 1 where she ranked 7th and was eliminated.

Background

The Saint Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee was first formed on 27 May 1986. The committee was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1993 at a session of the IOC in Monte Carlo, Monaco.[3] The appearance of Saint Kitts and Nevis at the Tokyo Summer Olympics marked their seventh consecutive summer appearance since it first entered the Games during the 1996 Summer Olympics. They debuted at the 1996 Olympic Games with 10 athletes, the most they have ever sent to the Games.[4] Prior to the 2020 Olympics, Saint Kitts and Nevis had not won an Olympic medal.[5] Sprinter Kim Collins, who competed at six Summer Olympics from 1996 to 2016, is the first athlete from the country to reach the final round in an Olympic event. He achieved it in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Collins would go onto reach the finals again in the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. He is currently the only athlete from the country to reach an Olympic final round.[6]

The 2020 Summer Olympics were originally due to be held from 24 July to 9 August 2020, but were delayed to 23 July to 8 August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saint Kitts and Nevis sent a delegation of two athletes. The team at the 2020 Games featured two track and field athlete. Sprinter Jason Rogers participating in the men's 100 metres was making his third consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics. 22 year old Amya Clarke was making her Olympic debut at the 2020 Games. She competed in the women's 100 metres. Both Clarke and Rogers were the flagbearers for Saint Kitts and Nevis in the opening ceremony.[7] No athletes from Saint Kitts and Nevis were present for the closing ceremony due to COVID-19 related protocols that required athletes to leave Japan within 48 hours from completion of their final event.[8]

Athletics

Main articles: Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics and Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification
The Japan National Stadium, where the track and field events took place.

Athletes from Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved the entry standards for the games either by their qualifying time or by their world ranking. Up to a maximum of three athletes could compete in each track and field event.[9][10]

Saint Kitts and Nevis was represented by one male and one female athlete at the 2020 Summer Olympics in athletics: Jason Rogers in the men's 100 metres run and Amya Clarke in the women's 100 metres run.[11] This marked the third Olympic appearance for Rogers and the first Olympic appearance for Clarke.[12][13]

Jason Rogers was making his third Olympic appearance, having previously represented Saint Kitts and Nevis at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics.[12] On 31 July, he participated in the first round of the men's 100 metres race, and was drawn into heat four. He finished the race in 10.21 seconds, third out of nine competitors in his heat, and advanced to the semi-finals.[a] In the semifinals, which took place on 1 August, Rogers was drawn into heat three. He finished the race with a time of 10.12 seconds, fifth out of eight athletes in his heat, and failed to advance to the finals.[b] The gold medal was eventually won in 9.80 seconds by Marcell Jacobs of Italy; the silver was won by Fred Kerley of United States, and the bronze was earned by Andre De Grasse of Canada.[14]

Amya Clarke was making her debut appearance at the Olympics.[13] She participated in the women's 100 metres and was drawn into the first heat in the preliminary round. The preliminary round took place on 30 July and Clarke finished third out of nine athletes in her heat with a time of 11.67 seconds and advanced to round 1. She was drawn in heat four and finished with a time of 11.71 seconds. She finished last in her heat and did not advance to later rounds.[c] The medals in the event were won by athletes from Jamaica; gold was won by Elaine Thompson-Herah, silver by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and bronze by Shericka Jackson.[15]

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
Track & road events
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Jason Rogers Men's 100 m Bye 10.21 3 Q 10.12 6 Did not advance[14]
Amya Clarke Women's 100 m 11.67 3 Q 11.71 7 Did not advance[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ One athlete, Mark Odhiambo, did not start.
  2. ^ One athlete, CJ Ujah, was disqualified.
  3. ^ One athlete, Vitória Cristina Rosa, did not start.

References

  1. ^ "Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee". Olympics. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  2. ^ Grohmann, Karolos (4 March 2020). "IOC to allow male/female flagbearers at Tokyo Games". Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Our History – St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee". www.sknoc.org. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Saint Kitts and Nevis at the Olympics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Olympic Games: results, medals, statistics, analytics". olympanalyt.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Olympedia – Kim Collins". Olympedia. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Olympedia – Flagbearers for Saint Kitts and Nevis". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  8. ^ Bruton, Michelle (8 August 2021). "Closing Ceremony Tokyo 2021: Highlights, Flag Bearers and More". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  9. ^ "iaaf.org – Top Lists". IAAF. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  10. ^ "IAAF Games of the XXXII Olympiad – Tokyo 2020 Entry Standards" (PDF). IAAF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Olympedia – Saint Kitts and Nevis at the 2020 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Olympedia – Jason Rogers". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Olympedia – Amya Clarke". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Olympedia – 100 metres, Men". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Olympedia – 100 metres, Women". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.