RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The 37-year-old Trinidad and Tobago shot put record holder, Cleopatra Borel, finished her best international outdoor championship performance ever in this year’s Olympics at Rio.
Borel, who finished 7th with a throw of 18.37m, joyfully stated that “I am happy, I think my best outdoor finish ever, so I’m happy to go out with my best performance, very happy with that.”
The event was won by American Michelle Carter with 20.63m, a national record, over Valerie Adams of New Zealand 20.42m.
The Rio Olympics is Borel’s last Olympics but might not be her last throw.
When asked about having second thoughts about retirement, the 2015 Pan Am champion, clearly said “no, not one second thought no no. It’s not easy, it’s a whole lifestyle and it’s a commitment for four years and that’s pretty tough for me to do again. That (Rio) might have been my last throw for me. I don’t know, if I wake up Monday and I am able to train, then we will keep going, then if I can’t, we will see.”
Borel who has represented Trinidad and Tobago in the last four Olympics Games said that this was not a sad or emotional final for her, but a great outing.
“Not as emotional as this morning because I knew the qualifying was necessary to get to this point and I am extremely happy to make it in the top 8,” said the 2008, 2011 and 2013 Central American and Caribbean Championships gold medal winner.
“I am happy to be smiling now because there has been times when I make it to the finals and then not make it beyond to the top 8, so it’s been a great Olympics for me. No tears for me, now I’m good all smiles,” she said with the huge smile on her face.
When asked about her views on the level of the Caribbean in the Shot Put at this year’s Olympics, replied: “I think that we have a lot of untapped talent in the Caribbean and is really an event that we need to look at building. We need to grow in the region because I really believe that we have the talent for it.”
Is coaching the next stop for the Trinbagonian? “I would love to coach the shot put, I think that’s something that I would definitely do. I definitely want to begin with, specifically, female gliders and we will see where it goes from there.”
She continued: “But I would love to be able to coach, not just in Trinidad and Tobago but regionally.”
The six-time World Championships campaigner added that she will like to share her experience. “That would really be nice for me, as I would like to pass on all the knowledge that I have gained from so many years of competing,”
