Belizean Olympians Grateful for Home Fan Support

In news from the Olympic Games, all three Belizeans sent to participate in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics competed over the weekend.  Amado Cruz made history from the start, by being the first and only Belizean to compete in an Olympic canoe competition. Cruz overcame his first heat in the Men’s Single one thousand meter race and qualified for the quarterfinals.  Placing sixth in the quarterfinals, unfortunately, he did not advance to the next round.  Shaun Gill made it in the top five for preliminary round of the one hundred meter race. His placement was not enough to get him into the second round, but Gill has expressed his gratitude for the support he received.  The Minister of Youth and Sports, Kevin Bernard, took to social media to congratulate Gill for reaching the finish line ahead of four other countries. A Belizean American from San Fernando Valley in California, Samantha Dirks, represented Belize in the Women’s four hundred meter race. She ran a personal season’s best, while placing seventh overall.  Her placement was not enough to qualify her for the second round of the competition. Dirks has also expressed in a sports media group that she too is thankful for the support.  While she says she did not execute the way she needed to, this will not be her last race of the year.  And viewers please remember that Channel Five will be bringing you Olympic Highlights following this newscast, tonight and every night this week.