Laser sailor Thad Lettsome has booked his spot in the upcoming Paris Olympic Games making him the first BVIslander sailor since 1996 to represent the territory at an Olympic Games.
Lettsome’s path to the Olympics was paved through a Universality Place, a rare opportunity granted by the Tripartite Commission in collaboration with World Sailing and accepted by the BVI Olympic Committee.
Competing in the ILCA7 category, Lettsome will face off against the world’s top sailors on the grand Olympic stage.
Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee, expressed sheer delight at Lettsome’s remarkable achievement.
Penn took the opportunity to shed light on the Universality Place, a special provision extended to only two sailors, which adds Lettsome to the roster of 330 athletes set to compete at the Paris Olympic Games. This unique chance underscores Lettsome’s talent and potential on the international sailing scene.
Lettsome’s qualification also marks a poignant moment in BVI’s Olympic history, harking back to the days of 2-time Olympian Robbie Hirst, who last represented the territory at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
With his ticket to Paris confirmed, Lettsome joins fellow BVI athlete Kyron McMaster as the second representative from the British Virgin Islands to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France.