It’s now official, Delano Williams is now an Olympian, as the United Kingdom today released Team UK for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil. Delano Williams makes history again as Turks and Caicos first Olympian.
Delano Williams TCI’s Darling of Track and Field was always interested in the sport, he took part in all Primary School events and was always top in whatever race he ran. He was catapulted into the sport in 2008 when his potential was recognized by Coach, Mr. Neil Harrison who took him under his wings at his High School, Munro College, Jamaica after his school in Turks was destroyed by Hurricane Ike. This disaster was sad for most residents in Grand Turk, but for young Delano this was the opportunity that would change his life forever and that of the Turks and Caicos.
Over the last 8 years Delano broke all National Records in the 100M and 200M. In Jamaica he was known as a Sports Sensation winning Boys and Girls Champs on many occasions thus making history even in Jamaica as the first non-Jamaican in the over 100 year Championships to make the cover of the prestigious Magazine.
He led Munro College to multiple wins at the Penn Relays in Pennsylvania, there too he also made the cover of that Magazine and won the most outstanding awards for his dominance on the Track. Delano quickly became known as Turks and Caicos Golden Boy, for there was hardly a race that he entered that he didn’t win gold in his signature event, the 200 mts. In 2010 Delano became the first track and field Athlete from the TCI to qualify for the Youth Olympics, however, that opportunity was never realized due to TCI’s non membership with the IOC. At the CARIFTA Games in 2011 and 2012 Delano won Gold back to back in the 200 mt. and made history by assisting the Relay Men’s Team to win a medal for the very first time.
Delano became a household name not only at home but regionally and internationally. In September, 2010 Delano competed in the Commonwealth Games. In November, 2010 at the 29th Commonwealth Sports Awards he was nominated for an award in the category as “Outstanding Young Achiever, he was 1st Runner up sharing the stage with the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt.
In 2011 Delano athleticism qualify him for the London Olympics in 2012. He became obsessed and determined that this time he will try out for the team. This was very challenging as Turks and Caicos is not a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He turned to his Mentor, Mrs. Rita Gardiner for assistance, she immediately set to work, pulling out all her contacts through the Commonwealth Games Federation, she finally found an avenue in the IOC Charter, through the United Kingdom Eligibility Code that once an Athlete from the Overseas Territory holds a UK passport he/she can try out for the Olympics if the standard was made. They must also aligned themselves with a club in the UK. Mrs. Gardiner worked on this for months before it all came together and he was given the green light to participate in the UK Trials. She gives credit to the Governor’s Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who played a very important role in ensuring that a lot of the paperwork and obstacles were fast tracked, he received his passport 3 months before the UK Trials.
He travelled to Birmingham, England accompanied with his Coach, Neil Harrison, and President of the Commonwealth Games Association, Rita Gardiner, his Mother, Rita Barton and Director of the Sports Commission, Mr. Alvin Parker. Although he made the 7 Finalist he came up short in not making the Team. Although disappointed he was not crushed, his 3 D’s (Determination, Dedication and Discipline) allowed him a Gold Medal at the World Junior Championships a month later in Barcelona, Spain making history for himself and the Turks and Caicos Islands with a first International title..
In 2013 Delano transition to the United Kingdom whereby his fullest potential can be realized, through this change he also went from An Amateur Athlete to a Professional Athlete. Through this move he is better able to assist his fellow Athletes. In 2014 he established his Foundation the Delano Williams Foundation that is always assisting the young Athletes with Athletic Gear for competition at the local and International levels. He is sponsored by the renowned International Sporting Company NIKE and the local company FLOW and Caribbean Airways.
The Turks and Caicos follows Delano’s progress watching his great success, his dream of becoming an Olympian is now a reality. We support and wish him much success on the road to the Rio Olympics.
Rita J. Gardiner
President, Commonwealth Games Association
