One of Saint Lucia’s most promising aquatic athletes is now left questioning what might have been after being excluded from the national team to Paris 2024.
Mikali Charlemagne represented Saint Lucia at Tokyo 2020. Aged just 18 at the time, she was the youngest member of Saint Lucia’s five-member team. Finishing second in her 50m heat, she set a new national record for the 50m freestyle, becoming the first Saint Lucian woman under 27 seconds.
According to World Aquatics (WA) rankings, the now 21-year-old remains the island’s top female swimmer. Whereas she did not make the qualifying time for the meet, WA and International Olympic Committee rules allow for every member federation to send their best male and female swimmer to the Olympics.
Charlemagne, however, was not selected to compete in Paris, with her omission occasioning a great deal of debate and speculation. Leading up to this year’s Olympics, she lowered her 50 free national record, the fastest time in the Eastern Caribbean region. In April, she won two medals at the CARIFTA Swimming Championship in April.
Saint Lucia sent a four-person team to Paris 2024, three men and one woman. Had Charlemagne gone, she would still have been the youngest member of the team. Despite her potential, Charlemagne reportedly received minimal support from Saint Lucian entities, a concern highlighted by her mother, Constance Rene.
“When Mikaili left Springfield College last year, she left with the best time in the 50-metre freestyle for the EC region,” said Rene. “In the absence of funding, we (her parents) had to cover her training. Consequently, she could not afford the other things she needed. The SLOC [Saint Lucia Olympic Committee] said they would only pay for her to attend three qualifying events. They covered two. In the absence of sponsorship and support, it was very challenging.”
The vocal parent went on to note that despite her questioning, no reasonable rationale for Charlemagne’s exclusion was given.
“She was confirmed by World Aquatics as the highest-placed Saint Lucian female and still wasn’t selected. Only the male was. I still don’t know the reason.” she said.
However, the SLOC has fired back. At a press conference on Friday, August 17, President of the SLOC, Alfred Emmanuel admitted that the participation of swimming was at the discretion of his organisation. However, he indicated that tardiness in the submission of names by the Saint Lucia Aquatic Federation was a factor in Charlemagne’s exclusion.
“The confirmation form which is downloaded from the GMS upon the approval of nominations should be validated by the respective NOC [National Olympic Committe] and NF [National Federation] and returned to the World Aquatics Office by the 24th of June,” Alfred declared. “Let me say that the 24th of June came and went and we received absolutely no communication from the Saint Lucia Aquatic Federation.”
Emmanuel said that correspondence was received within six days thereafter, stipulating the due date for submission as July 1. At an SLOC board meeting on July 2, despite the late submission and the absence of qualifying times, Jayhan Odlum-Smith was selected for men’s swimming. Emmanuel did not explain why one was chosen and the other was not.
The SLAF has declined to comment on the matter.
This situation has fueled discussion even beyond the local swimming fraternity. Aside from raising questions about the communication level between Saint Lucian sporting associations, it also raises concerns about whether the SLOC is acting in the best interest of the athlete.
(SLT Editorial Staff)
I am happy she came forward to enlightened the public of her situation she experience. I do hope when Alfred returns she somehow find the courage to encourage this young lady. This is a prime example of investing in sport but the ministry of sports just keep dumping these great people aside. First thing they will come and say they don’t have finance but they will continue to give hotels 15yrs tax free, squander the resources of the island and this is how they are putting you first
Something sounds very fishy here. She was qualified to attend & yet only the male was sent. Hmmmm…
Alfred has been at the helm of athletics now all sports (ioc) for 70 years–of course he knows what he is doing.
Victimization in plain sight. A consequence of the mother speaking out. The info came late, yet one swimmer was chosen, why? This is not new, the victimization by these people continues to destroy athletes and their dreams. Take note, St. Lucia.
Why was the male sent but not her, something smells foul
This story highlights the chicanery that goes on in Saint Lucia. When we are calling for more athletes to represent Saint Lucia, we have this clearly talented young lady who should have been supported to represent Saint Lucia in the Paris 2024 Olympics. It’s time for this B.S to stop. How is it in the 21st century we are still disenfranchising our own people. This revelation is a sad indictment on the pillocks that be. The pillockery (allow me poetic licence here) that goes on on this rock of non sages is ridiculous to say the least. This should never happen to a dedicated citizen who only wants to represent her/his country with pride.
If the national federation sent both names and the issue is the timeliness of the submissions as indicated by the president of the SLOC, why hasn’t the federation responded?
Additionally is This athlete a casualty because the mother called out the president’s of the federation on lack of transparency and integrity? Is this a collusion of unethical sports administrators
This is not about the athlete but rather is a matter of principle. If two universality places are available why not make use of both? Especially in light of the fact that these athletes have received little to no support for training? Why was the sailor the only one on an Olympic solidarity scholarship when there were five available? Why didn’t the SLOc ( if they anre objective) ensure that all five scholarships were appropriated? If it is that they are advancing the cause of athletes and going by the Olympic charter? Were federations aware of these five opportunities?
“Let me say that the 24th of June came and went and we received absolutely no communication from the Saint Lucia Aquatic Federation.”” tardiness in the submission of names by the Saint Lucia Aquatic Federation was a factor in Charlemagne’s exclusion” Woi Woi woiiiii smph woiiiii
There is a strict criteria for the Olympic solidarity scholarships– one of them being the athlete has no alternative access to funds which by the mom’s own admission that isn’t the case as she got sponsored by the Gobat foundation… Is the 75% Yale scholarship based on swimming or academics? If the former, then she would be getting some sort of training/practice. Also, I don’t follow swimming, but what international competitions has the young lady been participating in as of late so that we know she’s at competition level? Please enlighten me. She got the opportunity a few years ago, there is nothing wrong with giving someone else an opportunity as well. She needs to keep honing her skills (trying to get sub 25s at least in 50m freestyle) and come back stronger for LA 2028. And last but not least, I remember following the mom when the Mikhali participated a few years ago and she was blasting everyone right down to the Aquatic Centre. Could it be that nobody wants to deal with her as she’s difficult? If this is the case, she needs to approach the situation more diplomatically or her daughter will suffer the consequences.
Do better’s
Instead of encouraging and supporting the athlete to do better to meet the qualifying time we are busy casting all kinds of aspersions on peoples reputations. News flash the Qualifying time for Paris was 24.70, Consideration time was 24.82.Mikaili’s time achieved was 26.94. Mikaili was at the Tokyo Olympics on a universality place and her time was 26.99. Almost 4 years later she moved from 26.99 to 26.94 short of meeting the qualifying standard. Even if they did make the case to the SLOC on time, this still would not guarantee her selection. Strictly from a performance standpoint why select you after you were given the opportunity at the last Olympics and you do not have an improvement of even half of a second which is still way off the qualifying time. What is the message we are sending to the athlete?
Olympic Solidarity Scholarships (OSS) have very strict criteria of which only one athlete from one association was able to meet. All associations were informed of the OSS.
Even though you may meet the criteria it does not mean that the IOC will select you since you’re competing against a worldwide pool.
The Olympic games is the highest level possible. Only the best should be there hence the reason for the qualifying times and consideration times. Offers of universality places is what it is. The final arbiter would still be the NOC in deciding whether the athlete should go or not. It is not a fait accompli.
If you really wish to dream of being at the Olympics you have to dream of qualifying and medalling. That should spur you on to put in the 36 hours a week of training to be able to meet your dreams!
Stop already. Too much roro around this subject. This cannot be good for an athletes mental health.
@Patriot as much as I hate pointing fingers, but sometimes the parents can single handedly destroy a childs determination. This mother needs to come clean and admit what those who understand the REAL situation wont say. She needs to work with the organisations and not parade the situation in the name of victimization. Be truthful about her upstagingly rude interactions and take the organisation to task if she is infact correct! Her daughter definitely has the potential but we must consider consistency as well. She needs to continue encouraging a strong athlete and let the child choose to work harder.
If the issue was the late submission by the federation, then why was one swimmer chosen? The athlete is being punished because her mother spoke out on her behalf. The mother has a right to do so if she feels her child is not being treated fairly. Maybe if more parents and athletes spoke out we would not have this situation. This should be a transparent process. The vast majority of islands in the region use this universality rule. Swimming uses it often. Someone should take a look at the persons we’ve had on Olympic solidarity and how long they’ve been there to tell the tale. Relatives and family members can go to the olympics before athletes. Stop victimizing athletes.