MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg is right to salute our Bahamian athletes as they come to the end of their Olympic 2024 journey.

He talks rightly of our country’s “proud and storied history” at the Olympics. We may not be coming home with a medal this time around, but it is not for the want of trying.

Injury foiled Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo, while Devynne Charlton finished sixth in her final. Charlton herself talked of feeling upset after the final, but she was there to represent her nation, and she has been there to represent our nation at races around the world.

For others, it was a first time to step onto the Olympic stage, and an opportunity to lay down a marker for, hopefully, a future return.

The minister goes on to note the performances of other athletes, including Ken Mullings, Charisma Taylor, Dennisha Cartwright, Wayna McCoy and more.

There was a winning moment for a Bahamian coach. Rolando “Lonnie” Greene is the coach of both Devynne Charlton and the 100m hurdle winner, Makai Russell.

Much has been said about how The Bahamas outpunches its weight in the Olympics. our nation has had a long run of medals – back to 1992 in Barcelona, Spain. We keep on beating the odds, but it was not to be this time.

That does not diminish our pride in our athletes. Perhaps if luck and injury had been in our favour, things might have been different.

So as they return, we salute them. We agree with everything the minister says.

Most notably, we agree with one thing especially.

“The work for the 2028 Olympic in Los Angeles starts now,” said Mr Bowleg.

We agree. and we look forward to seeing that work in action. The investment that will be made to enable our athletes to shine, the support in terms of physical improvements to facilities, the support in terms of sponsorships and other assistance to let our current and future stars focus on being the best they can be.

We hope our athletes will emerge stronger for the experience in Paris, and be ready to take up that challenge – both those who may be returning to the Olympics, and those youngsters who will be setting their sights on becoming heroes in Hollywood in four years’ time.

Across the nation, people cheered on our Bahamian stars. They are our heroes, come what may.