Meet A Trini

‘Every Stride A Tribute’ should read ‘every winning stride’ because crossing the line first was something that Jereem ‘The Dream’ Richards did a lot in 2022, on the prestigious stages of the World Indoor Championships and the Commonwealth Games. With his individual victory at the latter, the Point Fortin athlete created a seminal moment as he mounted the top step of the Commonwealth podium, having his request honoured for the steelpan version of T&T’s national anthem to be played, giving T&T culture a new level of exposure.

Though his success is built upon the hard work that he puts into his training, there was a little extra motivation in his stride this year, not one that he would have wanted, but one that he utilises, nonetheless. In January 2022, with the promise of a new season ahead, fellow T&T runner and inspiration, Olympic, Pan Am Games and World Championship medalist Deon Lendore, lost his life in a vehicular accident. He was a close friend of Richards. “Deon was one of the pioneers of my generation. He motivated a lot of us in Trinidad & Tobago; proved to us that it was possible to run fast, get an education and become a professional.”

Richards paid tribute in the best possible way, by winning the 400M World Indoor title in March, before defending his Commonwealth 200M with a Games record of 19.80secs, then anchoring the 4x400M Relay team to their gold medal. In Lendore’s absence, Richards took his friend’s role of influencer. “I know