Carter claims historic silver

UPDATE:

Dylan Carter created history for himself and this country yesterday with a second place finish in the Men’s 50m butterfly final at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Competing in lane six at The Optus Aquatics Centre, Carter grabbed silver in an enthralling race that saw 1-2-3 separated by just .36 of a second.

Carter, 22 years old and competing in his first meet since turning pro, had the fastest reaction out the blocks and touched the wall in 23.67 seconds.

South African Chad Le Clos, who boasts Olympic and World Championships gold medals, was slowest out the block but quickly took control of the race to secure gold in 23.37 seconds. His compatriot Ryan Coetzee claimed the bronze in 23.73.

Carter, speaking to a local television station yesterday, was beaming with pride about his achievement and giving iconic swimmer Le Clos a slight scare.

“Chade Le Clos is a legend in sport, he’s taken down Michael Phelps in Olympic finals, so just to be in the mix with those two (South African) boys is an incredible honour and to get second behind such a great athlete is (amazing),” he declared.

On a historic level, Carter not only won this country’s first medal for this edition of the Commonwealth Games, but captured this country’s first ever swim medal in the Games.

“It’s an incredible honour, it’s the first medal for TT for the Games. It’s good to start the medal train coming for Trinidad; we expect more in the coming weeks and hope for many more. When you get to these big games you just want to get your hand on the wall in those top three spots and I managed to do that and I’m happy about that,” he said.

The medal kick-starts Carter’s career nicely in what is his first swim meet since the 2016 Olympian turned professional.

“It’s huge, it’s my first major international medal at a senior level so that’s a door broken down for me.

It’s a great way to start on my debut as a pro athlete,” he said.

Carter, speaking about his plan entering yesterday’s final, said a great start was key to a podium finish.

“Last night I had a terrible start in the prelims and I knew once I hit that start and I got in well, I would be in the mix.

When I got in and I felt good for the first 15 (metres), I knew I would be in the action and it would come down to that hand right at the end there and it did.

The final top three or top four were separated by not that much, so yeah, with 50m to go I expected to be in the mix, It’s just an immense weight off my shoulders because I did pressure myself a lot for this so I was happy, I was just off my best, a few hundredths of a second off my personal best and the national record, that kind of digs (me) but you can’t complain with a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games,” he added.

Carter said the decision to drop the 200m freestyle event yesterday and give priority to the 50m was crucial and his medal showed it was the right move.

“Yeah definitely, I needed the rest...I don’t think I have the stamina to be taking on a huge schedule right now, but I stand by the decision and the results tonight was largely based off that game time decision.”

Looking towards a possible next shot at a medal in the 100m freestyle, Carter said, “I just need to take this meet session by session, advance through the prelims, semis and final and give it my all.

The short term goals help me achieve the bigger picture.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

Trinidad and Tobago got its first Commonwealth Games medal on day two of action today as swimmer Dylan Carter took silver in a thrilling Men's 50m butterfly final at The Optus Aquatics Centre, Gold Coast, Australia.

Carter, 22, watched by his mother Tracy and his sister, touched the wall in 23.67 seconds, missing the gold by .30 of a second. South Africa's Chad Le Close, who led for the majority of the race despite a slow reaction, won in 23.37, with his compatriot Ryan Coetzee claiming the bronze in 23.73.

Carter, quick off the blocks, swam an almost excellent race and held his pace among the leaders to ensure he came out with a medal and make TT proud. The 2016 Olympian continues to impress as this country's next swimming star.