Carter keen to rebound in LA: It wasn't the Olympics we dreamed of

Olympic swimmer Dylan Carter says he and his coaches will need to do a post-mortem on his outing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which saw him exiting the men's 50-metre and 100-metre freestyle events in the opening round of competition.

Carter, 28, was the first Trinidad and Tobago athlete to seal qualification for the Olympics, having achieved the qualifying standard at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale in March 2023. Carter also showed decent form in the build-up to the games, capturing five medals at the three-leg World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in October 2023 — including two silver medals and a bronze in the 100m freestyle.

At the preceding Swimming World Cup in 2022, Carter earned the title of best male swimmer.

In Paris, though, Carter placed 34th overall in the 100m freestyle after finishing last in his heat on July 30. He then swam to a 29th-place finish in the 50m freestyle after finishing sixth in his heat on August 1 – missing out on the top 16 semifinal placess.

"It wasn't the Olympics we all dreamed of. I think that's the elephant in the room, but I'm very confident in my teammates on this team and the other athletes in (TT) that our best days are ahead of us," Carter said on August 14. He spoke at a welcome ceremony at the VIP room at the Piarco International Airport for seven athletes from TT's 17-member contingent at the July 26-August 11 games.

Carter was joined in the welcome ceremony by sprinters Michelle-Lee Ahye, Devin Augustine and Akilah Lewis, as well as quarter-milers Elijah Joseph and Renny Quow and cyclist Nicholas Paul, who brought TT's participation at the Paris Olympics to an end with a quarterfinal finish in the men's keirin event on August 11. The athletes were accompanied by support staff who included manager Dexter Voisin and chef de mission Lovie Santana- Duke.

The 32-year-old Ahye, who criticised members of the TT public for their lack of support after her exit from the women's 100m heats in Paris, declined to speak to the media during the welcome ceremony.

Carter said there were things he needed to work on to see better returns at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

"I will work with my coach and my team and do a good post-mortem. We have to look back at the past six months brutally honestly and assess how we prepared and how we move forward," said Carter.

"I think that's the best way to go forward — to look back. We need to identify where we made mistakes and things we can improve."

Carter will press the reset button before diving into his review of Paris performances, as he said he'll need about two-three weeks to get his mind and body right before getting back down to business.

Carter promised brighter days ahead for both himself and Team TTO, and thanked Santana-Duke and her support staff for their "phenomenal" and "tireless" work over the past four years.

"I think that this team and this country is so full of sporting talent, and I can't wait to see what is ahead. I'm optimistic about our sporting future. I'm optimistic about my future in the pool."

Carter also thanked the TT public for their unwavering support of the athletes.

"I think I speak on behalf of all the athletes when I say we have been overwhelmed with the support over these past two- three weeks. My phone has been blowing up with messages from folks all over back home."

Although TT ended the Olympics without any medals for a second straight edition, Santana-Duke said she was proud of the team's efforts.

"It turned out to be not what everybody would have expected, in terms of bringing home medals, but what I can stand here and say I'm proud of each and every one who participated and contributed at the games with pride and joy," Santana-Duke said.

"We have lots of games coming up. Being a young team, we expect to see them competing in those games and building, growing and developing for LA28."

With TT Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Diane Henderson and general secretary Annette Knott still out of the country, former TTOC president Brian Lewis delivered remarks on behalf of the organisation, encouraging the athletes to stand firm.

Lewis thanked the athletes for their "blood, sweat and tears, and for doing in the last two weeks what many people in TT have not and cannot do – which is to represent the red, white and black with glory, honour and pride and with patriotism."

He told the athletes not to quit on their dreams, and urged them to return stronger and better for LA28.