RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s George Bovell made his final Olympic appearance, finishing 27th overall in the men’s 50 metres freestyle here Thursday, as the Caribbean suffered another disappointing day in the pool.
The five-time Olympian finished third in heat eight in 22.30 seconds but it was not enough to earn a semi-final spot.
Bovell subsequently announced his retirement from Olympic competition, expressing frustration with the International Swimming Federation (FINA).
“I came into the Olympics, my first Olympics, believing in the ancient legacy of heroic sporting glory and now I am leaving after my fifth Olympics seeing it for what it is, sadly a media franchise,” he said
The 33-year-old Bovell, a bronze medallist in the 200m individual medley at the Athens Olympics 12 years ago, failed to progress after trailing home China’s Hexin Yu in 22.20 seconds and Poland’s Filip Wypych in (22.23)
Bovell did not hide his frustration at missing out on the semi-finals.
“To be honest, I think it was disappointing,” he said. “I think everybody aspires to be in the finals and to be on the podium. But it is what it is, I didn’t advance to the semi-finals … life goes on.”
