No stopping Jehue Gordon as he seeks more success after his spectacular showing at the recently concluded IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia.
The 21-year-old arrived in London yesterday to compete in two more meets before he returns to T&T in September.
“I am looking forward to this. We have some commitments now in Europe that have been finalised and that I will be participating in,” said the 21-year-old Gordon.
“There is still work to do on the track. I have to remain focused and therefore I am looking forward to this. Of course winning this means that people will be aware of me more but that is just part of success, the important point is to keep focused and the team around me is making certain of that.”
His gold medal in the Men’s 400 metres hurdles final, propelled T&T to joint 12th place on the medal table with Colombia, New Zealand, Croatia, Sweden, Ireland and Uganda.
Host Russia made full use of home advantage and topped the table with 17 medals—seven gold, four silver and six bronze. USA was second with six gold medals, 14 silver and five bronze, 25 in total while Jamaica was third, matching the Americans six gold with two silver and a bronze to tally nine medals overall.
Gordon on Friday stood on the medal rostrum, holding his hand to his heart and sang along as the national anthem of T&T was played for only the second time in the history of these Championships, that started 30 years ago in 1983. Ato Boldon won T&T’s first gold medal in 1997 with victory in the 200m.
“It was just an unbelievable feeling being there to experience it. It was a dream of mine and the team with me and it felt so great and made me so very proud for everyone who has supported me,” Gordon said.
“When the national anthem was being played, I felt as if, yes, this is for my country, this is for the people of T&T and this is to show that we can achieve success with the work from local coaches, Dr Ian Hypolite and Edwin Skinner.
“I was a little nervous but just to receive the medal and to experience this makes me want to do more. This is great incentive to continue to learn and to continue to listen, and I hope that others in T&T can use the success that we had in this event to inspire them as well,” said a focused Gordon.
“As well, I still have some course work to complete and I have to do that as well, as education is equally important for me,” said the former Queens Royal College student.
Medal Table
Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze total
1 Russia 7 4 6 17
2 USA 6 14 5 25
3 Jamaica 6 2 1 9
4 Kenya 5 4 3 12
5 Germany 4 2 1 7
6 Ethiopia 3 3 4 10
7 G Britain/NI 3 0 3 6
8 Czech Republic 2 0 1 3
8 Ukraine 2 0 1 3
10 France 1 2 1 4
11 Poland 1 2 0 3
12 Colombia 1 0 0 1
12 Croatia 1 0 0 1
12 Ireland 1 0 0 1
12 NewZealand 1 0 0 1
12 Sweden 1 0 0 1
12 T&T 1 0 0 1
12 Uganda 1 0 0 1
19 Australia 0 2 1 3
20 Ivory Coast 0 2 0 2
21 Canada 0 1 4 5
22 China 0 1 3 4
23 Cuba 0 1 2 3
24 Netherlands 0 1 1 2
24 Nigeria 0 1 1 2
26 Botswana 0 1 0 1
26 Finland 0 1 0 1
26 Hungary 0 1 0 1
26 Italy 0 1 0 1
26 Qatar 0 1 0 1
31 Spain 0 0 2 2
31 Serbia 0 0 2 2
33 Djibouti 0 0 1 1
33 DomRepublic 0 0 1 1
33 Estonia 0 0 1 1
33 Japan 0 0 1 1
33 Mexico 0 0 1 1
33 South Africa 0 0 1 1