Virgin Islands at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Virgin Islands at the
2020 Summer Olympics
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands
IOC codeISV
NOCVirgin Islands Olympic Committee
Websitewww.virginislandsolympics.com
in Tokyo, Japan
July 23, 2021 (2021-07-23) – August 8, 2021 (2021-08-08)
Competitors4 in 3 sports
Flag bearers (opening)Natalia Kuipers
Adriel Sanes
Flag bearer (closing)Eddie Lovett
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

The United States Virgin Islands, also known as the Virgin Islands and officially as the Virgin Islands of the United States, competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the territory's thirteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics, since its debut at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. The Virgin Islands delegation consisted of four athletes competing in three sports. Virgin Islands did not win any medals at the Games.

Background

The Virgin Islands Olympic Committee was founded in 1966 and was recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1967. The nation made its first Olympic appearance at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Since then, it has competed in every Olympics except the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The 2020 Summer Olympics was the nation's thirteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics.[1]

The 2020 Summer Olympics was held in Tokyo, Japan, between 23 July and 8 August 2021. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] For the first time, the International Olympic Committee invited each National Olympic Committee to select one female and one male athlete to jointly carry their flag during the opening ceremony.[3] Swimmers Natalia Kuipers and Adriel Sanes were the territory's flag bearers at the opening ceremony.[4][5] Eddie Lovett served as the flag bearer during the closing ceremony.[5] Virgin Islands did not win a medal at the Games.[6]

Competitors

The Virgin Islands delegation consisted of two swimmers, an archer, and a track and field athlete.[6]

Sport Men Women Total
Archery 101
Athletics 101
Swimming 112
Total314

Archery

As per World Archery, each National Olympic Committee (NOC) could enter a maximum of six competitors with three per gender. NOCs that qualified teams were also allowed to have each member compete in the individual event with the remaining spots filled by individual qualification tournaments.[7] Virgin Islands has received one universality quota from World Archery, and Nicholas D'Amour was chosen to represent the territory in the men's individual event.[8]

The ranking rounds were held at the Yumenoshima Park in Tokyo on 23 July 2021.[9][10] In the men's individual ranking rounds, D'Amour was seeded 23rd with a score of 660 points. In the round of 64 of the men's individual events, D'Amour lost to Ryan Tyack of Australia and exited the competition.[11]

Athlete Event Ranking round Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / BM
Score Seed Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Rank
Nicholas D'Amour Men's individual 660 23  Tyack (AUS)
L 5–6		 Did not advance

Athletics

As per the governing body World Athletics (WA), a NOC was allowed to enter up to three qualified athletes in each individual event and one qualified relay team if the Olympic Qualifying Standards (OQS) for the respective events had been met during the qualifying period. The remaining places were allocated based on the World Athletics Rankings which were derived from the average of the best five results for an athlete over the designated qualifying period, weighted by the importance of the meet.[12][13][14][15] Virgin Islands received a universality slot from the WA to send a male track and field athlete to the Olympics.[16]

The athletics events were held at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.[17] In the men's 110 m hurdles, Eddie Lovett set his season's best time of 14.17 seconds. However, he was ranked only seventh in his heat and did not qualify for the semifinals.[18] This was the second and final Olympic appearance for Lovett after his debut at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[19]

Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Track & road events
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Eddie Lovett Men's 110 m hurdles 14.17 SB 7 Did not advance

Swimming

As per the Fédération internationale de natation (FINA) guidelines, a NOC was permitted to enter a maximum of two qualified athletes in each individual event, who have achieved the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT). If the quota was not filled, one athlete per event was allowed to enter, provided they achieved the Olympic Selection Time (OST). The qualifying time standards should have been achieved in competitions approved by World Aquatics in the period between 1 March 2019 to 27 June 2021.[20] FINA also allowed NOCs to enter swimmers (one per gender) under a universality place even if they have not achieved the standard entry times (OQT/OST).[21] Virgin Islands received a |universality invitation from FINA to send two swimmers (one per gender) to the Games.[22][23]

The swimming events were held at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.[24] Natalia Kuipers competed in the women's 400 metre freestyle and Adriel Sanes competed in the men's 100 metre breaststroke and men's 200 metre breaststroke events, and neither advanced past the heats.[25][26][27] This was the debut Olympic Games for both Kuipers and Sanes.[28]

Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Adriel Sanes Men's 100 m breaststroke 1:02.43 42 Did not advance
Men's 200 m breaststroke 2:16.87 33 Did not advance
Natalia Kuipers Women's 400 m freestyle 4:39.42 26 N/a Did not advance

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Virgin Islands at the Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee". International Olympic Committee. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  3. ↑ "The Flagbearers for the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "The Flagbearers for the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Flag bearers, Virgin Islands". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Virgin Islands at the 2020 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Archery Qualification System Released". World Archery. 19 March 2018. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "D'Amour makes four-athlete list for universality tickets to Tokyo 2020". World Archery. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "Schedule – Archery Tokyo 2020 Olympics". Olympian Database. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  10. ↑ "Archery Competition Schedule". Tokyo 2020. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  11. ↑ "Archery, men's individual". Olympedia. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "IAAF to follow other sports with world ranking system for athletes". BBC Sport. 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "Qualification system for Tokyo 2020 Olympics published by the world governing body, IAAF". Inside the Games. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  14. ↑ "Qualification System – Games of the XXXI Olympiad – Athletics" (PDF). World Athletics. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  15. ↑ "IAAF Council approves Olympic qualification system and entry standards". World Athletics. 10 March 2019. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  16. ↑ "Road to Olympic Games 2020". World Athletics. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  17. ↑ "Athletics, 2020 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Men's 110m hurdles, 2020 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  19. ↑ "Virgin Islands, Athletics at the Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  20. ↑ "Tokyo 2020 – FINA Swimming Qualification System" (PDF). Tokyo 2020. FINA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  21. ↑ Anderson, Jared (17 July 2020). "After Tokyo Olympic Delay, Universality Places Won't Require 2019 Worlds Status". SwimSwam. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  22. ↑ "Tokyo Olympics Entry Lists Released, Swimming Begins July 24". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  23. ↑ "Four Virgin Islanders to Compete at Tokyo Olympic Games in July". Saint Thomas Source. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  24. ↑ "Swimming, 2020 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  25. ↑ "Men's 100m breaststroke, 2020 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  26. ↑ "Men's 200m breaststroke, 2020 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  27. ↑ "Women's 400m freestyle, 2020 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  28. ↑ "Virgin Islands, Swimming at the Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
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