Fenlator-Victorian not done yet
Three-time Olympian leaves door open to continue on
Published:Wednesday | February 16, 2022 | 12:07 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
OLYMPIAN JAZMINE Fenlator-Victorian says that she has not yet officially closed the book on her athletic chapter despite completing her third Winter Olympics.
Fenlator-Victorian finished 19th in the inaugural monobob event, in a combined time of 4:28:56 minutes, completing her final two heats on Sunday night Jamaica time at the Yanquing National Sliding Centre in Beijing. The event was won by American Kaillie Humphries (4:19:27 minutes) while her countrywoman Elana Meyers-Taylor got silver (4:20:81 minutes) and Canada’s Christine de Bruin got the bronze (4:21:03 minutes).
Fenlator-Victorian, who initially said that this would be her final Olympic Games, however, has not officially ruled out competing again in the future. The three-time Olympian says that she will now use the time to deal with personal matters, which include having a thanksgiving service for her late sister Angelica who died tragically last December.
“I said it would be final, but they say it’s not over until the fat lady sings. So we will see. But as of now after these games I need to prioritise quite a few things with my business, taking care of my mom, having a celebration of life for my sister with my larger wider family and I just need to take a moment to regroup,” Fenlator-Victorian said.
Fenlator-Victorian, 36, first represented the United States at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, before turning out for Jamaica in 2018 and now.
Her preparation for the Games has seen her having to navigate personal loss as well as filing an appeal for Jamaica to be included in the 2-woman bobsleigh event, claiming that results for a two-day event was doubled, even though one of the days had been cancelled. The decision, made by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association, effectively helped France qualify just ahead of Jamaica. The appeal was rejected.
However, she says that her performance at the Games was about the long-term future of the sport for black women.
“It has put into perspective that sport is one entity of myself but it also is a lot of who I am. My main objective is to perform at the best level that I can. (To) represent my country, myself, my team, all the supporters. Represent the little black and brown girls that are looking for someone that looks like them to defy the odds and letting them know that they can too,” Fenlator-Victorian said.
While she will be contemplating her future as an athlete, Fenlator-Victorian said that she is fully committed to the programme in Jamaica whether on the ice or in another capacity.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s men completed the two-man bobsleigh yesterday, finishing 30th in a combined time of 3:04:12 minutes. The team of pilot Shanwayne Stephens and breakman Nimroy Turgott completed three rounds, finishing their third run in a time of 1:01:54 minutes but it was not enough to qualify for the top 20, which would have put them in the fourth and final heat.
The event was a podium clean sweep for Germany as the pair of Francecso Friedrich (pilot) and Thorsten Margis (brakeman) won gold in a combined time of 3:56:89 minutes, followed by Johannes Lochner (pilot) and Florian Bauer (brakeman) who got silver in a time of 3:57:38 minutes and Christoph Hafer (pilot) and Matthias Sommer (brakeman), claiming bronze with a time of 3:58:58 minutes.
Jamaica will now begin preparations for the four-man bobsled event with their first official training heat beginning tonight at 8:40 (Jamaica time). Competition begins on Friday night at 8:30.