First Hand report from Kwanieze John-TTOC Youth Olympic Games Youth Ambassador:
Christian Homer made history winning Trinidad and Tobago first gold medal at the Inaugural Youth Olympic Games.
Swimming in lane four Homer finished the 50m backstroke in 26.36 secs.
As he touched the pad seeing the #1 by his name he thanked God and the ecstatic supporters.
Chef de Mission, Mrs Jacqueline Pantin Romany described Christian as a a focused and discipline athlete who has sacrificed a lot and is most deserving of the medal.
Homer's Gold Medal is seen as a Caribbean victory as all the Caribbean Islands present at the meet was in uproar over the victory. It was emotional for all his team mates and fellow Caribbean swimmers. Words cannot describe our feelings of pride and happiness. To hear the national anthem and see the red,white and black raising at the first ever YOG. Wow!! Tears and goose pimples.Wow!!
Christian described the race as almost perfect, His reaction time was good.
He made a good start but as he approached the 15m mark his legs began to hammer and he was forced to increase his strokes as Singapore's Ng was fast approaching.
Homer said standing on the podium having the opportunity to represent his country to the best of his ability and hearing the national anthem was the best experience of his life thus far.
Interestingly Homer was a wild card entry.
One week before the team left for Singapore he was given the nod by the IOC to be part of the historic games.