Commonwealth Games: Bermuda athletes' profiles

Age: 33

Event: Squash (singles and doubles)

Venue: Scotstoun Sports Campus

History: “Both my parents played so I was introduced at a very young age. I have participated internationally since I was 11 years old. I also played on the NCAA Men’s National Champion Team for four years and was first-team All American for three years while at Trinity college in Hartford, CT. I then played on the Professional Squash Association world tour for six years, achieving a world ranking of 63. This will be my fifth Commonwealth Games.”

Career high:  Bronze medal at the CAC Games.

What they said: “The Commonwealth Games is the pinnacle of the sport. In fact I believe the majority of the top-20 players in the world will be there. Hopefully, I can give one of the big guys a tough game.“ 

Robert Maycock

Age:

Event: Squash (singles)

Venue: Scotstoun Sports Campus

History: “I was introduced to squash at the tender age of eight by my uncle. At the time, my cousin was the Bermuda national squash champion and his presence heavily influenced how quickly I took to the sport. 

“I began representing Bermuda a couple of years later and have had the honour to play throughout the Caribbean, Europe and as far abroad as India. Competing in the Commonwealth Games will be my highest achievement in the sport.

Career highs: Winning the Monaco Open in 2009; winning the Caribbean Junior Championships on home soil in 2008, and captaining Dartmouth College last year.

What they said: “I’m going to take it one point at a time and play the Bermudian way — with heart and flair.” 

Nicole Mitchell

Age: 31

Event: Cycling (time trial and road race)

Venue: Glasgow city course

History: Started about five years ago, and has represented Bermuda at Caribbean cycling championships on three occasions, as well as the Island Games and Pan American continental cycling championships.

Career high: In terms of international competition, Mitchell’s time trial at the Pan-American Cycling Championships. She came 13th and it was her fastest ever speed. 

What they said: “Nicole and her coach have focused on being at peak form for the Commonwealth Games and she should be able to demonstrate this in the road race. 

“With her experiences at UCI and continental races this year she should have a performance that she, the BBA and Bermuda can be very proud of.” — Peter Dunne, president of the BBA. 

Julian Fletcher

Age: 23

Event: Swimming (breaststroke 50m, 100m, 200m)

Venue: Tollcross International Swimming Centre

History: Has competed in two World Swimming Championships, a CAC Championships, Junior Commonwealth Games and two CISC Championships for Bermuda. 

Career high: In 2012, he came fourth at the LA Speedo Grand Challenge in LA, and set a Bermuda national record in the 100m breaststroke (1:03.58). At recent Caribbean Island Swimming Championships
in Barbados, he won 100m and 200m breaststroke gold.

What they said: “Representing Bermuda at an elite level has been a dream for me, but I am still looking to make that next step to become a finalist at these competitive international meets.” 

Micah Franklin

Age: 21

Event: Squash (singles and doubles)

Venue: Scotstoun Sports Campus

History: Started playing at the age of 10 with Somersfield Academy, then began taking it seriously once he  turned 15. Went full-time
professional at 19.

Career High: Winning Bermuda Nationals in 2014 and becoming #1 on the island.

What they said: “Going for my first time, I want to set a goal for myself to not only enjoy the experience but to try my best no matter who I play, top seed or not, to just go out there and make sure that I can stay on the court as long as I can against the best.

“To medal is quite a long shot but it would be great to go out there and show that we can handle ourselves at the top stage and get a win or two. 

“For me to make it into the next round or get a win would be huge.” 

Dominique Mayho

Age: 20

Event: Cycling (time trial and road race)

Venue: Glasgow City course

History: “I started cycling when Peter Dunne started a cycling programme at Berkeley. I wanted to get fit and I liked racing so I stayed on with it. Every year I got better and better. I’ve represented Bermuda at the CAC Games and Pan American Championships.”

Career high: Going to the Pan American Championships in May.

What they said: “Going to the Commonwealth Games is unbelievable, really. A couple of years ago I would have never thought this could happen. I’m very proud to be able to compete for Bermuda. I know that I’m not going to be able to keep up with the top guys, but I can see myself being the fastest from the Caribbean. Achieving that would mean a lot to me and give me confidence going into future races.” 

Roy-Allan Burch

Age: 28

Event: Swimming (50m and 100m freestyle)

Venue: Tollcross International Swimming Centre

History: A veteran of two Olympics (2008 and 2012); three World Championships (2009, 2011, 2013); two Commonwealth Games (2002 and 2010) and two Pan American Games (2007 and 2011).

Career High: At the 2011 World Championships, swam to new Bermuda records in the 50m and 100m freestyle.

What they said: “I want to go there and do well in my two events but I really want to push for a medal in the 50m freestyle. I am doing some special things in training and I am better than I have ever been. I am going there to push for a medal — it’s what I have always wanted to do. At the 2002 Games it was my first international competition, now I have all this experience and I expect to push to podium level.” 

Tucker Murphy

Age: 32

Event: Triathlon

Venue: Strathclyde Country Park

History: “The first event I did was when I was studying lions in Chile for my thesis and there’s some great lakes and some really deep glacial lakes that are good for swimming and good mountains to run, so I just did very small events there. Then, when I came back to Bermuda, is when I really started getting into it, just because it’s ideal for the conditions here. 

Career high: Competing in the Island Games last year. Murphy has also competed in two Winter Olympics — 2010 and 2014 — as a cross-country skier.

What they said: “My expectation is always to push the limits and go as far as I can go.

“The fitness is similar in both cross-country skiiing and triathlon. 

“You have to be aerobically very fit, obviously each sport has its own efficiencies.” 

Gemma Lightbourne

Age: 17

Event: Rhythmic Gymnastics

Venue: SSE Hydro arena

History: “I was born in Bermuda, but I moved when I was about one year old. I started gymnastics when I was seven in Scotland, where I trained. I became an elite athlete over there, training with the Scottish national team when I was nine years old up until I was 14, when I moved back to Bermuda.”

Career high: Definitely being selected for these Commonwealth Games, it’s definitely a big achievement for me.

What they said: “I’ve been given an absolutely amazing opportunity and I’m just so proud and honoured to be representing Bermuda at the Commonwealth Games.

“I’ve got my mother’s side of the family living over there, and old friends from Scotland that are all going to come out and watch and support me.” 

Tyler Butterfield

Age: 31

Event: Triathlon

Venue: Strathclyde Country Park

History: A two-sport talent. Butterfield has competed in the Commonwealth Games as a pure cyclist and is a two-time Olympian at triathlon. Recent winner at the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, the triathlon long-distance Ironman events are his undoubted forte going forward.

Career high: Undoubtedly  came last year when he finished seventh in the Kona Ironman World Championships in Hawai’i.

What they said: “I want to be at the head of the middle pack – that’s where I am aiming to be anyway. I just hope I’m not at the front of the back group where I’ll have to chase.

“I was back in Bermuda for a training block and have done some altitude training in Boulder. Hopefully, when I get back to sea level in Glasgow I will have an extra gear to go into.” 

Tyrone Smith

Age: 29

Event: Long jump

Venue: Hampden Park

History: A two-time Olympian and three-time World Championship athlete. Came fifth at the 2010  Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Career high: Arguably his personal best jump, which was recorded at 8.22m in July during a gold medal-winning performance at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. This remains a Bermuda national record.

What they said: “Competing is what I’m most looking forward to. It’s great to meet people there but I know what to expect — you get up, go to the cafeteria, eat etc, it’s always the same. 

“What’s not the same is who is on the podium.”

He added: “I am so looking forward to getting that [my first major Games medal] and getting on the  podium with the Bermuda flag.” 

Shaquille Dill

Age: 21

Event: 800m

Venue: Hampden Park

History: Won silver in the 2012 Carifta Games 800m. Has continued to improve and won Balance Boston Twilight’s final meet of 2013 at Bentley University.

Career High: Reaching Commonwealth Games.

What they said: “Shaquille is well prepared.

“I think he has a good chance of getting to the finals because he is race fit — and because his times are steadily coming down, which is always a good sign. I think when you saw him run in the World Relay Championship, that proved he can hang with the best. He went out on the first leg and [ut us in a very good position. So I think he has a good chance of getting to the finals and when an athlete gets to the finals, you never know what can happen.” — Bermuda National Athletics Association  president Donna Watson  

Flora Duffy

Age: 26

Event: Triathlon

Venue: Strathclyde Country Park

History: A young starter in the sport, she burst onto the scene with an eighth at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. 

After several top-10 finishes in ITU World Cup competition, she qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics but did not finish — a result of injury and illness that temporarily derailed her career. 

Eventually came back to rejoin the sport’s elite. Crashed out of London 2012 despite looking good and has since gone from strength to strength. Number of XTERRA wins this season and a return to ITU competition.

Career high: Returning to elite competition after the enforced break post-Beijing.

What they said: “In terms of performance, I am hoping for a top-10 result, which I think I am more than capable of.” 

Arantxa King

Age: 24

Event: Long jump

Venue: Hampden Park

History: Competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games aged just 16, which she admits was’over-whelming’. 

Has now been a pro for two years and is a Stanford graduate with a collegiate career behind her as well as a CV boasting the Beijing and London Olympic Games and the 2013 World Championships.

Career high: Bittersweet but King was within a whisker of reaching the 2012 Olympic long jump final in London, missing out in a tiebreaker.

What they said: “The night before the Games the nerves will be off the roof but that’s something I thrive off — nerves and anxiety are good and you can turn that into good energy. I’ve always been looking forward to this summer and competing for Bermuda. It’s always very special. For me, it’s always something I get excited for.” 

Aaron Evans

Age: 24

Event: 800m

Venue: Hampden Park

History: Named NCAA Second Team All-American in 2011 and holds Georgia University indoor 800 metre record

Career high: Joining the Nike Oregon Track Club Elite after college.

What they said: “I would like to become the first Bermudian not only to run but place in an Olympic final on the track.

“To do this I would like to establish myself as the best 800m runner in our Central American and Caribbean region. Other than the Olympics, I would like to medal at the Commonwealth Games this summer and also the Pan-American Games in 2015.

“Now that I have this great opportunity to move to Oregon and train with some of the best athletes in the world and use all the resources and technology that Nike has to offer, I see all of these dreams becoming a reality.” 

Jonathan Herring

Age: 31

Event: Triathlon

Venue: Strathclyde Country Park

History: Named male triathlete of the year for 2013 and 1999 seasons by the BTA. Was recovering from injury earlier this year but came second to Tyler Butterfield at the Catlin National Triathlon Championships.

Career high: Reaching Glasgow, his first Commonweath Games.

What they said: “Realistically, he will be racing to beat some of the competitors he went up against at the Island Games and competitors from some of the African nations. A strong swimmer and cyclist, he will be looking to finish the swim in the main first pack of amateur triathletes on the bike, who will be working hard to avoid being lapped by the professional leaders. If he can produce a good run, his weakest discipline, he could well finish in the top 25.” Dave Morrison, Bda Sun’s triathlon writer. 

Shianne Smith

Age: 28

Event: Heptathlon

Venue: Hampden Park

History: Won gold in the 200m, 4x100m, 4x400m, 400m hurdles, and javelin at the 2013 Island Games, currently ranked 139 in the world women’s heptathlon rankings

Career high: Finishing third in the heptathlon at the 2009 Central American and Caribbean Championships

What they said: “Track and field is my profession. It’s what I do day in, day out but funding is always a problem. 

“This year [2013] was difficult — it was all on my own money to go out to France [to train]. I worked all summer because I was determined to go out there.
“But a sponsorship from Bermuda would be great as it would definitely help ease up my load, for sure, as I’m on a path for the Olympics right now.”

— Quotes taken from a previous Bermuda Sun interview. 

Tre Houston

Age: 24

Events: 100m and 200m

Venue: Hampden Park

History: Ranked 68th in the world at 100m and 61st at 200m. Set an Island Games record in 2013 in the 100m sprint and won gold in the 100m and 200m. Thought he had broken the 100m Bermuda national record, with a run of 10.22 seconds. However, it was taken away from him as officials said the wind gauge malfunctioned and it could not be ratified.

Career high: Reaching the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

What they said: “I kept asking my coach, ‘Are they going to ratify the time?’ Just hoping that they would, but unfortunately they’re not going to ratify it [the 10.22 record].

Houston said: “This gives me a lot of confidence as it shows that I can run that time and I have been even quicker in training. For me, it’s just about executing it and hitting it on the day.”