Olympic coach, new daddy
What would we do without Skype?
U.S. Virgin Islands track and field coach Charles Golphin and his
wife, Trudi, welcomed the birth of their first child Wednesday night.
Only problem was Golphin was in London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games
and his wife was back on St. Croix.
“I waited as long as I could and just flew over on August 1 because
our women sprinters were racing the next day,” Charles Golphin said.
“My mother and I were both born in July and we were hoping for another
one but I guess it didn't work out.”
Weighing in at 7.5 pounds and measuring 19.5 inches, a healthy
Charles Golphin III came into the world at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday and
the cameras were rolling.
“Oh man, I was up until about 6 a.m. on Skype,” Charles Golphin said.
Trudi Golphin, who has served as a USVI team leader for previous
international competitions, is doing well and passed on her
congratulations to the USVI athletes at the Games.
“We talked about this six months ago,” Charles Golphin said. “I
didn't want to leave the Olympic Committee in limbo and she really
encouraged me to go. If it was a girl, we were going to name her
Olympia.”
Charles Golphin returns home to his new family on Sunday.
USVI Paralympic athlete visits London
Lee Frawley is the first-ever Paralymic athlete from the USVI and
she got a sneak preview of the equestrian venue for the 2012 Paralympic
Games when she caught up with the USVI Olympic contingent in London on
Wednesday.
Frawley, an English resident, will compete in several equestrian
events at the Paralympic Games, which will run from Aug. 29 through
Sept. 9 in London.
“There seems to be a lot of walking in this city and it's much
bigger than I imagined,” Frawley said. “I know there won't be as many
athletes for the Paralympics but the scale is just incredible.”
Frawley will compete in a freestyle event where she will ride her
horse, Rhapsody, in a choreographed performance to music. She played the
selected song – a Caribbean steel band drum song – for USVI Olympic
Committee president Hans Lawaetz from her cell phone during the visit.
“They loved the island music,” she said. “I think they definitely approved.”