Scarlett Hadley, 18, represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) at the Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay from Aug. 15 to 17, delivering a record-making performance in the sailing competition.
It was the first time SVG competed in sailing at these Games and set the bar for young SVG sailors to aspire to.
Hadley has been a trailblazer for SVG sailing on the international stage for over three years, and this performance was another first for the sport of sailing.
Hadley, the third youngest competitor, raced a series of five races against fierce competition, the best young sailors from across the Americas and the Caribbean.
Her best result was an 11th and she finished 15th overall.
Hadley continues to pursue her Olympic dream, and this was a stepping stone on that journey.
Her coach at the event was three-times Olympia Andew Lewis from Trinidad.
“She was a dream to work with,” Lewis said. “She is yet to reach her true potential, so she has plenty of opportunities for greater success ahead.”Hadley was part of a Caribbean sailing team, managed by Penny McIntyre from Barbados.
“It was amazing to be part of the Caribbean team and having Andrew as a coach gave me both confidence and motivation throughout the event,” Hadley said.
The SVG Sailing Association stated:
“We have been working closely with the SVG National Olympic Committee as well as other regional sailing associations to bring together the strength of the Caribbean sailing community. This has resulted in a huge step up in training opportunities and support for the region’s sailors at international regattas. It has been fantastic to see the difference in Scarlett’s performance and puts her in a great position to prepare for her next big event, the Youth World Championships in Portugal this December”
Scarlett serves as a bright light, illuminating the possibilities for other young SVG sailors. She did a superb job sharing her skills and experiences with Mayreau’s junior sailors through the coaching she so competently provided during our recent three-day race training clinic leading up to this week’s National Championships on the mainland. We are grateful for her contributions to the lives of so many youth!