7 News Belize

Kaina Got The Cold Shoulder
posted (June 23, 2016)
Yesterday the Belize Athletic Association named the two athletes who will be representing Belize at the Rio Olympics. They are Katy Sealey and Brandon Jones. Perennial favorite Kaina Martinez was not chosen - even after she had just represented Belize at the Central American Games the week before. Last night on the Lik Road TV Show, BAA Vice President Jaheed Smith explained why:...

Jaheed Smith, BAA Vice President
"In terms of Kaina and Katy, they were both neck to neck in the events. However, the problems lies because the Olympic Committee sends out information for the athletes to follow up. When Miss Martinez got her information, she did not respond back in time. These things have deadlines and she did not respond in time. So, there is an uproar about why we didn't send her or why we selected.. But the thing is we can't select her if she did not send in her proper paper work. We can't force Rio to put her in. So, it's not a matter of who was.... the dispute is who was closer to qualifying in the event and granted yes, Miss Martinez may have been closer to qualifying, but even if she had qualified and not sending her paperwork, we can't send her. That's the deciding factor right there."

Today we reached Kaina Martinez by phone in Texas where she is a student athlete on an athletic scholarship. She told us she was very disappointed and perplexed to learn that she had been omitted.

Kaina Martinez, Denied spot on National Olympic Selection
"I was surprised because I spoke to Jaheed Smith, I spoke to Deon Sutherland, when I was at Central American Championships and to no extend did I get the impression that I was not chosen or was not on any team or list. So when I saw that Katy Sealy was chosen, I know that I was the best female athlete, I remain in awe and up now I still am. I've given it my all just to find out that my all was not good enough."

Jules Vasquez
"They are saying that they repeatedly made request of you which you did not comply with."

Kaina Martinez, Denied spot on National Olympic Selection
"Wow, this is what it comes to? Is this really what it come to? Why didn't they told me that when I was talking to all 3 of them in El Salvador? Why weren't they verbal enough to tell me that when I asked questions and shared my concerns?"

"I sent the information. Why would I have not sent the information when I have sacrifice everything to represent Belize at its best? Why would I not have? Disappointment is not strange to me, but this hurts. It's like a concussion, it's like a blow in the head, because I have sacrifice everything. Why would I not sent information as such? Why? When I ran at Central American Championship without a uniform? When Dave asked for the uniform I have it to him and I ran with pride for my country without a uniform. That again, speaks volume to me."

"But you know what, I was never rude to them and you will come and tell me that I have not responded to your request? Is this what it come to, to cover yourself? It hurts. I am still basically in awe as to how they chose her. Why her and not the other athletes too. I don't choose someone who has a better time than somebody else. That hurts. But like I said I will stand firm. You will see me represent my school. You will see me graduate with honors. You will see me a success. I will not make this takes me down. It hurts. I won't lie that it doesn't hurts. It does."

Kaina - who is originally from Seine Byte - has been representing Belize since she was 15. She is now 30 and enrolled at Texas A & M University.

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