British Virgin Islands at the 2023 Pan American Games

The British Virgin Islands competed at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile from October 20 to November 5, 2023. This was the territory's 11th appearance at the Pan American Games, having competed at every Games since making its debut in 1983.

British Virgin Islands at the 2023 Pan American Games
IOC code	IVB
NOC	British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee
in Santiago, Chile 20 October 2023 (2023-10-20) – 5 November 2023 (2023-11-05)
Competitors	4 in 2 sports
Flag bearer (opening)	Deya Erickson
Flag bearer (closing)	Thad Lettsome
Medals	Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 0 Total 0
Pan American Games appearances (overview)
1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023

On October 17, 2023 the British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee announced a team of four athletes (three men and one woman) competing in two sports.^[1][2] Track athlete Deya Erickson was the country's flagbearers during the opening ceremony.^[3][4][5] Meanwhile, sailor Thad Lettsome was the country's flagbearer during the closing ceremony.^[6]

Competitors

The following is the list of number of competitors (per gender) participating at the games per sport/discipline.^[1]

Sport	Men	Women	Total
Athletics (track and field)	2	1	3
Sailing	1	0	1
Total	3	1	4

Athletics (track and field)

Main articles: Athletics at the 2023 Pan American Games and Athletics at the 2023 Pan American Games – Qualification

The British Virgin Islands qualified three track and field athletes.^[1] Due to the games taking place during the off-season, many of the territory's top athletes did not compete, including 2023 world silver medalist Kyron McMaster.^[7] With Gumbs and Henry competing in the shot put, it marked the first time ever the Islands had two competitors in the same event at the Pan American Games.^[8]

Key

• Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
• Q = Qualified for the next round
• q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser
• Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

Track event

Athlete	Event	Semifinals		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Deya Erickson	Women's 100 m hurdles	14.42	12	Did not advance

Field events

Athlete	Event	Final
		Distance	Position
Djimon Gumbs	Men's discus throw	54.70	9
Djimon Gumbs	Men's shot put	NM
Eldred Henry		16.98	11

Sailing

Main articles: Sailing at the 2023 Pan American Games and Sailing at the 2023 Pan American Games – Qualification

The British Virgin Islands qualified one boat for a total of one sailor.^[9] This marked the country's first boat qualified in 30 years (not including invitational spots).^[10][11]

Men

Athlete	Event	Opening series												Finals
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Points	Rank	M	Points	Rank
Thad Lettsome	Laser	14	17	16	14	13	15	6	14	13	12	117	14	Did not advance

See also

• British Virgin Islands at the 2024 Summer Olympics

References

1. "4 athletes confirmed for Santiago 2023 PanAm Games". www.bviolympics.org/. British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
2. Haynes, Kamal (17 October 2023). "Henry, Gumbs, Erickson & Lettsome to Represent the BVI at Pan Am Games". www.284media.com/. 284 Media. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
3. "Four Athletes to Represent the Virgin Islands (UK) at 2023 Pan American Games". JTV News. Tortola, British Virgin Islands. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
4. Kiser, Bill (18 October 2023). "BVI sending 4 athletes to Santiago for Pan-Am Games". The Virgin Islands Daily News. St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
5. Andrés, Aragón; Cavanna, Joaquín (20 October 2023). "Conoce a todos los abanderados de la Ceremonia de Apertura de los Juegos Panamericanos Santiago 2023" [Meet all the flag bearers of the Opening Ceremony of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games]. www.olympics.com/ (in Spanish). International Olympic Committee (IOC). Retrieved 20 October 2023.
6. "VI close out participation in Pan American Games in Chile". Virgin Islands News Online. Road Town, Tortola. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023. Meanwhile, Thad A. Lettsome will be the flag bearer at the Santiago 2023 Closing Ceremony today, Sunday, November 5, 2023.
7. Haynes, Kamal (25 October 2023). "The Timing of Pan Am Games is Why Some of the Top Athletes Are Absent". www.284media.com/. 284 Media. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
8. Haynes, Kamal (3 November 2023). "Henry Finished 11th and Gumbs 13th in Shot Put Final at Pan Am Games". www.284media.com/. 284 Media. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
9. "Thad A. Lettsome qualifies for Pam Am Games; 6th @ CAC Games". Virgin Islands News Online. Road Town, Tortola. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
10. "Lettsome Breaks 30-Year PanAm Qualification Drought". www.bviplatinum.com. Platinum Media Group Ltd. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
11. Haynes, Kamal (2 July 2023). "Thad Lettsome Qualifies for Pan Am Games – First Bvi Sailor to Do So in 3 Decades". www.284media.com/. 284 Media. Retrieved 2 July 2023.