The bittersweet experience of a four-time Olympian
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
January 31, 2007
Four-time Olympian Guyanese Eon D'Ornellas (right) addressing members of the media yesterday at a press conference held at the Roraima Residence Inn. Others in this Lawrence Fanfair photo are from left; D'Ornellas' `girl friend' and Canadian road race bro
"The saddest moment in my career as a cyclist was back in 1980 when I was riding very strongly and did not get to participate in the Moscow Olympics."
Those were the words of a four-time Olympian, Guyanese Eon D'Ornellas, who answered questions from members of the media yesterday at the Roraima Residence Inn.
The Canadian based Guyanese, who owns the D'Ornellas Bike Shop in Scarborough, Canada, is currently in Guyana to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Roraima Airways to introduce an adventure/eco tourism product.
"My saddest moment was in 1980, at 28 years of age when I was riding very strongly and not being able to participate in the Olympics in Moscow. I was training in Mexico with the Russians, the East Germans and a lot of great cyclists. I was up in the top 20. So in 1980 I was very strong, nobody could have really touched me, and I thought that was my best opportunity where I was in good form to do well," D'Ornellas lamented.
D'Ornellas is probably the only cyclist or possibly athlete in the world to be selected for four consecutive Olympic Games and was never able to participate at any.
He was selected by the Guyana Olympic Association in 1972 and 1976 and by the Canadian Olympic Association in 1980 and 1984.
At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich D'Ornellas said:"There were difficulties with the organization and registration, and I was not able to ride. It was a disappointment, but because I loved the sport so much I didn't make it a problem."
In 1976, D'Ornellas was unable to ride after Guyana boycotted the Montreal Olympic Games in solidarity with the African nations which protested a tour of South Africa by the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team early in the year.
In 1980 it was Canada's turn to boycott the Moscow Olympic Games in solidarity with the US president Jimmy carter's call for a US boycott of the games after Soviet tanks rolled into Afghanistan.
"Then in 1984 I was once again selected to represent Canada at the Los Angeles Olympics, (which was in turn boycotted by the Soviet Union) but when we arrived, there was a conflict with the coach and after collecting my number and everything else, the coach dropped me from the team, saying he did not think I could do the job required of me," D'Ornellas recounted.
"After that I turned pro. (professional) It was very frustrating, my life, with all these expectations, with all the hope and effort I put into it," said D'Ornellas.