By: Sahr Morris Jr. with Support from: Eric Fomba & Bockarie Alieu in Tokyo, Japan

Sierra Leone’s America-based sprinter, Maggie Vanessa Barrie, on Sunday 25 July 2021 landed at the Narita International Airport, also known as Tokyo-Narita International Airport to join other Sierra Leonean athletes at the Olympic Games village in Tokyo, Japan. The 25-year-old who travelled from the United States, arrived in the evening hours of Sunday as she joined the swimmers and Judoka at the Games village five days ahead of her event at the Olympic Stadium in Shinjuku, Tokyo. In a short welcome address at the Games village, Sierra Leone’s Chef de’ Mission, Unisa Deen Kargbo, welcomed the U.S based sprinter and referred to her as the country’s star for this year’s Olympic Games.

He said: “We want to welcome you to team Sierra Leone in Japan and remind you to remain focused and compete. The disadvantage on the side of Sierra Leone and other athletes from other countries is that the wildcards and the Tripathi qualification was all issued late, and there was not much time for athletes to prepare well . We’ve even seen world champions been eliminated at this game, including England’s best Judo fighter who was eliminated within a minute.”

In her brief statement, Maggie Vanessa Barrie said she is in Tokyo to represent the country and was pleased to have arrived at the Games village to join the rest of team Sierra Leone. “I am here to represent this country and I am very happy to be here, I am going to get my best time and do the best I can to represent the Sierra Leonean people”she said. Known for her specialty and competitive battle in the women’s 400 meter, Maggie Barrie will pull on the national colours in her first Olympic Games in a different event, the 100 meters on Friday July 30.

Credit: Ministry of Sports/National Sports Authority & National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone