Athletes represent Dominica at Olympics

Luan Gabriel, Erison Hurtault

Erison Hurtault and Luan Gabriel are representing Dominica at the London Olympics according to the official games website.

The games are expected to officially open on Friday.

Hurtault is a US citizen however his parents are from Dominica.

The London Olympics is his second.

Hurtault, who grew up in New Jersey, graduated from Columbia University in 2007 and presently lives in Harlem.

He was a 400-meter dash semifinalist at the 2009 Berlin and 2011 Daegu World Outdoor Championships, as well as the 2012 Istanbul World Indoor Championships. He represented Dominica in the 400 meters at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, placing 34.

Gabiel, who will be competing in her first Olympics, has been raising eyebrows on the Caribbean athletic circuit. She secured gold at the last CARIFTA in the U-17 Girl’s 200 meters.

She also created a new national record in the U-17 200 meters in Tobago last year.

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52 Comments

  1. Chrissy
    August 2, 2012

    Congratulations cousin Ericson and also to the young lady… Making the Bruney family proud indeed :)

  2. UDOHREADYET
    July 30, 2012

    God bless… an LA man repsresenting DA in the olympics!!

  3. jerseydominican
    July 30, 2012

    all the best for you both hurtault congratulation go for the gold

  4. July 28, 2012

    Well done you guys,you have made us Dominican`s proud. May God Almighty guyde and protect you all; and that you continue to find favour with Him and with others.I wish you all the best and no matter the out come you guys are still winners.with such achivement I expected to see mush more comments. Be encouraged and know that we all are with you.Love.

  5. Justice and Truth
    July 28, 2012

    I wish both of you success. I will follow the Olympics broadcast and news highlights when I can. The Olympic Games events are interesting ones.
    I viewed its commencement on Friday evening. Dominicans know that you will do your utmost. Good luck and God’s blessing. At the same time have an enjoyable time in London.

  6. cb passie
    July 28, 2012

    All the best guys, Luan make DA proud, nothing less than gold you can do it, my eyes will be glued to the tv. All the best

  7. Anonymous
    July 28, 2012

    Best we doh represent rather than non belongers represent for us wee. They not even Dominicans and because they can never qualify under the country they are loyal to they Using DA to qualify because is us that is tail. We always behind.

  8. Malgraysa
    July 28, 2012

    Confused now. On 20 July Dominica vibes reports an interview with the Dominica Olympics committee stating that only Erison Hurtault will actually represent Dominica on the track, being the only “Dominican” athlete qualified to do so. But now I’m reading that Luan will also compete! Who is telling the truth? How did she, all of a sudden qualify? I know she is in London but will she actually run. Hope we don’t really have a five man delegation in London (as reported by Dominica vibes) for only one athlete, who came 34 in Bejing and whom we “borrowed” from the U.S.A. That would be too embarrassing. Pls. DNO, tell us your version is the correct one.

  9. Candice
    July 28, 2012

    Team Dominica rocks!!!! We are so proud of you Erison & Luan!!

  10. Dominican
    July 28, 2012

    DNO,may I ask. How long does a comment awaits moderation?

  11. an
    July 28, 2012

    good luck guys, thanks for representing Dominica,you carried the flag and represented your country well, go for the gold

  12. lovemetender
    July 28, 2012

    wishing them all te best no matter the situation we are with u both

  13. fil
    July 28, 2012

    God’s blessings to you all make DA proud. Good
    luck and all the best.

  14. Faceup
    July 28, 2012

    Wishing the very best to you both, make Dominica proud, Blessings…

  15. strange
    July 27, 2012

    GOOO Luan, ur mama mustb proud. U have made me proud to ur past teacher. May God bless u all. I was proud to c Dominica flag.

  16. me
    July 27, 2012

    all the best team Dominica!!!

  17. ideal
    July 27, 2012

    good luck guys whether you win or not we are proud of you both

  18. my sweet dominica
    July 27, 2012

    i wish that he will continue to love this country call Dominica of his parents and love it so much that he calls it his own ,to the point where he is representing it at such an event . Good luck to Mr Hurtault . Good luck to ms.Gabriel as well.ab

  19. da in ny
    July 27, 2012

    good luck do us proud

  20. somebody who cares
    July 27, 2012

    congratulations to them we send our athletes to the olympics lets send our queen contestants to the miss universe pageant

  21. July 27, 2012

    Congratulations on making it this far guys. Best of Luck to both of you. Was so proud seeing the most beautiful flag flying so high

  22. me
    July 27, 2012

    Thanks you for representing DA in the Olympics,
    I wish you both the best of good luck. May God’s
    blessings shine on you both and do something good
    for DA. Frankly speaking making to the Olympics
    makes me very proud of the both of you.

  23. Supporter
    July 27, 2012

    DNO get the story straight. Luan is a Guest. She is not competing.

  24. dom
    July 27, 2012

    Saw Gariel at Carifta games!!

  25. Big-Bannan
    July 27, 2012

    Proud, Proud, Proud I am for the both of you. May your efforts supersede some of the negative energy Dominica has created in the Political arena.

  26. B-dawg
    July 27, 2012

    It was a few minutes before midnight when I heard Dominica on the screen of my TV. OH OH! I am bursting with pride. I want to remind my D/cans people that the commentator said, “Don’t confound D/ca to the Dom-Rep”, and he came to say again that the Island is situated between tje two French islands. Go D/ca, be blessed, be strong !

  27. Da Woman
    July 27, 2012

    It was great to see the flag flying high.

  28. Troll
    July 27, 2012

    Mista face looking like he voleh a mastiff and a small tin of milk in that pic. :lol: :lol: Tell me i lie!

  29. Andrea
    July 27, 2012

    Ok, so he is representing USA. Proud of him and all but never understood why Dominica always have to get someone living abroad to represent Dominica. IS it a matter of skills, talent and discipline. If not, what then? very curious.

  30. DOMINICA
    July 27, 2012

    I just saw our team on SAT channel 54 we are small but looking good in England in our creole wear. GREAT DOMINICA!!!

  31. Me
    July 27, 2012

    Do we have anyone directly from Dominica in the olympics? I mean trained in Dominica? If not, we are really %^%$#^&*.

    • me
      July 27, 2012

      BS!…

  32. loner
    July 27, 2012

    just knowing the flag will be there is enough for me already. congrats and good luck.

  33. great
    July 27, 2012

    what times does it start

  34. Zarbeau
    July 27, 2012

    Erison is a true attestment of the vision Ma Zarbeau had for her generations. Wass Zarbeau rocks.

  35. waw
    July 27, 2012

    so proud,go make us shine

  36. Dominican
    July 27, 2012

    Leheure e bon,de e bon.Dominica flag flying in London at the Olympics 2012.Congrats to both of you for making that happen.You are the true patriots.All the best to both of you.

  37. Dominican in antigua
    July 27, 2012

    Happy for you all go out there and do you all best one love to you all

  38. Homeboy
    July 27, 2012

    I will be looking for that flag as I always do! I will
    Have mine at the volleyball finals and semifinals even if DA is not contesting the volleyball.

  39. Peacock
    July 27, 2012

    Only now this is making the news. No official statement from the Olympic Committee? What a crying shame? All other islands, this is a big story, mortorcades, support all over, braodcasts .. on tv and online .. but Dominica .. as if it was yesterday’s news.

    Wishing you all the best youngsters. Make Dominica proud!

  40. me1
    July 27, 2012

    That young girl is going to do so good for herself. It will not surprise me one bit if she makes it to the semis or even the final in the 200m…… GO Luan….
    Even if I would want to say something about the young man, I can’t cause i know nothing about him but i wish him good luck as well. His event is much harder the that of Luan, so he really have to turn it up.

  41. jazzY
    July 27, 2012

    Super! Go DOminica

  42. Dominica
    July 27, 2012

    Best of luck and thank you both for making sure that Dominica is represented at that prestigious, and memoroable activity. You all are truly jewels of the Nature Isle.

  43. Rule
    July 27, 2012

    Erison Hurtaut. Father from Laplaine, mother from Grand fond. The east rocks! all the best cuz.

  44. Nostalgia
    July 27, 2012

    Hey Erison, the Dominican possie in Jersey are rooting for you!!!!!!!!!! See you when you get back.

  45. MagwayDomnichen
    July 27, 2012

    GO DA!!!!

  46. New Yorker
    July 27, 2012

    Columbia University is an Ivy League college. Mr Hurtault is both an athlete AND a scholar! Best wishes to both contestants!

  47. Anonymous
    July 27, 2012

    It’s great that Dominica will be represented. I wish the young lady and gentleman all the best. They have worked hard to get to where they are. My only question is why are we only now being informed of the persons who will be representing us at the Olympics? I wish I had had an earlier opportunity to tell Luan and Ericson how much it means to me that they will be taking part in the games. I will be looking for them and our flag at the opening. Blessings.

    • Malatete
      July 28, 2012

      Good question. Members of the Dominica Olympic committee have been in London for some two weeks now. Maybe it’s because we were hard-pushed to find athletes to justify our presence there. Erison Hurtault is a great guy but frankly he is only running for us because he did not make the U.S.A. team.We should spend more effort and money to try and breed our own home-grown talent like Luan to make the rest of the world aware of our existence, just like Jamaica does so successfully. However, we are there and participating and that’s a wonderful thing in it itself. To see our colourful flag proudly enter the Olympic stadium, in full view of the world was an experience of hope and pride. Wherever you will end up in the rankings Luan and Erison, we know you will give it your all.

      • July 28, 2012

        There is always someone to be NEGATIVE and I guess in this case malatete thats you. where did you get your info? Ericson Hurtault represented Dominica before.

      • jerseydominican
        July 31, 2012

        why ?

  48. Sugar
    July 27, 2012

    Wishing them all the best.Dominica is my second home and am so proud to say this…DA all the way as Africa is with u..Mwahhh

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