It’s Official – ILCA 7 Laser Sailor Thad Lettsome Ends BVI 30-Year No-Show Streak At Pan Am Games

ILCA 7 laser sailor Thad Lettsome on Saturday qualified for the  2023 Pan American Games, ending the British Virgin Islands 30-year no show streak at the continental multi-sport event which features thousands of athletes from across the Americas.

Lettsome secured his 2023 Pan Am Games spot in October in Chile, following a July 1 impressive second place win at the Central American and Caribbean Games  (CAC) in San Salvador.

According to the British Virgin Islands Olympic Association, “Thad would seal the spot with his best race of the series,” but “missed out on an overall fifth place finish by just 1 point to place 6th in the regatta.”

The Association congratulated the sailor and noted that “the ultimate result is a significant breakthrough for the Virgin Islands as Thad becomes the first sailor for the BVI in 30 years to officially qualify for a Pan American Games.”

He is coached by Chris Watters, the National Sailing Federation and the Royal BVI Yacht Club.

Pan Am Games, which was first held in 1951 in Argentina, is held every four years in the year before the Summer Olympic Games.

This year’s Games will take place in Santiago, Chile from October 20  to November 5 and will feature over 7,000 athletes.