Former West Indies cricketer basks in son Rai Benjamin’s Olympic glory

“The Olympics are like the World Cup final for me,” Winston told Cricbuzz while describing his emotions during the race. “I’m not an individual who shows a lot of emotion but this was a surreal moment. I've never felt like this.”

Winston Benjamin was a key figure in the West Indies cricket team from 1986 to 1995, playing 21 Tests and 85 ODIs for the Caribbean side. However, son Rai Benjamin represents the United States.

“He was born in the US, so we’re celebrating him just as much as the Americans are,” Winston explained. “I know what it meant for him to win an individual gold... To accomplish such a feat is phenomenal.”

Adding to his father’s joy, Rai Benjamin and the USA team claimed the 4x400m relay gold medal at Paris 2024 with an Olympic record of 2:54.43.

Rai Benjamin is one of Winston’s six children. He had a diverse sporting background before focusing on athletics.

According to Winston, Rai was free to choose what he wanted to do as he grew up, playing American football as a quarterback before a college coach saw his talent for the track.

“Seeing him win the ultimate prize in the sport of his choice makes me very happy,” Winston said.

Winston Benjamin continues to contribute to cricket through his academy in Antigua.

Click here to read article