Cricket West Indies COO Urges Youth to Build Legacy Through Perseverance
The Chief Operating Officer of Cricket West Indies, Lynford Inverary, has urged Antigua and Barbuda’s young athletes to view their sporting journeys as opportunities to shape a lasting legacy, telling them that greatness is built through resilience, preparation and belief.
Delivering the keynote address at the 2024 National Sports Awards, Mr Inory shared personal reflections on overcoming failure and encouraged athletes not to be defined by setbacks.
“You’re not just playing for today—you’re shaping the future,” he said. “Every practice, every sacrifice, every late night matters.”
Mr Inverary, who recently served as acting CEO of the regional cricket body, described sport as a transformative force. He called on athletes to embrace hard work and to see pressure as a privilege.
“Pressure exists because people believe you are capable,” he told the audience gathered at the Multipurpose Cultural and Exhibition Centre in St John’s.
In a candid moment, Mr Inverary revealed that he once came last in his class and had to repeat a school year, but said those experiences shaped the leader he is today.
“When I repeated Form Three, no one looked at me and said, ‘There goes a future COO of Cricket West Indies.’ But I kept going.”
He compared adversity to a rubber band—“the further you are pulled back, the further forward you can launch”—and challenged the youth to remain focused, even when unnoticed or criticised.
Mr Inverary applauded the accomplishments of national athletes across various disciplines and recognised figures who had contributed to the country’s sporting foundations, including Wilbur Harrigan, Stanfield “Shipwreck” Joseph, and Althea Cabral.
He highlighted current athletes such as Alzarri Joseph, Jewel Andrew, Kimberly Percival and Tyra Fenton, as examples of rising excellence, and encouraged all attendees to consider how their actions today will inspire the next generation.
“When a young athlete stands on a podium one day, they may say: ‘I’m here because of the legends who came before me’—and maybe, just maybe, they’ll be talking about you.”
The address was one of the most anticipated moments of the awards ceremony, which celebrated standout athletes, coaches, and administrators for their achievements in 2024.
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