BARRANQUILLA, Colombia — The island’s top brass in fencing, including president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) Christopher Samuda, who is also chairman of the Fencing Advisory Board of Jamaica, noted Caitlin Chang’s historic Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games silver medal as a signal to the sport’s development.

The 25-year-old Chang became the first Jamaica representative to win a medal at an international Games, when she claimed silver in the individual epee competition on Saturday night.

However, it was not Jamaica’s first fencing medal in international competition, as Alison Miller had won gold at the CAC Championship.

“Caitlin’s success and, indeed, the success of our fencers here in Barranquilla at the CAC Games is more than inspirational,” said Samuda. “Undoubtedly, they have demonstrated tremendous character and have validated what we all know — the wealth of talent that resides in Jamaica’s DNA.”

The athlete herself noted the importance of her second-place finish at the Games.

Chang said: “I think this is so important for our sport and I think it will help get exposure for the Jamaica Fencing Federation and Jamaica, and for the sport itself. For Jamaica to have won a medal that’s really huge because I don’t think people expected Jamaica’s fencing to have provided this medal. I think people, not underestimated us, but it’s so big because we haven’t won a lot of medals in fencing yet, and I think that this is the start of something positive.”

Two other Jamaicans participated in the individual epee competition — Ciara Moreira-Brown who was eliminated at the first hurdle in an all-Jamaica clash against Chang, and Donovan Deans who won his first round match but lost in the quarter-finals.

“As chairman of the Fencing Advisory Board of Jamaica, I have been extremely privileged to be a part of the rebuilding of fencing as a sport in Jamaica, and this success justifies what President McBean (James) and our team have always felt — we are on the right path. Look for more success as our fencers continue to inspire a nation,” he noted.

McBean, the founder and president of the Jamaica Fencing Federation, said he was “humbled” by the achievement, even though he had anticipated Jamaica winning two medals.

“I predicted two medals … so I wasn’t surprised at all based on the field and her previous performances. Caitlin’s silver medal was not a surprise,” shared McBean.

He added: “It’s a humbling feeling to know that my efforts are bearing fruit, and it’s extra humbling that what I was able to put in place … I see their efforts coming to fruition. I’m a poor boy from Spanish Town who migrated to the US with my parents, and there were people who encouraged me into fencing,” he continued, noting that he got much support to build the sport.

“I don’t feel like beating my chest. She’s been fencing for 17 years; She came with the talent, which has to be stated. I can’t stay here and take credit. even though I’m the president and founder there were a lot of people who poured into me and encouraged me to bring the sport to Jamaica and continue with it.

”The JOA and Samuda, they have enabled the athletes to go into competition and improve their skill level to come here and do something like this. That goes into the whole idea of humbling, because the JOA had the confidence to give us the funding to enable these people to get to competitions. This is like a return on investment,” said McBean.

“Young girls in Jamaica should look up to people like her and others in sport who have achieved as role models.”

Chang’s coach, Kurt Schmick labelled the accomplishment a big achievement.

He said: “It’s a very impressive performance. She was solid throughout the tournament and her form was very consistent and actually improved going into the latter bouts. Coming out of the pools she faced the person she met in the final and she was the only person who beat her.

Schmick added: “I’m overjoyed that fencing was able to make a contribution like this in providing a medal for Jamaica; I think it’s a big achievement for a small island. The other islands didn’t fare as well as us — we lost to Cuba, which has been in fencing from the early stages. I hope the win encourages other persons to pick up fencing as well, so that we can build our pool of fencers locally.”