Island man's brother to compete in Olympics for Bahamas

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games kick off in just a few days and although there are no Prince Edward Islanders competing, one family in Charlottetown has good reason to be excited.

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Kyle Gibson is a computer networking student at Holland College who'll be watching his brother Jeffery Gibson compete in Rio in the 400-metre hurdles for Bahamas.

"This is the first time I've ever had anyone I know actually in the Olympics. For it to be my brother is pretty cool actually," said Kyle Gibson.

Gibsonplans to watch from a Charlottetown sports bar with a big-screen television, he said.

"I already told my work that like, those days that he's running, I'm going to need off to watch, cause it's going to be exciting."

Although the mens' mother, stepfather and two younger half-brothers just moved to P.E.I. two weeks ago, Gibson said his parents will travel to Rio to watch Jeffery race.

Growing up in Bahamas

"Both of us actually played a lot of sports," said Gibson, noting that Jeffery, "kind of stuck with track and field... he took it more seriously. He was better at it."

Gibsonshared that many people don't know Jeffery took up hurdling after a coach noticed he was good at the 400-metre run.

"From then on, he was doing good in that race," said Gibson.

Nervous but excited

Jeffery Gibson's first event will be on August 15, which is coincidentally his 26th birthday.

Kyle Gibson has been in close contact with his brother and said, "He is nervous about it but also excited."

"I feel like he'll be ready for it, more than anything," Gibsonsaid. "If he's nervous, you won't see it on his face at all."

The brothers have been close their whole lives their father died when Jefferywas seven and Kyle was just three.

Olympic hopes

What are the chances he will watch his brother take the medal podium in Rio?

"In 2015 his participation in the 400-metres hurdles at the World Championships in Beijing, China, earned him a bronze medal with a time of 48.17, a personal best," states Gibson's Facebook page. That time is also the Bahamas record.

It adds he "promises to be a serious contender."

"Everybody's expecting him to do well ... do the best he could," said Gibson.

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