Jamaican born sprinter Tamarri Lindo and his family now faces a literal race against time, as Lindo through his lawyers battle to avoid deportation from Canada.

Lindo who won bronze at Canada’s National Track and Field Championships a little over a week ago is set to be deported to the island tomorrow, where he says political persecution could put his family’s lives at risk .

The sprinter and his family moved to Toronto when he was just 15 year olds and now at 20, is still holding hopes to one day represent Canada in athletics, but with his family’s refugee applications rejected, they will be forced to return to Jamaica, something Lindo said he learned while preparing for the biggest race of his season at the championship. 

His family’s lawyer Aidam Simardone has submitted a judicial review, which is essentially an appeal of the decision, to avoid deportation, but with the seconds ticking the family can only hope that their prayers will be answered.  

Simardone said the family’s original refugee application was denied because the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) was not convinced the family would face hardship if they returned to the country.