An elated Minister of Sports Anil Roberts yesterday paid tribute to the country's second Olympic gold medalist, Keshorn Walcott, noting that his success in yesterday's javelin event at the Olympics could not have come at a better time. Commenting on Walcott's historic achievement, Roberts said: "God is good. In a time when some citizens have had their properties and life turned upside down by the flooding of their homes, up comes a young bright star from Toco to inject some inspiration, pride and glory on the faces of the people of T&T." Roberts said the victory had not sunk in 'as yet'. "But for Walcott to move from being World Junior Champion to Olympic champion is six weeks, is just unheard of. It's an unprecedented achievement."
The Minister who presented Walcott with equipment to participate at the Junior Championships when he emerged champion, said the country could take example and learn from Walcott's humility and calmness. "Even after he was declared the gold medal winner, he proved to be a young man of pure class." Roberts congratulated Walcott's family, who he said had produced a young man whom the country could use as a role model. "Such is his demeanour, and I am sure this success will not change him." Roberts also paid tribute to his Cuban coach, Ismael Mastrapa, a development athletic coach who has worked with Walcott for the past two years and is attached to the Sports Company (Sportt). "I cannot commend his Cuban coach enough for the tremendous work he has done with Walcott to help him develop. We are now looking at an athlete who can dominate this event for the next 16 years, given his age of 19." Minister Roberts is expected to lead the welcoming party at Piarco, who will be greeting the local athletes when they return home today.
T&T in London
Medal Winners
Gold
Keshorn Walcott–men's javelin final–84.58 metres
Bronze
Lalonde Gordon–men's 400m final–44.52 seconds
Men's 4 x 400m relay (Lalonde Gordon, Jarrin Solomon, Ade Alleyne-Forte, Deon Lendore)–2:59.40 NR
Men's 4 x 100m relay (Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Emmanuel Callendar, Richard Thompson) - 38.12 seconds
Other Finalists:
Semoy Hackett–women's 200m final–eight–22.87 seconds
Njisane Phillip–men's keirin–seventh
Njisane Phillip–match sprint–fourth
Richard Thompson–men's 100m final–seventh–9.98 seconds
Kelly-Ann Baptiste–women's 100m final–sixth–10.94 seconds
George Bovell III–men's 50m freestyle final–seventh–21.82 seconds
Jehue Gordon–men's 400m hurdles final–sixth–48.86 seconds
Women's 4 x 100 relay final–Michell Lee Ahyee, Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Kai Selvon, Semoy Hackett.