Walcott’s gold comforts grieving family

Keshorn Walcott’s triumph in the men’s javelin at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain on Friday was welcome news for his family. On the morning before he tossed the spear out to 78.64 to secure T&T’s first medal of the Championships, Walcott’s great grandfather, Andrew Walcott, passed away. Keshorn’s mother, Beverly, said yesterday the performance brought everyone together, despite the grief. She said the loss of her grandfather was devastating but the anxiety and subsequent performance by her son went a long way in keeping the sadness away.

 

 

The good news came from Keshorn’s elder brother, triple jumper Elton. “I called Elton earlier in the day to find out again the time Keshorn was throwing. He told me around 3 o’clock. Then I called back and Elton told me he won. I screamed.” Mrs Walcott said she is very proud of her son. “He worked so hard. He loves the javelin so much and he achieved his goal which he set out since January.” She said she was quietly confident her son would win. “I was expecting it. Everybody was confident.  We would have settled for any medal but we will take the gold.”  Mrs Walcott said she spoke to her son before he left for Barcelona and encouraged him to do his best. She will have to wait until after the London Olympics to give her son a deserving hug and she is hoping that he gets into the finals in London. “When he comes back we will celebrate but we are not sure what we will do for him as yet.”