Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => What about Track & Field => Topic started by: FireBrand on August 11, 2012, 01:43:41 PM
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Congrats Keshorn and T&T!!! The waggon rolling out!!!
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Now self I goin Toco 4 meh bday this confirms it.
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Finally a GOLD :wavetowel:
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Congrats Keshorn.
Listen guys... Some of us might not realize the magnitude of this accomplishment.
From what I understand this is the first time a black man/person of African descent has won a gold in Javelin at the Olympics.
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Now self I goin Toco 4 meh bday this confirms it.
Isn't this a great early Birthday Present?! :cheers: :wavetowel: :party: :beermug:
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Well done KW, world junior champ and in same year world olympic champ, we salute you :salute:
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:beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
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Congrats Keshorn.
Listen guys... Some of us might not realize the magnitude of this accomplishment.
From what I understand this is the first time a black man/person of African descent has won a gold in Javelin at the Olympics.
Walcott has made history and has opened a new chapter in Javelin Throwing, like the Williams sisters did in tennis and Tiger Woods did in golf! :beermug:
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Congrats Keshorn.
Listen guys... Some of us might not realize the magnitude of this accomplishment.
From what I understand this is the first time a black man/person of African descent has won a gold in Javelin at the Olympics.
Walcott has made history and has opened a new chapter in Javelin Throwing, like the Williams sisters did in tennis and Tiger Woods did in golf! :beermug:
Thats right Soca.. This is a milestone for people of African descent. We cant let this one be quiet.
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Congrats Keshorn, first Gold for TnT in a field event... and first Gold of any kind since Crawford in 1976.
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Fantastic!! Well done KW!!
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Congrats Keshorn, first Gold for TnT in a field event... and first Gold of any kind since Crawford in 1976.
Took the words right off the tip of my tongue.
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:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
ah proud :applause:
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the sweetest thing , we anthem play !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Keshorn has made history. I believe he is the youngest gold medallist in Track and field this year. Kirani is older than him. Can someone confirm.
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(http://p.twimg.com/A0Cr8EfCIAA0Z5s.jpg)
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Keshorn has made history. I believe he is the youngest gold medallist in Track and field this year. Kirani is older than him. Can someone confirm.
they are the same age i believe
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Keshorn has made history. I believe he is the youngest gold medallist in Track and field this year. Kirani is older than him. Can someone confirm.
they are the same age i believe
If is by a day somebody older
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Keshorn has made history. I believe he is the youngest gold medallist in Track and field this year. Kirani is older than him. Can someone confirm.
they are the same age i believe
Kirani is 7 months older.
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Finally a GOLD :applause: :applause: :applause:
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(http://p.twimg.com/A0Cr8EfCIAA0Z5s.jpg)
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579930_409288375785043_218071399_n.jpg)
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(http://p.twimg.com/A0Cr8EfCIAA0Z5s.jpg)
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
BTW Keshorn almost broke the WJR. Could still come if he competes in Europe after the OG.
WJR 84.69 Zigismunds Sirmais (LAT) - Bauska, 22/06/2011
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Congrats again...and wow...left a nation speechless
dem pics real jokes
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(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/226286_451301348234221_1588861315_n.jpg)
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Thanks Aviator, brought goosebumps and tears to my eyes
Keshorn Walcott Olympic medal ceremony.
http://www.youtube.com/v/xi8ee2tgYdY&feature=channel&list=UL
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(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/384746_355867821154831_1058085382_n.jpg)
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Thanks Aviator, brought goosebumps and tears to my eyes
Keshorn Walcott Olympic medal ceremony.
http://www.youtube.com/v/xi8ee2tgYdY&feature=channel&list=UL
I think you're exaggerating a bit there ProudTrinbagonian!
I can understand the tears but how do you get goosebumps in your eyes as well?! :devil:
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Thanks Aviator, brought goosebumps and tears to my eyes
Keshorn Walcott Olympic medal ceremony.
http://www.youtube.com/v/xi8ee2tgYdY&feature=channel&list=UL
I think you're exaggerating a bit there ProudTrinbagonian!
I can understand the tears but how do you get goosebumps in your eyes as well?! :devil:
lol! ah fuhget you in London and master of the Queen's english :beermug:
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Thanks Aviator, brought goosebumps and tears to my eyes
Keshorn Walcott Olympic medal ceremony.
http://www.youtube.com/v/xi8ee2tgYdY&feature=channel&list=UL
I think you're exaggerating a bit there ProudTrinbagonian!
I can understand the tears but how do you get goosebumps in your eyes as well?! :devil:
:rotfl: I thought that's what he meant too
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(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/420094_186402598159163_386143968_n.jpg)
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http://www.youtube.com/v/U37lk__DG44
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(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/420094_186402598159163_386143968_n.jpg)
:rotfl:
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Soca.. I know you feel this..
Keshorn has made black history for Trinidad and the Caribbean. Excellent independence gift. We cant let the government overlook this. This is huge.
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Soca.. I know you feel this..
Keshorn has made black history for Trinidad and the Caribbean. Excellent independence gift. We cant let the government overlook this. This is huge.
It's 2012 brother, let's be happy for our nation. He's made history for Trinidad (and Tobago) and the Caribbean. Together we aspire, together we achieve, believe me, all races celebrating Keshorn today in TnT :beermug:
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(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/208241_10151170669763594_595024354_n.jpg)
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Soca.. I know you feel this..
Keshorn has made black history for Trinidad and the Caribbean. Excellent independence gift. We cant let the government overlook this. This is huge.
It's 2012 brother, let's be happy for our nation. He's made history for Trinidad (and Tobago) and the Caribbean. Together we aspire, together we achieve, believe me, all races celebrating Keshorn today in TnT :beermug:
I agree.. But just watch and see. If Keshorn was Jamaican... That my friend, will be known for what it is.
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Soca.. I know you feel this..
Keshorn has made black history for Trinidad and the Caribbean. Excellent independence gift. We cant let the government overlook this. This is huge.
Plus he was the youngest T&F gold medallist for this Olympics even beating out Kirani James to that claim to fame!
I’m only sad that our girls didn't medal in the 4x100m relay as they worked so hard and deserved to come back home with something to show for their efforts and great improvement since last Olympics! Our ladies basically held their own with the men creating a very balanced T&T team and hopefully they will inspire more of our females to take athletics seriously and to hopely display their talents on the biggest world stage!
Happy 50th Indepnedence everyone, we have much to be proud of! :beermug:
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Soca.. I know you feel this..
Keshorn has made black history for Trinidad and the Caribbean. Excellent independence gift. We cant let the government overlook this. This is huge.
Plus he was the youngest T&F gold medallist for this Olympics even beating out Kirani James to that claime to fame!
I’m only sad that our girls didn't medal in the 4x100m relay as they worked so hard and deserved to come back home with something to show for their efforts and great improvement since last Olympics! Our ladies basically held their own with the men creating a very balanced T&T team and hopefully they will inspire more of our females to take athletics seriously and to hopely display their talents on the biggest world stage!
Happy 50th Indepnedence everyone, we have much to be proud of! :beermug:
Exactly Soca.. The administration cant treat this as just another gold medal. THIS IS BIG. I could name at least 5-7 "firsts" that this young man accomplished by winning the gold.
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Thank God 4 youtube
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IT HAS BEGUN!!!!!!
(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/183674_468375626520859_1752017975_n.jpg)
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IT HAS BEGUN!!!!!!
(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/183674_468375626520859_1752017975_n.jpg)
Has it? School in session in August?
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IT HAS BEGUN!!!!!!
(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/183674_468375626520859_1752017975_n.jpg)
Looks like Independence & Carnival celebrations starting early this year!! :rotfl:
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I wonder what faster, Crawfie or the javelin??
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IT HAS BEGUN!!!!!!
(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/183674_468375626520859_1752017975_n.jpg)
Has it? School in session in August?
Bakes...where u seeing a school uniform?
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I could just imagine the lyrics of Superblue's new comeback song ahready!
Let yuh rag do some travelling
Like when Keshorn let go he Javelin
From best mango pelter in Toco
To Olympic Javelin champion for Trinbago!
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Soca.. I know you feel this..
Keshorn has made black history for Trinidad and the Caribbean. Excellent independence gift. We cant let the government overlook this. This is huge.
It's 2012 brother, let's be happy for our nation. He's made history for Trinidad (and Tobago) and the Caribbean. Together we aspire, together we achieve, believe me, all races celebrating Keshorn today in TnT :beermug:
Listen brother, lets not go there with this "together we aspire, together we achieve" talk.... There is no need for you to try and turn my comments into that..
Javelin has been traditionally dominated by Europeans the same way the 100m has been dominated by people of African descent. Now the only thing that can equal Keshorn achievements in my book, is if Lemaitre had won the gold in the 100m or 200m.
That is what is important, not whether or not all the "races" are celebrating this...
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Soca.. I know you feel this..
Keshorn has made black history for Trinidad and the Caribbean. Excellent independence gift. We cant let the government overlook this. This is huge.
It's 2012 brother, let's be happy for our nation. He's made history for Trinidad (and Tobago) and the Caribbean. Together we aspire, together we achieve, believe me, all races celebrating Keshorn today in TnT :beermug:
Listen brother, lets not go there with this "together we aspire, together we achieve" talk.... There is no need for you to try and turn my comments into that..
Javelin has been traditionally dominated by Europeans the same way the 100m has been dominated by people of African descent. Now the only thing that can equal Keshorn achievements in my book, is if Lemaitre had won the gold in the 100m or 200m.
That is what is important, not whether or not all the "races" are celebrating this...
and even if lemaitre won d the 100 or 200 it wouldnt be as much of a big deal since valery borzov already did that.
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:wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :flamethrower: :duel: :flamethrower: :cheers: :cheers: :party: :party: :party: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :whip: :whip: :whip:
I gone down on de Ave......by ah bar.....anyone....
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Bakes...where u seeing a school uniform?
You could be right... I was looking at the fellas on the left.
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Soca.. I know you feel this..
Keshorn has made black history for Trinidad and the Caribbean. Excellent independence gift. We cant let the government overlook this. This is huge.
It's 2012 brother, let's be happy for our nation. He's made history for Trinidad (and Tobago) and the Caribbean. Together we aspire, together we achieve, believe me, all races celebrating Keshorn today in TnT :beermug:
Listen brother, lets not go there with this "together we aspire, together we achieve" talk.... There is no need for you to try and turn my comments into that..
Javelin has been traditionally dominated by Europeans the same way the 100m has been dominated by people of African descent. Now the only thing that can equal Keshorn achievements in my book, is if Lemaitre had won the gold in the 100m or 200m.
That is what is important, not whether or not all the "races" are celebrating this...
and even if lemaitre won d the 100 or 200 it wouldnt be as much of a big deal since valery borzov already did that.
Thats right Nightmare. If Keshorn was American, this would be one of the big stories. Hopefully, it gets the attention it deserves.
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(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/551917_10150977389026837_1725086385_n.jpg)
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Walcott becomes youngest winner of javelin gold
LONDON — Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott won the men's Olympic javelin title on Saturday to become, at 19, the youngest winner of the gold medal.
Walcott threw a national record of 84.58 metres while Oleksandr Pyatnytsya of Ukraine took silver (84.51) and Finland's Antti Ruuskanen the bronze (84.12).
Walcott gave his country their first athletics Olympic medal outside the sprints.
It is also only their second gold medallist -- Hasely Crawford's victory in the 1976 men's 100m being the first.
"I started javelin in 2009," said Walcott. "It wasn't the most popular event in Trinidad and Tobago so hopefully it will be known now more and field events will be done.
"I am more than stunned. I am surprised by my performance. I just went into the final to enjoy it so to win a gold medal is a feeling I can't really explain."
Two time defending champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway finished sixth.
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(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/551917_10150977389026837_1725086385_n.jpg)
all I can say at this time is that I salute you brother
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Walcott becomes youngest winner of javelin gold
LONDON — Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott won the men's Olympic javelin title on Saturday to become, at 19, the youngest winner of the gold medal.
Walcott threw a national record of 84.58 metres while Oleksandr Pyatnytsya of Ukraine took silver (84.51) and Finland's Antti Ruuskanen the bronze (84.12).
Walcott gave his country their first athletics Olympic medal outside the sprints.
It is also only their second gold medallist -- Hasely Crawford's victory in the 1976 men's 100m being the first.
"I started javelin in 2009," said Walcott. "It wasn't the most popular event in Trinidad and Tobago so hopefully it will be known now more and field events will be done.
"I am more than stunned. I am surprised by my performance. I just went into the final to enjoy it so to win a gold medal is a feeling I can't really explain."
Two time defending champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway finished sixth.
I want to see the article that says the first non-European. Cause if it was Lemaitre in the sprints, we would hear that before anything else.
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Walcott becomes youngest winner of javelin gold
LONDON — Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott won the men's Olympic javelin title on Saturday to become, at 19, the youngest winner of the gold medal.
Walcott threw a national record of 84.58 metres while Oleksandr Pyatnytsya of Ukraine took silver (84.51) and Finland's Antti Ruuskanen the bronze (84.12).
Walcott gave his country their first athletics Olympic medal outside the sprints.
It is also only their second gold medallist -- Hasely Crawford's victory in the 1976 men's 100m being the first.
"I started javelin in 2009," said Walcott. "It wasn't the most popular event in Trinidad and Tobago so hopefully it will be known now more and field events will be done.
"I am more than stunned. I am surprised by my performance. I just went into the final to enjoy it so to win a gold medal is a feeling I can't really explain."
Two time defending champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway finished sixth.
I want to see the article that says the first non-European. Cause if it was Lemaitre in the sprints, we would hear that before anything else.
True talk
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He is the second non European. An American Cy Young won in 1952. Javelin might be changing big time, a Kenyan was in the final as well.
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He is the second non European. An American Cy Young won in 1952. Javelin might be changing big time, a Kenyan was in the final as well.
Cy Young was Caucasian..
I guess we need to say it for what it is then. The first black man or person of African descent. I like the sound of that.
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Keshorn is so humble. After he won, he remained so calm. No pose, no showing off. Just humble. Im amazed at this young boy. Just amazed
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In every event this youth has won a medal in for javelin throwing it has been gold. WOW!
Olympic Games
Gold 2012 London Javelin throw
World Junior Championships
Gold 2012 Barcelona Javelin throw
CARIFTA Games (Junior)
Gold 2012 Hamilton Javelin throw
Gold 2011 Montego Bay Javelin throw
Gold 2010 George Town Javelin throw
CAC Junior Championships
Gold 2012 San Salvador Javelin throw
Gold 2010 Santo Domingo Javelin throw
CARIFTA Games (Youth)
Gold 2009 Vieux Fort Javelin throw
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He is the second non European. An American Cy Young won in 1952. Javelin might be changing big time, a Kenyan was in the final as well.
Cy Young was Caucasian..
I guess we need to say it for what it is then. The first black man or person of African descent. I like the sound of that.
Yeah first black man is right. The reports I have read are saying second non European but not saying first black man. Of course Cyrus young getting mention as the first non European.
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(http://binaryapi.ap.org/c4bbaef8682a4a4f8f1d4ed4ba806f6a/1000x.jpg)
(http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2012/08/11/19/43/474-p814a.AuSt.55.jpeg)
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(http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2012/08/11/19/43/70-10ZH6u.AuSt.55.jpeg)
(http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2012/08/11/19/43/163-ohpF2.AuSt.55.jpeg)
(http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2012/08/11/19/43/755-1nbhwZ.AuSt.55.jpeg)
(http://imgsapp.esportes.opovo.com.br/app/noticia_128033434835/2012/08/11/2412022/Keshorn-Walcott-Foto-Kai-PfaffenbachReuters_LANIMA20120811_0113_30.jpg)
(http://jo2012.antena3.ro/thumbs/big/2012/08/11/surpriza-uriasa-la-aruncarea-sulitei-keshorn-walcott-din-trinidad-tobago-a-castigat-medalia-de-aur-40680.jpg)
(http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/DC/30AB192C4C4BFD2F778677F12E6B9_h304_w371_m2_q80_cMxtAFsuP.jpg)
(http://cache4.asset-cache.net/gc/150172358-photographers-take-pictures-of-keshorn-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QR1Ws%2b25dCqKeOF6IQEeGkCc2kLjiT4TF2o5uELCiAj%2baAvgYyd6BQhg5Y93Vhl2nA%3d%3d)
(http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/150172311-gold-medalist-keshorn-walcott-of-trinidad-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QaBKRI3LKPqWiKFilwpNz9yVDXzh7TbqbncprRhjd0K3SqDmGgMoFcLBtBTXrMAxeA%3d%3d)
(http://cache3.asset-cache.net/gc/150172373-gold-medalist-keshorn-walcott-of-trinidad-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QZPoRBpmD8RteCTHW9wjyzRKL5THJbzYPEb0XI5KeMyZ0OJMpVTf5EkA21shH9tPVQ%3d%3d)
(http://cache3.asset-cache.net/gc/150166235-gold-medalist-keshorn-walcott-of-trinidad-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QR2vW8PzJW3CIh8EPZeXma2Eta%2fQWnoviBlEBOMzA6htZCJT9ghofkUchXtcRuW6Ag%3d%3d)
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Keshorn sucking d medal like a mango yes ;D
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Olympics-Athletics-Trinidad's Walcott takes fast track to javelin glory
Aug 11 (Reuters) - Trinidad & Tobago's first Olympic gold medal in a field event was forged in the unlikely setting of an old school field by a teenager larking around with his cousins.
Less than four years on and still not yet out of his teens, Keshorn Walcott became Olympic javelin champion on Saturday with a victory that surprised himself, let alone the sporting world and beyond.
More surprising was that the winner, only 19, hails from a nation and region, Cuba aside, not usually associated with field events.
Trinidadian sprinters? Yes. Think 1976 Olympic champion Hasely Crawford, Trinidad's first and only other Games gold medallist.
Trinidadian cricketers? Yes. Think former West Indies captain Brian Lara. Even footballers. Tobago-born Dwight Yorke who enjoyed a stellar career with Aston Villa and Manchester United.
Javelin throwers? Not until Walcott first picked up a javelin for fun as a 16-year-old and launched it 55 metres.
His rise to the top has come at a phenomenal rate and reached a crescendo in the Olympic stadium when, with no expectation of success despite being crowned world junior champion last month, he upstaged the sport's biggest names.
A sporty youngster who enjoyed cricket and football, Walcott said he realised quickly he was not cut out for the track.
"I was never really any good at sprinting so I didn't stick with that. I tried triple jump because my brother does that... I was doing that along with the javelin so I needed to make a choice. I was always better at javelin," Walcott said smiling, the gold medal proudly around his neck.
"In my first year I just went out there for fun."
His first major competition was the 2010 world juniors in which he flunked. But it hardened his attitude and resolve to come back a better athlete.
"I was 16th or something. I said to myself I would come back hard and better things will come."
His desire to improve paid off. Success came at regional level and then in Barcelona last month he became world junior champion.
His work ethic and endless hours put in at a pre-Games training camp in Wales paid off on Saturday, first setting a personal best with his opening effort of 83.51 metres, then bettering that with 84.58 on his next attempt.
GO LONGER
One by one, his rivals tried to go longer. Each time they failed.
"Most of the other guys were under pressure coming into the competition because of the expectations on them," he said.
"There wasn't any on me and I was relaxed. After the fourth round and I was still in the lead, I thought 'things are coming close now'.
"The fifth and sixth throws I was really frightened. Then it hit me when the second guy (in silver medal position) threw and I told myself 'I just won gold'...I couldn't believe it."
Worryingly for his rivals, Walcott said deficiencies in his throwing technique meant "he had not been doing it right".
"I've got a lot to work on with my technique. The next few years I will hopefully get things right, get a lot stronger. I would like to throw over 90 metres... get into that bracket."
Expectations will be high for future, he acknowledged.
"We will go back to the drawing board. Go home...hopefully my coach will allow me some rest, then we'll start again.
"I'm not famous. I'm proud of myself and hopefully everyone back home is proud of me."
Walcott now hopes to meet triple Olympic javelin champion and world record holder Jan Zelezny before he returns home to Trinidad.
Czech Zelezny, coach to women's javelin gold medallist Barbora Spotakova, dominated the sport for a decade, winning Olympic gold in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
"I only learned of him when I got into the javelin," Walcott said.
"I saw him over here (in London). I was shocked at his size. I look up to him as the best javelin thrower ever. Hopefully some day I'll get up to that standard."
In another sign that the sport has truly expanded beyond its traditional European heartland, Kenyan Julius Yego also made the final, finishing 12th of 12.
"The two of us...from different parts of the world, mixing with the Europeans... I don't think we were looked at (as finalists). Making the finals itself was a big achievement," Walcott said.
Jamaica, through the exploits of Usain Bolt and others, has evolved as a powerhouse of sprinting but they could also have a potential Olympic field event champion in future years in world junior discus champion Frederick Dacres.
"Hopefully, more and more people (from the Caribbean) will push forward into these events," said Walcott, who has been offered college scholarships in the United States but plans to continue working in Trinidad with his Cuban coach. (Editing by Ed Osmond)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/11/oly-athl-atmjav-day15-walcott-idUSL4E8JB0HM20120811
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Dey say Keshorn does pelt de mango and Usain does pick it up and run. ;D
(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/378315_491707474190732_1545176339_n.jpg)
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Walcott wins shock javelin gold
Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott created history by becoming the first athlete from a Caribbean nation to win the men's javelin.
Walcott, at just 19, stunned a class field to win with a national record of 84.58 metres, edging out Ukraine's Oleksandr Pyantnytsya (84.51m) and Finland's Antti Ruuskanen (84.12m).
He achieved the feat on his second throw, beating his previous season best of 82.83m.
Two-time champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway placed sixth with a best throw of 82.63m.
The victory follows Walcott's win at the world junior championships in Barcelona less than a month ago.
"I'm surprised I even made the final," Walcott said.
"I just went out there to relax and enjoy it, and it worked for me."
Not only did Walcott win Trinidad and Tobago's maiden javelin gold, he became just the second non-European to top the podium in the event.
Trinidad and Tobago is traditionally strong in the sprint events and this is illustrated by the the fact Walcott won just its second Olympic gold medal following Hasely Crawford's win in the 100m at the 1976 Games in Montreal.
The prowess on the track was further evident in London with Lalonde Gordon taking bronze in the men's 400m before backing up to finish third again in the 4x400m relay.
The island nation also won bronze in the men's 4x100m less than an hour after Walcott claimed his triumph.
"I means everything to me, this is what it's all about," Walcott said.
"I just train my hardest and try to enjoy every time I come out."
Pyantnytsya took a season best of 86.12m into London but he was not upset to finish without the gold.
"The result could have been a few metres more but this is sport," he said.
"I am happy."
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-08-12/walcott-wins-shock-javelin-gold/997696
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yu see dem fellas read mi artcle bout how I eh please wid dem... all of in a sudden is a bronze and a goal......
congrats make mi country proud..
war
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I wonder whaaaaaaat Anil have to say now?
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Minister_threatens_NAAA_with_legal_action-137650723.html
Minister threatens NAAA with legal action
By –Kern De Freitas
Story Created: Jan 19, 2012 at 2:28 AM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 19, 2012 at 2:28 AM ECT
Minister of Sport Anil Roberts is preparing to take legal action against the National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA) over allegations of bias and "poor process" in the Ministry's elite athlete funding.
Roberts told the media yesterday during a press conference at his Abercromby Street, Port of Spain headquarters that he has not had any response from the NAAA since he publicly warned them to apologise over the matter.
Roberts said that the NAAA, via letter of November 2, 2011, accused the Ministry of "bias, impropriety, collusion and a poor process" in providing funding to elite track and field athletes.
Last week, Serrette stated that Walcott brothers Keshorn and Elton are deserving of funding, along with young sprinter Moriba Morain.
Yesterday Roberts responded, saying the Ministry was yet to receive an application from Elton, while Keshorn's application only came in on November 29, and Morain's was also being processed at the moment, having come in late in the last financial year.
"Taxpayers money is for the benefit based on merit of the athletes and the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. If you're good, you're good. Take your funding. Simple. It have no friend, no family, no friend, girlfriend, no 'like you', 'don't like you'," Roberts stated.
He again called on the NAAA to "provide evidence or withdraw" the statement, which he deemed as having "serious allegations".
Roberts also said the NAAA application for 2012 funding still lacked a lot of requirements, including a strategic plan for 2008-2012, a SWOT analysis and action plan, a comprehensive development plan, an operational plan, and bank statements showing its account balances.
"Not a cent of money will move without NSOs (National Sporting Organisations) stating their bank balances," Roberts said.
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Keshorn sucking d medal like a mango yes ;D
Poor fella... he eh know yuh only supposed tuh bite it, let alone why dey does bite it.
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Keshorn sucking d medal like a mango yes ;D
Poor fella... he eh know yuh only supposed tuh bite it, let alone why dey does bite it.
You bite the medal to show that you are hungry for it! ;)
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NBC did a nice recap of his victory. Nice..
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You bite the medal to show that you are hungry for it! ;)
It actually has to do with gold being a 'soft' metal... so tradition is (with any gold, not just medals) you bite it to check to see if it is genuine gold.
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You bite the medal to show that you are hungry for it! ;)
It actually has to do with gold being a 'soft' metal... so tradition is (with any gold, not just medals) you bite it to check to see if it is genuine gold.
Makes sense! :beermug:
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I read people in Finland stunned. The so called home of javelin
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Scott__It_was_Walcott_s_day-165884716.html
Scott: It was Walcott's day
By Kern De Freitas
Story Created: Aug 12, 2012 at 12:03 AM ECT
With an 84.58-metre throw that landed him the Olympic javelin throw title, Keshorn Walcott has broken the mould for field events in Trinidad and Tobago.
That is the view of elated former national hammer thrower Candace Scott, commenting after Walcott smashed his national record to hand T&T their first Olympic gold medal since Hasely Crawford's 1976 100-metre triumph, and its second overall.
"We pretty much broke the mould," Scott, a former Olympic hammer throw finalist, told the Sunday Express yesterday. "From [a strong history of] sprinting, we're now starting to break into the throws. Me with the hammer, Cleopatra [Borel-Brown with] shot put. Now we broke into the javelin throw [with Keshorn].
"I am really happy to see that he was able to do that so that athletes now, or children growing up, don't have to say we don't necessarily have to throw shot put, or throw hammer. There's discus too, and javelin."
Scott was following the men's javelin throw final by computer at home in Santa Cruz, one of the areas affected by yesterday's flash flooding, when she lost her internet feed. She was overjoyed when the news of Walcott's win finally came through.
"When it did flash across that Keshorn had won I was so happy," Scott related. "I didn't scream because my daughter was sleeping. When they were showing his throws [on TV] I was nervous, feeling like I was there too. I started to cold sweat. My hands started to get clammy, I started to get those butterfly feelings. Then I said 'yes, take one for the throwers'."
Scott, whose 71.45m effort in 2005 is the national women's hammer throw record, said she was very proud to hear T&T's national anthem play on the Olympic stage.
So where does she rate Walcott's gold medal among Trinidad and Tobago's past sporting performances?
"Of course it would be number one. It's a gold medal we get. All things considered, he beat the last Olympic champion, he beat one of the guys who used to throw 90 metres in the javelin; he had his day. Today was his day," Scott ended.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-08-12/walcott-family-celebrates-youngest-ever-javelin-winner
Walcott family celebrates youngest-ever javelin winner
Published: Sunday, August 12, 2012
Keshorn Walcott’s mother Beverly was overjoyed at her son’s historic performance yesterday, saying jokingly that she was lucky she did not have a heart attack after watching him capture this country’s second gold medal ever at the Olympics. She said, however, she had expected him to get into the final eight. “I always expected him to get into the top eight and anything extra is a plus.”
Speaking to Trinidad Guardian from her Toco home, Beverly Walcott said she told her son she is looking forward to the bouquet that Olympic winners receive. “I will be getting the flowers I asked him for if he gets on the podium. He said he could only get flowers if he gets a medal.”
Walcott watched the event with Keshorn’s father Eddie King, his brother Trenton and councillor for Toco/Fishing Pond Terry Rondon. She said Keshorn’s other brother Elton—a triple jumper—was in San Juan but kept calling her during the competition. Walcott was joined at her home by mother Joyce Walcott-Charles, sisters Laurie Lee and Anna-Lee, other family members, villagers and members of the media who all gathered to celebrate the victory. There were chants of: “Gold! Gold! Gold!” in the background as she spoke. Walcott-Charles said her star grandson had to overcome the challenges of travelling to Port-of-Spain to train, as Toco does not have the facilities for him to practise his event. She paid tribute to his Cuban coach Ishmael Mastrapa Lopez, and manager Sean Roach. “Special thanks to Sean. He came here late in the night to ensure all was well with Keshorn and Elton. He was responsible for them moving to San Juan to train.”
Keshorn’s aunt Anna-Lee, a former javelin thrower who won several Carifta titles, said the new Olympic champion always wanted to beat her. “He wanted to do better than me. I went on scholarship in the USA, but got injured after and did not go any further.” Anna-Lee said her nephew is focused and disciplined. “He proved himself, as some did not believe in him. As I looked at him after the win, he remained humble,” she said.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/olympics/2012-08-12/serrette-crawford-predicted-walcott%E2%80%99s-medal
Serrette: Crawford predicted Walcott’s medal
Published: Sunday, August 12, 2012
T&T’s Olympic gold medal winner, Hasely Crawford, predicted Keshorn Walcott’s medal success yesterday, according to president of the NAAAs president Ephraim Serrette. “Hasely told me before the event started that if Keshorn threw anywhere near 84 metres, he would medal and he was right.” Serrette said he was seated next to Crawford who became emotional when Walcott was declared winner.“There were tears as he watched. He was just so happy, he could not speak. He had to sit down and take it in. He kept encouraging Keshorn all the time. Hasely is now the happiest man in the world,” said Serrette Serrette described Walcott’s success as one of the greatest experiences ever. “It was unbelievable. This is a young man who has come out here and given his best. It was just inspiring. I am overwhelmed by his strength,” added Serrette.
Serrette revealed there was a team meeting in the morning when women’s sprinter Kelly Ann Baptiste told everyone to forget the past and go out and support Walcott and the men’s relay team. “It clearly worked.” Serrette described the team’s success as the best performance ever at a championships. “Some ten finals and we finished with four medals. It means we are doing something right. Let us hope we can continue this sort of planning and get more support for our programmes.” Serrette believes Walcott’s performance will inspire many in the field events. He is hopeful, that Walcott will remain focus. “He is very level headed and intelligent with very good family values and we can expect him to remain focussed and improve, especially given the excellent work done by his coach,” added Serrette. “This is a red letter day for T&T and history has been made. He lives and trains in T&T, which must be good for sports. He has made the country happy. I hope people recognise how significant that is,” stated Serrette.
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My Father grew up in the same village as him. Good stuff.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/olympics/2012-08-12/roberts-walcott-young-man-class
Roberts: Walcott a young man of class
Published: Sunday, August 12, 2012
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.
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::)
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Stop read once SPALK arrived on d thread
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Best Olympics ever for T&T but the women 4x100m relay hurts real bad.
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Really proud of Walcott! Wow Olympic hold at 19. Those thongs don't happen to us but it did! I knew once he could consistently throw over 80m he could be a danger and that's what he did. I didn't expect a gold though. That will spur on the others to do well too! It may even spur on the younger athletes too! Deeks and Che I'm still hurting about the women too but we gotta look forward- world champs next year.
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Stueps i going and throw javelin yes. I hear Javelin throwers have a longer lifespan. I want to go Brazil :devil:
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Anil: Astounding, amazing, spectacular
Trinidad Express
Minister of Sport Anil Roberts yesterday described Keshorn Walcott's gold medal win in the Olympic men's javelin as "amazing, astounding, spectacular".
"There aren't enough adjectives to describe what this young man has done for Trinidad and Tobago. We recognised Keshorn's talent from early. He was first spotted two years ago at one of the Ministry's Rural Sport Caravans. Since then, we have been observing his progress, assigned the best coach to develop his raw talent and we're pleased to see Keshorn's emergence as an athletic phenomenon and now Olympic gold medallist! Keshorn has fulfilled his potential and exceeded the expectations we all had for him to succeed. The Government will ensure that he is rewarded appropriately and continues to improve at his craft because at his age, the best is yet to come, " Roberts said in a statement.
"It was a history-making effort at the London Olympics as the 19-year-old Walcott became this country's second gold medallist. Walcott set two national records in the javelin throw final, launching the spear at 84.58m on his third throw.
"The Toco-born Walcott, whose brother Elton is a national triple jumper, is coached by Cuban Ismael Mastrapa, an athlete/coach development officer at the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago," the statement added.
Keshorn Walcott is the youngest gold medallist and the first athlete from the Western Hemisphere to medal in the javelin event in 40 years.
"The javelin is traditionally dominated by Europeans but Trinidad and Tobago can now boast of having broken that tradition, creating a legacy of which the country can be justifiably proud," stated the release.
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We need more of these caravans , we might find a usain bolt. Cant wait to see this young man get better at what he does
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WOW!! to tell allyuh de trute I didn't even know we had a javelin rep. Congratulations to young Master Walcott, Trinis the world over are immensely proud of you and your accomplishments. Big Up TnT!!!
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I film the competition itself... about 6 mins long, but can't get it past the Youtube censors.
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i had to delete it , youtube telling me it blocked , stueps
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I film the competition itself... about 6 mins long, but can't get it past the Youtube censors.
i had to delete it , youtube telling me it blocked , stueps
wish I can see it
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foeZB-49b5o
:applause: :applause: :applause:
I can't get enough of this. :beermug:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foeZB-49b5o
:applause: :applause: :applause:
I can't get enough of this. :beermug:
it said this video is not available in my country ??? US?
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i had to delete it , youtube telling me it blocked , stueps
Try vimeo or some other video site.
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i had to delete it , youtube telling me it blocked , stueps
Try vimeo or some other video site.
Thanks man
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Ok here is what i can get, the NBC coverage and the medal ceremony both in 1080p . I will try and get the Full Javelin event , but it has no commentary. Give me by tomorrow to sort it out.
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Local based, public holiday tomorrow.....for once Kamla eh make me want to stone mih TV set....
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Local based, public holiday tomorrow.....for once Kamla eh make me want to stone mih TV set....
I glad my ass bun...I not leaving home to go anywhere north though go take it een on TV
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Local based, public holiday tomorrow.....for once Kamla eh make me want to stone mih TV set....
I am suppose 2 work thu so I takin it bck or takin it 4 my bday depend on how I feel thu.
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http://www.youtube.com/v/owmvQpRYwCQ
Will try to put the highlight and medal ceremony on vimeo , hopefully that dont get blocked
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=owmvQpRYwCQ
CaC Cames One to watch in the future.
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Councillor recommends: Keshorn Walcott stadium in Toco
A stadium in Toco in the name of Keshorn Walcott. This was the recommendation made to honour the 19-year-old Olympic javelin champion by councillor for Toco/Fishing Pond Terry Rondon yesterday. “We have the land and we have the athlete...We also have many young and eager people who need better sporting facilties,” Rondon said.
Rondon, who like the rest of the country, was ecstatic over T&T winning an Olympic gold medal after 36 years, however, called on the country to give thanks to God. “While the celebration is welcome, I am saying let’s give thanks to God. I went all the way to Mt St Benedict (yesterday) to give thanks and praise and the country needs to recognise this is an important aspect which must not be neglected,” he said.
While acknowledging this was an overwhelming achievement for the country, Rondon said it was even more special for the villagers of Toco. Describing the people of Toco as humble and hard-working, Rondon said amid the pomp and ceremony, Toco must also be recognised. Basic infrastructure, he added, was needed to uplift many parts of the rural community.
“Let’s raise the standard of living for the people of Toco...Let’s not take this victory as a political ride,” he said. “Toco has given the country this gift for the 50th anniversary and we must not let the Government now forget the community.” Saying that Walcott used to train on the beach, Rondon said the teenager’s village of Trois Roche was also in urgent need of a recreational facility.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-08-13/councillor-recommends-keshorn-walcott-stadium-toco
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I am not in favor of naming facilities and roads after the living.
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Keshorn Walcott receives his Gold Medal (1080p)
https://vimeo.com/47427422
someone embed this please
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I also hope they build a new home for him, he deserve it.
(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/field/image/Keshorn%20Walcott's%20house.png)
The house where Keshorn Walcott grew up on the Toco Main Road in Troisrouche. PHOTO: ABRAHAM DIAZ
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Highlights Men s Javelin Final (1080P)
https://vimeo.com/47435525
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ok i got his first two throws and the last round and celebration , well over 20 min of footage
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I also hope they build a new home for him, he deserve it.
(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/field/image/Keshorn%20Walcott's%20house.png)
The house where Keshorn Walcott grew up on the Toco Main Road in Troisrouche. PHOTO: ABRAHAM DIAZ
Let's see how long that gimmicky government in T&T will take to sort out Keshorn's family home.
Work should have already started as a welcome back home gift to our new Olympic gold medal hero.
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Keshorn Walcott receives his Gold Medal (1080p)
https://vimeo.com/47427422
someone embed this please
Thanks a lot man.
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Field event facilities will be built details to come in future.
Caribbean airline plane to be named after him.
Housing development project in toco.
1mill to be given to Walcott.
New home in federation park. Valued 2.5 million.
Scholarship to UTT.
New world class programme to be established for field events.
More stuff still to come
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Live coverage of Keshorn Walcott arrival home in T&T with rest of the Olympic squad happening right now!
http://ctntworld.com/livestream/
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I recording it
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Field event facilities will be built details to come in future.
Caribbean airline plane to be named after him.
Housing development project in toco.
1mill to be given to Walcott.
New home in federation park. Valued 2.5 million.
Scholarship to UTT.
New world class programme to be established for field events.
More stuff still to come
Sounding good, I hope that is not just all talk and gimmick! :beermug:
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I recording it
Good stuff!
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Happy for Keshorn. The young man deserves all he gets. he just needs to hire a lawyer to ensure he gets everything he was promised.
On another note, I know Keshorn won the gold, but the other athletes were more or less ignored, barely a mentioned. I know kamala say she'll be making future announcements but I know some of those other athletes would have been feeling a how
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Keshorn lands back in T&T and is greeted at Piarco International Airport!
http://www.youtube.com/v/JKTZtdQuKj8
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Carnival style motorcade in Toco to greet Keshorn!
http://www.youtube.com/v/bF3HSMHBas8
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I also hope they build a new home for him, he deserve it.
(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/field/image/Keshorn%20Walcott's%20house.png)
The house where Keshorn Walcott grew up on the Toco Main Road in Troisrouche. PHOTO: ABRAHAM DIAZ
oh boy, ah hope he not still livin there......it mus be difficult to go from ah high in london back to such a humble dwelling
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With all due respect, why is she in the motorcade ? Doesn't she have a country to run? Why can't she make a speech and head back to running this country. I could understand the Minister of Sports being involved as well as the member of parliament. Why does everything in this country has to be a party so. Jeeez
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With all due respect, why is she in the motorcade ? Doesn't she have a country to run? Why can't she make a speech and head back to running this country. I could understand the Minister of Sports being involved as well as the member of parliament. Why does everything in this country has to be a party so. Jeeez
She doh run it normally u expect she 2 wuk on a holiday. D lady doh know when 2 leave remember Ellis Clarke funeral she was by the graveside.
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Keshorn Walcott receives his Gold Medal (1080p)
https://vimeo.com/47427422
someone embed this please
I want to cry. ;D :laugh:
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Keshorn Walcott receives his Gold Medal (1080p)
https://vimeo.com/47427422
someone embed this please
I want to cry. ;D :laugh:
Lol, doh worry I shed mines sat.
I will upload the full airport ceremony late tonight. Will be finished by morning. It's about 30 minutes long.
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Glory hoes and politricks. ::)
Anil: Astounding, amazing, spectacular
Trinidad Express
Minister of Sport Anil Roberts yesterday described Keshorn Walcott's gold medal win in the Olympic men's javelin as "amazing, astounding, spectacular".
"There aren't enough adjectives to describe what this young man has done for Trinidad and Tobago. We recognised Keshorn's talent from early. He was first spotted two years ago at one of the Ministry's Rural Sport Caravans. Since then, we have been observing his progress, assigned the best coach to develop his raw talent and we're pleased to see Keshorn's emergence as an athletic phenomenon and now Olympic gold medallist! Keshorn has fulfilled his potential and exceeded the expectations we all had for him to succeed. The Government will ensure that he is rewarded appropriately and continues to improve at his craft because at his age, the best is yet to come, " Roberts said in a statement.
"It was a history-making effort at the London Olympics as the 19-year-old Walcott became this country's second gold medallist. Walcott set two national records in the javelin throw final, launching the spear at 84.58m on his third throw.
"The Toco-born Walcott, whose brother Elton is a national triple jumper, is coached by Cuban Ismael Mastrapa, an athlete/coach development officer at the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago," the statement added.
Keshorn Walcott is the youngest gold medallist and the first athlete from the Western Hemisphere to medal in the javelin event in 40 years.
"The javelin is traditionally dominated by Europeans but Trinidad and Tobago can now boast of having broken that tradition, creating a legacy of which the country can be justifiably proud," stated the release.
Now read...
Manning on Walcott’s achievements
Gail Alexander (Trinidad Guardian)
Walcott’s achievement also spurred recuperating former Prime Minister Patrick Manning to say yesterday:
“Mr Walcott’s gold medal may have come as a surprise to most T&T nationals, but he did it humbly and without fanfare. He has done extremely well and we laud him as a giant of a man to have propelled T&T towards a celebration that has been 36 years in the making for this gold medal. I wish to congratulate him very sincerely.”
“Mr Walcott was not only the recipient of a sports training programme in 2009 but it was also a training programme for elite athletes at that time of the programme. At the age of 19, Mr Walcott has made a stunning achievement for the whole world and again I congratulate him very sincerely and I feel sure in years to come we will hear more of his continuing achievements.”
Former PNM sports minister Gary Hunt said Walcott was homegrown talent honed by a Cuban coach in an exchange programme with Cuba under the PNM administration. Hunt added: “The coach married a T&T national and he worked for the Sports Company of T&T. That Cuban coach achieved a record of improving the skills of athletes in certain sports such as javelin throwing. He was sent to Toco and various areas. In Toco he discovered young Walcott—and the rest of history.”
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Glory hoes and politricks. ::)
Anil: Astounding, amazing, spectacular
Trinidad Express
Minister of Sport Anil Roberts yesterday described Keshorn Walcott's gold medal win in the Olympic men's javelin as "amazing, astounding, spectacular".
"There aren't enough adjectives to describe what this young man has done for Trinidad and Tobago. We recognised Keshorn's talent from early. He was first spotted two years ago at one of the Ministry's Rural Sport Caravans. Since then, we have been observing his progress, assigned the best coach to develop his raw talent and we're pleased to see Keshorn's emergence as an athletic phenomenon and now Olympic gold medallist! Keshorn has fulfilled his potential and exceeded the expectations we all had for him to succeed. The Government will ensure that he is rewarded appropriately and continues to improve at his craft because at his age, the best is yet to come, " Roberts said in a statement.
"It was a history-making effort at the London Olympics as the 19-year-old Walcott became this country's second gold medallist. Walcott set two national records in the javelin throw final, launching the spear at 84.58m on his third throw.
"The Toco-born Walcott, whose brother Elton is a national triple jumper, is coached by Cuban Ismael Mastrapa, an athlete/coach development officer at the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago," the statement added.
Keshorn Walcott is the youngest gold medallist and the first athlete from the Western Hemisphere to medal in the javelin event in 40 years.
"The javelin is traditionally dominated by Europeans but Trinidad and Tobago can now boast of having broken that tradition, creating a legacy of which the country can be justifiably proud," stated the release.
Now read...
Manning on Walcott’s achievements
Gail Alexander (Trinidad Guardian)
Walcott’s achievement also spurred recuperating former Prime Minister Patrick Manning to say yesterday:
“Mr Walcott’s gold medal may have come as a surprise to most T&T nationals, but he did it humbly and without fanfare. He has done extremely well and we laud him as a giant of a man to have propelled T&T towards a celebration that has been 36 years in the making for this gold medal. I wish to congratulate him very sincerely.”
“Mr Walcott was not only the recipient of a sports training programme in 2009 but it was also a training programme for elite athletes at that time of the programme. At the age of 19, Mr Walcott has made a stunning achievement for the whole world and again I congratulate him very sincerely and I feel sure in years to come we will hear more of his continuing achievements.”
Former PNM sports minister Gary Hunt said Walcott was homegrown talent honed by a Cuban coach in an exchange programme with Cuba under the PNM administration. Hunt added: “The coach married a T&T national and he worked for the Sports Company of T&T. That Cuban coach achieved a record of improving the skills of athletes in certain sports such as javelin throwing. He was sent to Toco and various areas. In Toco he discovered young Walcott—and the rest of history.”
so who lying ?
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Field event facilities will be built details to come in future.
Caribbean airline plane to be named after him.
Housing development project in toco.
1mill to be given to Walcott.
New home in federation park. Valued 2.5 million.
Scholarship to UTT.
New world class programme to be established for field events.
More stuff still to come
All that glitters is not gold
So Shaq get $10M to visit Beetham, Machel get $5M to compose a gold medal song, and the Chutney monarch get $2M but our first gold medallist in 36 years gets $1M?
What Keshorn and his family going to do in Federation Park - sit down and wave to strangers? Fed. Park is so far away from home and family? The value of those "old" government houses in Fed. Park is mostly due to location, most of them are old and in a state of disrepair. I understand they only give him 4 lots in Toco. Why not shelf the Fed. Park house offer and build the man and his family a nice house on those 4 lots, in Toco.
I hope the field event training facilities are close to where he chooses to dwell, that it benefits Toco, as it seems they want to move him to POS then build something there, forgetting about Toco.
I know he and his family cannot complain about what is being provided, but just as the court of public opinion forced the government to remove the "jokey" ambassador, I hope they do the same so that we celebrate this young man in a more respectful way.
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I hope he leaves and goes overseas to further hone his skills and abilities. This kid has an olympic gold medal in a field that is usually dominated by white Europeans, with the right agent he could make a killing with endorsements and sponsorships. Hope he doesn't sign anything to quickly that ties his image to stuff like "Bmobile" and "Penta". Let the youth become a global face man. He could be the new Tiger Woods.
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It's neither Pnm or Unc achievement. None of them pick up a javelin to throw anything. None of them woke up early to go training. None of them travelled from Toco to Port of Spain for training on a regular basis. GTFOH.
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He isn't going overseas he is sticking with his coach, who is very good. He will be studying locally.
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He isn't going overseas he is sticking with his coach, who is very good. He will be studying locally.
Coach could go with him too.
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I also hope his manager has a bit more sense.
So the team flies 10 hours, couldn't this manager prepare his speech on a 3x5 card on the plane, or even hand it to him if he was in Trinidad, and coach him before his moment? Image management is key out of the blocks.
The video of the airport celebration and his "speech" are sure to be seen by the GMs of bpTT, Neal & Massey, etc, or even by marketing executives of Nike, Adidas, Coca Cola et al. What will they think about how his personality might connect the general public to their products?
Remember he is the first person of African descent, and the first javelin OG champion from the Western Hemisphere to win in 60 years. His victory and story is very interesting in so many ways that he is a marketer's dream, even in the US.
I hope his manager is thinking outside of T&T, and that he has a plan to determine how best to match Keshorn to global products out there, not just bMobile as you say or Gingseng Up, Sanatogen, and those minor local brands.
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From all accounts he isn't leaving. We shall see
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I hope his manager has a bit more sense.
So the team flies 10 hours, couldn't this manager prepare his speech on a 3x5 card on the plane, or even hand it to him if he was in Trinidad, and coach him before his moment? Image management is key out of the blocks.
The video of the airport celebration is sure to be seen by the GMs of bpTT, Neal & Massey, etc, or even by marketing executives of Nike, Adidas, Coca Cola et al. What will they think about how his personality might connect the general public to their products?
Remember he is the first person of African descent, and the first javelin OG champion from the Western Hemisphere to win in 60 years. His victory and story is very interesting in so many ways that he is a marketers dream.
I hope his manager is thinking outside of T&T, and that he has a plan to determine how best to match Keshorn to global products out there, not just bMobile as you say or Gingseng Up, Sanatogen, and those minor local brands.
You and me both. This is such a tremendous opportunity to transform this young man's life and the generations that will come after him. They can't slip at all. These local brands would never understand the value of this guy's worth. They themselves have no global image. He has a gold medal.
I saw them using his image in a promo for a cooler cruise. People in this country are so disrespectful and opportunistic. Have some respect for your Olympic gold medallist man.
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London 2012 Olympics: Javelin champion Keshorn Walcott throws party for great democracy of athletics
Amid the incredible Mo and Bolt show on the final day of the glorious Olympic athletics track programme, it was easy to overlook another quite extraordinary happening in the Olympic Stadium.
Sandwiched between Mo Farah annexing the 5,000 metres so gloriously and Usain Bolt landing his third gold of the meeting – and a world record – in the sprint relay, a 19-year-old kid called Keshorn Walcott was busy showing us why athletics remains the one Olympic sport with a true global reach.
Here was a teenager from a little Caribbean island with no heritage in the throwing events becoming the youngest ever javelin winner in the history of the Games. Cricketing geniuses like Brian Lara, yes. The odd dazzling footballer like Dwight Yorke, too. Or a one-off champion sprinter like the 1976 100 metres king Hasely Crawford. But a Trinidadian javelin thrower? Now we were in the realms of ‘cool chuckings’ fantasy.
Then Keshorn told his amazing story. About how he had been no good at sprinting or triple jump so had started off hurling bamboo sticks around on the beaches near his home and then graduated to throwing a javelin for fun with his cousins on an old school field. About how he had no proper facilities to train so ended up having to make the regular slog to Port of Spain just to learn his trade.
Yet within four years, even though he never believed he could win here, he had beaten all the powerhouses from the European javelin strongholds and sent Trinidad into such sheer delight that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced Monday as a national holiday.
Keshorn’s fairytale seemed to sum up what a magnificent, surprising championships London 2012 was treated to in the Olympic Stadium.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/9473679/London-2012-Olympics-Javelin-champion-Keshorn-Walcott-throws-party-for-great-democracy-of-athletics.html
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Field event facilities will be built details to come in future.
Caribbean airline plane to be named after him.
Housing development project in toco.
1mill to be given to Walcott.
New home in federation park. Valued 2.5 million.
Scholarship to UTT.
New world class programme to be established for field events.
More stuff still to come
All that glitters is not gold
So Shaq get $10M to visit Beetham, Machel get $5M to compose a gold medal song, and the Chutney monarch get $2M but our first gold medallist in 36 years gets $1M?
What Keshorn and his family going to do in Federation Park - sit down and wave to strangers? Fed. Park is so far away from home and family? The value of those "old" government houses in Fed. Park is mostly due to location, most of them are old and in a state of disrepair. I understand they only give him 4 lots in Toco. Why not shelf the Fed. Park house offer and build the man and his family a nice house on those 4 lots, in Toco.
I hope the field event training facilities are close to where he chooses to dwell, that it benefits Toco, as it seems they want to move him to POS then build something there, forgetting about Toco.
I know he and his family cannot complain about what is being provided, but just as the court of public opinion forced the government to remove the "jokey" ambassador, I hope they do the same so that we celebrate this young man in a more respectful way.
:beermug:
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It's neither Pnm or Unc achievement. None of them pick up a javelin to throw anything. None of them woke up early to go training. None of them travelled from Toco to Port of Spain for training on a regular basis. GTFOH.
Yes but d big mouth fella have done absolutely nutten since he has been there. They have a right d blow their own trumpet because is funding from d much criticise SPORTCO that has made this possible. Look at the field results from CARIFTA and u would c the gr8 results. I hope it motivates the other Toco field athletes to do well.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,164704.html
HOLIDAY, RECEPTION FOR JAVELIN KING WALCOTT
Monday, August 13 2012
TODAY, Monday August 13, has been granted as a public holiday by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar while a motorcade will take place from the Piarco International Airport to Toco, via Arima, for the 19-year-old olympic javelin king Keshorn Walcott.
On Saturday, Walcott created history by becoming the youngest Olympic javelin champion, and Trinidad and Tobago’s second Olympic gold medallist (after Hasely Crawford’s 100-metre success in 1976) when he registered a throw of 84.58 metres at the Olympic Stadium, London, England to defeat his 11 rivals in the final.
Walcott will be the marquee name among a group of eight TT athletes returning home at 9.45 am today from London, along with officials and Walcott’s Cuban-born coach Ismael Lopez Mastrapa.
In an address to the nation last evening, PM Persad-Bissessar disclosed, “I have advised His Excellency, Acting President (Timothy) Hamel-Smith that Monday 13th August be appointed a national holiday in honour of the winning of the Olympic gold medal to Keshorn Walcott in the men’s javelin final on Saturday 11th August 2012 and in recognition of the outstanding performance of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic team at the Olympic Games in London.”
Moments earlier, PM Persad-Bissessar commented, “with each event, dreams were fulfilled, greatness was achieved and our patriotic spirit was renewed in very majestic fashion. Our Olympic athletes not only validated our belief and faith in their superior sporting talent but, once again, they proved to the world that Trinidad and Tobago is a force to be reckoned with, (taking) one gold and three bronze medals (at the 30th Olympiad in London).”
She continued, “our people and our passion have now become international benchmarks for greatness.”
The Prime Minister said, “I convey my most sincere gratitude to Keshorn and indeed to all our Olympians.”
She also extended congratulations towards Lalonde Gordon, who finished third in the men’s 400-metre sprint last Monday, as well as the bronze medal relay teams - men’s 4x100m and men’s 4x400m.
PM Persad-Bissessar also urged the TT athletes to strive to become, and indeed remain, as role models for the future generation.
“It is for you to remind those who will now want to walk the trail that you’ve blazed, that whatever your circumstances, wherever you live, however challenging the path in front of you may be, victory is possible.”
Some of the other athletes who will be touching down at the Piarco International Airport include bronze medallist (men’s 4x400-metre relay) Ade Alleyne-Forte, cyclist Njisane Phillip (who finished fourth in the sprint and seventh in the keirin) and pistol shooter Roger Daniel.
Also returning home are Michelle-Lee Ahye, who featured in both the women’s 100m and the women’s 4x100m relay squad, Mikel Thomas (men’s 110m hurdles) and the pair of Machel Cedenio (a reserve member of the 4x400m relay) and Reyare Thomas (a back-up member of the women’s 4x100m relay).
PM Persad-Bissessar is expected to deliver a keynote address while Sports Minister Anil Roberts is due to offer remarks to the athletes.
In a media release from the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Roberts was quoted as saying that he is “indeed delighted to welcome home members of our most successful Olympic team. If they have not yet grasped the magnitude of their achievements, I am certain that these young, brave athletes will appreciate the warm reception they are due to receive. We wish safe travels and eagerly anticipate their return home.”
The media release stated that local entertainers will be performing to the delegation, as well as the fans and well-wishers at the Airport’s Atrium.
PM Persad-Bissessar pointed out, “at that reception we will disclose, on behalf of the nation, in what ways Keshorn Walcott will be honoured.
“Thereafter we will hold, together with Keshorn and his family, a motorcade to take our hero from Piarco, onto the Eastern Main Road to Arima, through Valencia (and) Sangre Grande, and end in a tribute arranged by the village of Toco, in partnership of the Government, at the Toco Composite School.”
At an earlier event yesterday, when questioned by reporters, PM Persad- Bissessar gave her reaction to Walcott’s success.
“I was remembering when Keshorn won (the World Junior title in Barcelona, Spain), we were in Tobago and I used the press conference then to congratulate him. Little knowing that, at the end of it all, of the Olympics, we would be congratulating a great son of the soil.”
The Prime Minister continued, “a 19-year-old who will ignite the youth, ignite our nation. He brings gold when our country is celebrating its golden jubilee. We say congratulations to him.”
She added, “the performances have been absolutely tremendous. We may be a little dot but size does not determine a great nation.”
Asked how she felt when Walcott received his gold medal and the national anthem was playing, she replied, “I did have tears.
“I was in one of my vehicles touring (Diego Martin) so I got to hear it on the radio. My security detail and my driver started to clap. They might have run off the road but everybody was so happy.”
Walcott’s victory was hailed by a number of past and present TT Olympians on Twitter on Saturday, with the 19-year-old, in his first blog on Twitter, mentioning simply, “thank you Jesus!”
Quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon wrote, “attention all ‘psychics’ in TT, quit. You are out of business. If you were really psychic you would have seen this coming.”
Another Olympic medallist, swimmer George Bovell III (2004 in Athens) commented, “boom! Gold medal in javelin, Walcott = hero.”
Hurdler Jehue Gordon added, “big up to Keshorn, job well done. It was a wonderful Olympics for Team TT,” while sailor Andrew Lewis, another member of the 2012 Olympic team, stated, “amazing day for the history of Trinidad and Tobago. Sports is our way of life now and forever.”
And American-born TT hurdler Wayne Davis II joked, “Keshorn Walcott and he mango pelting techniques. Thanks to all the mango trees in his neighbourhood!”
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It's neither Pnm or Unc achievement. None of them pick up a javelin to throw anything. None of them woke up early to go training. None of them travelled from Toco to Port of Spain for training on a regular basis. GTFOH.
Yes but d big mouth fella have done absolutely nutten since he has been there. They have a right d blow their own trumpet because is funding from d much criticise SPORTCO that has made this possible. Look at the field results from CARIFTA and u would c the gr8 results. I hope it motivates the other Toco field athletes to do well.
The big mouth boy will only ever be just that. You see they offer him a spot at UTT? The same Utt that in a mess right now with programmes getting mash up left, right and centre. These people have no shame. Take their money and run far far away from them. Poor footballers can't get their money up to now.
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Stueps the boy ain't even reach home yet since morning he on the road. They will kill him.
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Stueps the boy ain't even reach home yet since morning he on the road. They will kill him.
And the 8 hour flight from london
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Caution_for_Keshorn-165941316.html
Caution for Keshorn
By Fazeer Mohammed
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 12:42 AM ECT
I can see the commercial: A strapping, young man is rekindling the blissful memories of countryside boyhood days by hurling stones at heavily-laden fruit trees in his Toco village of TroisRoches. But instead of mangoes and coconuts falling victim to his powerful arm, it's an Olympic gold medal that falls into the safe hands of the thrower, who then turns to the camera and follows the director's cue with "Hi, I'm Keshorn Walcott…"
As Trinidad and Tobago's second ever Olympic gold medallist and first since Hasely Crawford's triumph 36 years ago, Walcott has probably already experienced the abundant praise and extravagant promises that parasitic politicians and opportunistic back-slappers are infamous for, assuming he returned home as scheduled late last night. By the way, let's not make light of the fact that our contingent has also brought home three bronze medals and a number of personal and national bests along with a series of finals appearances in what has made London 2012 our most successful venture ever at the quadrennial sporting extravaganza.
Yes, the new champion is certainly worthy all of the sincere plaudits. To claim Olympic gold in the men's javelin at the age of 19 is unheard of. To have done so among a field of experienced, hardened and highly-successful competitors, including the two-time defending champion, borders on the incredible. That he is the first from the Caribbean and only the second from the Western Hemisphere, and from a country that has no tradition whatsoever in the discipline to boot, to claim this honour in the last 104 years of the Olympics, is the sort of material that even Paul Keens-Douglas might have second thoughts about using in one of his upcoming storytelling routines, simply because it is more believable for Boopsie to win a beauty contest.
With apologies to Usain, this has really come as a bolt out of the blue, the biggest upset of London 2012. Look, it is still difficult to come to terms with what was achieved on that final evening of track and field competition in front of a packed house of 80,000 spectators. Even with his status as world junior champion, achieved only last month, we never saw this coming. It has left so many of us with a bit of a hollow feeling for there was really no sense of expectation and anticipation, even hope, before the 12 finalists were introduced on Saturday. According to reports, Walcott himself was just looking for a top eight finish.
Compare this situation with the other great sporting moments in our history and you will appreciate that, in every other case, the nation was building to a crescendo and lustily celebrated the moment of glory.
Whether it was Crawford's 10.06-second sprint to gold in 1976 or Dennis Lawrence's World Cup football finals-clinching header in Bahrain in 2005, we were on the edges of our seats long before the event got under way. When Brian Lara twice claimed the world record for the highest individual Test batting score in Antigua, many of us endured a sleepless night with the batting maestro unbeaten on 320 in 1994 and poised on 313 in 2004 on the mornings that he went on to make history.
Having earned bronze in the 100 and 200 metres at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Ato Boldon was in the form of his life a year later so we were expecting something special at the World Athletics Championships in Athens, the sprinter duly obliging with the 200-metre crown in 20.04 seconds. And when it comes to great moments in boxing, we had months of speculation leading up to Claude Noel's outpointing of Mexico's Rodolfo "El Gato" Gonzalez to take the World Boxing Association lightweight belt in 1981 in Atlantic City, while Leslie "Tiger" Stewart's stopping of American Marvin "Pops" Johnson for the WBA light-heavyweight title generated even greater national fervour as it occurred in front of jubilant thousands at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in 1987.
And it's those last two examples that Walcott will do well to keep in mind, for both Noel and Stewart were well beaten in their first title defences, their defeats to Arturo Frias and Virgil Hill respectively being attributed, in part, to a loss of focus amid the festivities and indulgences following their successes. In sport, whatever the pedigree, you're only as good as your last competition, and if the Toco phenomenon wants to avoid the label of a supremely talented but inconsistent fluke by the end of his competitive days, he would do well to stay close to those who have brought him this far, and take everything and everyone else with a tablespoonful of salt.
That he has identified Jan Zelezny as one of his main inspirations is a very good sign. Arguably the greatest javelin thrower in modern Olympic history, the Czech legend dominated his event for a decade in taking three world titles and the gold medals in three consecutive Olympics, starting with the 1992 Games in Barcelona when he was 26 years of age.
It was at the same Montjuic Stadium last month that Walcott launched his name into the international limelight in taking world junior gold. No-one should be so bold, certainly not the young man himself, to suggest however that he is already ahead of the game.
In the glorious, lingering afterglow of his astonishing success, our new sporting hero will do well to stay true to the disciplines that have brought this stunning golden moment to him and his country.
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But a Trinidadian javelin thrower? Now we were in the realms of ‘cool chuckings’ fantasy.
"Cool chuckings"?? What's that phrase supposed to mean?? ??? :-\
Btw, its 9:34 and it was reported about 15 mins ago that Keshorn eh reach home yet......*sigh*
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But a Trinidadian javelin thrower? Now we were in the realms of ‘cool chuckings’ fantasy.
"Cool chuckings"?? What's that phrase supposed to mean?? ??? :-\
Btw, its 9:34 and it was reported about 15 mins ago that Keshorn eh reach home yet......*sigh*
:o
Like they want to kill the boy with their gimmickry?!!
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Keshorn_s_victory_stuns_the_world-165939336.html
Keshorn's victory stuns the world
By Keino Swamber keino.swamber@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Aug 12, 2012 at 11:51 PM ECT
THE 84.58-metre javelin throw which placed Keshorn Walcott's name in the history books as the youngest ever Olympic javelin champion and the first athlete from the Western Hemisphere to medal in the javelin event in 40 years, has not gone unnoticed by the international media.
Walcott's feat on Saturday was described by Associated Press sports writer Raf Casert in The Washington Post as "one of the most stunning upsets in the track and field programme".
"The only time the Olympic javelin title left Europe was 60 years ago when American Cyrus Young won gold," according to Caser.
London's Daily Mail said the win by the 19-year-old world junior champion was "remarkable" and "may just have provided another sporting option for the children of Trinidad".
The UK's The Sun dubbed him the "Javelin King" and reported that Walcott "stunned the world of track and field".
"Walcott won the World Junior Championships in Barcelona this year but nothing prepared anyone for what happened in London last night," said Dan King.
Walcott's throw, which set a new national record, was also reported by The Miami Herald , the BBC, NY Times, The Times of India, the Chicago Tribune, Fox News, Malaysia Star and The Hindu.
On the social networking site Twitter, Walcott's name was trending worldwide for several hours after his win.
His very first tweet after joining the site on Saturday was "Thank you Jesus!!!!!!!". He tweeted yesterday: "Thank you Trinidad and Tobago!!!!! I Love U."
Walcott, as at 4.30 p.m. yesterday boasted a following of 1,770 from around the world.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/olympics/Ideal_athlete__praises_for_Golden_Walcott-165939356.html
IDEAL ATHLETE
Praises for Golden Walcott
By Kwame Laurence in London
Story Created: Aug 12, 2012 at 11:51 PM ECT
The man responsible for shaping Keshorn Walcott into an Olympic gold medallist, Cuban throws coach Ismael Lopez, says there is no limit to the heights the talented teenager can attain.
"His best quality is dedication, so we can achieve anything. Wow. I feel very happy. I'm very proud of Keshorn. I don't have words to describe."
Walcott became only the second Trinidad and Tobago athlete in Olympic history to strike gold, when he won the men's javelin with an 84.58 metres throw, at the Olympic Stadium, here in London, England, on Saturday.
Walcott's winning throw was a 1.75-metre improvement on his pre-Olympic personal best—82.83m. The 84.58m effort is a new Pan American junior (under-20) and national senior record. It lifted Walcott into second spot on the all-time global under-20 list, behind Latvia's Zigismunds Sirmais, the world junior record holder at 84.69m.
Lopez told the Express he was not surprised by Walcott's London 2012 performance.
"For me, I expected the junior world record. We were working at making his first throw relaxed. If the first throw is good, it makes things easier."
As planned, Walcott was relaxed for his first round effort, throwing the javelin 83.51m. In round two, he improved to 84.58m—the throw that would earn T&T its first taste of Olympic gold since Hasely Crawford's men's 100m triumph in 1976.
Dexter Voisin, the T&T track and field manager at London 2012, said that Walcott's triumph could not have been anticipated.
"It was a surprise to anybody. I sat among European coaches and saw amazement in their faces.
"This shows that once you put your mind to something and stick to the game plan, you can achieve anything. Keshorn is a very disciplined guy, takes training very seriously, listens to his coach, and has a strong mind. He's the ideal athlete."
T&T chef de mission, Annette Knott, also praised the 19-year-old Toco thrower.
"Quiet confidence. He works hard, without any fuss."
Walcott has had an arduous but highly rewarding season, striking gold at the Carifta Games, the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Championships, World Junior Championships, and now the Olympic Games.
Lopez said his athlete will now get a well-deserved rest, before beginning preparations for the 2013 season.
"We have to take care of him. Keshorn was invited to two meets in Europe, but he'll go home. For him, the season is finished."
Walcott's main focus in 2013 will be the World Championships, in Moscow, Russia. Hitting the 90-metre mark is also among the thrower's goals for next season.
Lopez said he is looking forward to the continued support of the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (sportt).
"I'm grateful for the camp in Cuba in April and May that they paid for. It made a big difference in Keshorn's preparations."
He said the pre-Olympic camp in Cardiff, Wales, was beneficial as well.
"It had all the facilities, everything, and played a key part in Keshorn's performance."
While Walcott has a rare gift for hurling the spear, Lopez is convinced there are other potential Olympic champions in T&T waiting to be discovered.
"There are more like him, but something needs to be in place to develop field events. We need facilities. The throwers and jumpers cannot always train at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Because of football games, the field is not always available. A field events facility is needed."
Lopez said throwing talent abounds in both Toco and Tobago.
"You have to look long-term. Start at 12/13. At that age, you have the time to teach different skills for throws. At age 15/16, the athletes can specialise in a particular throw."
If Lopez has his way, the Walcott win—arguably the biggest surprise of London 2012—will not be a one-off occurrence never to be repeated, but rather, the first of many global field successes for a nation that has built its Olympic reputation on the track.
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ALERT
THIS IS NOT THE REAL WALCOTT it is a fake account
https://twitter.com/keshornwalcott
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Look ting ;D
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/402071_356559951085618_225394175_n.jpg)
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KESHORN IS STILL NOT HOME. WHAT D MUDDA C**T!!!!!
Call off d damn motorcade and let d boy go home and sleep >:(
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Idiots, that thing should have been put off for a next day, the man must be have a headache
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Idiots, that thing should have been put off for a next day, the man must be have a headache
When you have a dotish gimmicky people in charge things like this does happen!
Don't think these people really care about Keshorn, they just want to ride on his popularity wave!
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Idiots, that thing should have been put off for a next day, the man must be have a headache
If i was his parents and management , I was takin Keshorn off that motorcade, take him home, make him dinner and send him in his bed. Clearly no one has his best interest at heart at this point. Trinis just like a fete and bachanal. steups
and talking bout his 'management', why would that man say the medal is not Keshorn own, how it's our own. I could understand what he was trying to say but he come real outta timin with that statement. the nation had no idea who Keshorn was before Olympics except ppl in Toco and a few other persons. None of us were offering him encouragement during his years of training. the government didnt even give him funding, so management need to shut up with that one.
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Idiots, that thing should have been put off for a next day, the man must be have a headache
If i was his parents and management , I was takin Keshorn off that motorcade, take him home, make him dinner and send him in his bed. Clearly no one has his best interest at heart at this point. Trinis just like a fete and bachanal. steups
and talking bout his 'management', why would that man say the medal is not Keshorn own, how it's our own. I could understand what he was trying to say but he come real outta timin with that statement. the nation had no idea who Keshorn was before Olympics except ppl in Toco and a few other persons. None of us were offering him encouragement during his years of training. the government didnt even give him funding, so management need to shut up with that one.
Keshorn obviously needs a better manager with his best interest at heart.
I'm now convinced that his current manager is probably only there to bleed him dry and is probably one of those Jack Warner type characters.
Imagine the man saying that the medal doh belong to Keshorn and it belong to the people as if any them people was there supporting him all this time.
Hate all this wagonist style behaviour that some of my people in T&T like to promote.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/166012876.html
BREAKING NEWS - MILLIONS FOR KESHORN WALCOTT
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 3:15 PM ECT
Trinidad and Tobago's Gold Medal Olympian Keshorn Walcott returned home from London today, to be feted at the Piarco International Airport before a motorcade accompanied him to his Toco home. The teenager left the airport a multi-millionaire, after the Prime Minister announced a bag of goodies to reward the nation's new athletic hero. Among the gifts -
* $1 million cash
* A house in Federation Park valued at $2.5 million
* 20,000 square feet of land in Toco
* A scholarship at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).
* Caribbean Airlines aircraft to be named after Keshorn Walcott
*Toco Lighthouse to be named the “Keshorn Walcott Toco Lighthouse”.
* Housing Development Corporation (HDC) project in Toco.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-08-13/heroes%E2%80%99-welcome-today-tt%E2%80%99s-olympians
Heroes’ welcome today for T&T’s Olympians
Published: Monday, August 13, 2012
Geisha Kowlessar
Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott will be given a hero’s welcome when he arrives at Piarco Airport at 9.45 am today. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and other government officials including Sport Minister Anil Roberts will be at the airport to welcome Walcott and seven other local athletes who will be arriving on Caribbean Airlines BW903 from Gatwick, London.
Walcott’s arrival is expected to attract hundreds of jubilant fans and well-wishers against a backdrop of steelband and tassa music and dances by local entertainers. Persad-Bissessar and Roberts will address the crowd from the airport’s atrium in the presence of the athletes. This is expected to last 45 minutes. They will then go to the airport’s VIP lounge where a press conference will be held, followed by a reception for the athletes.
The 19-year-old Walcott emerged victorious in the men’s javelin event, hurling the spear 84.58 metres in the second round. Walcott’s win represents T&T’s second gold medal in 36 years. Roberts who said yesterday he was still “beaming” over the young man’s success, added that the gold medal win would also help to further market the country. “I am indeed delighted to welcome home members of our most successful Olympic team,” he said.
“If they have not yet grasped the magnitude of their achievements, I am certain these young, brave athletes will appreciate the warm reception they are due to receive. We wish them safe travel and eagerly anticipate their return home.” At Walcott’s home yesterday at Trois Roche Village, there was a steady stream of family, friends, teachers and neighbours who have been celebrating his success since he won gold.
It was a victory which they proudly claimed as their “Toco joy.” Villagers also gathered on the roadway outside the house. With beer bottles in hand, they formed clusters and fondly recounted how they “know Keshorn from small.” Walcott’s excited parents, who were still basking in their son’s glory, were still undecided how they would privately honour him. “His father and I haven’t decided how we are going to celebrate with him as yet...After all this has quieted down, I will have to decide exactly what we will do,” Walcott’s mother Beverly said.
Beverly, who could barely contain her joy, described her son as humble but one who was always determined to succeed. “I am happy and I am excited. I feel great, I still can’t believe it,” Beverly said. Her son’s victory, however, was not expected.
“It was something I never expected but I was hoping all the way and I was praying that he would make the first eight...and he did it,” she added. Walcott’s father Endy King was equally astounded.
Recounting his son’s childhood days, King said Walcott was always determined and strove for excellence. He also thanked the teachers at Toco Composite School for providing his son with a holistic education. The American Chamber of Commerce of T&T also congratulated Walcott yesterday, saying the young man was an inspiration to youths.
Athletes arriving today:
Keshorn Walcott—men’s javelin
Njisane Philip—men’s cycling sprint
Roger Daniel—men’s 100-metre air pistol
Mikel Thomas—men’s 110-metre hurdles
Machel Cedenio—men’s 4 X 400
Ade Alleyne-Forte—men’s 4X 400 relay
Michelle-Lee Ahye—women’s 100-metre; women’s 4X 100 relay
Reyare Thomas—Women’s 4X 100 relay
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(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt359/truetrini/2016.jpg)
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This whole gold medal thing caught TT by surprise. After 36 yrs we don't know how to react to gold medal winner. I have to Kamla and them side a bit. They have to think what the hell to give the boy and the rest of the squad. Don't matter what they give them, those anti-PP will say they using them, just like how they say Patos was using the Soca Warriors. The man deserve every good thing coming to him. But I more worried about facilities and future program for Rio. Them 4 years does fly past real quick! We have to start now. When will that velodrome finish, 2015. Or the sswimming pool, 2016. Then they need to designate one of the stadium for track field training. I say Ato Bolden. Kind of centrally located. If not build one for track and field only with male and femal dorms, so some of the athletes don't have to be travelling all the time.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2012-08-13/walcott%E2%80%94i-simply-did-my-best
Walcott—I simply did my best
Published: Tuesday, August 14, 2012
“I went out there and did my best.” This was the emotional response from Keshorn Walcott, at the welcoming party in his honour at Piarco yesterday. The 19-year-old Toco lad had had just learned that his gold medal success at the London Olympic which ended on Sunday would be rewarded with a number of gifts, including a million dollars in cash and a $2.5 million home in Federation Park. Walcott was part of the ten-member contingent which earned a record four medals at the Games. It was the best ever haul in the country’s history. Walcott’s achievement headlined T&T’s performance, however, as he pulled off a stunning upset to become the first athlete from the English-speaking Caribbean to win gold in a javelin event and the first in 60 years from the Western Hemisphere. Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, addressing thousands of nationals who gathered at the Piarco International Airport to welcome home the athletes, said the gifts were for “bringing pride and recognition to the nation of Trinidad and Tobago”.
Walcott will also be given 20,000 square feet of land in his home village of Toco, south of the capital and a housing project called “The Keshorn Walcott Housing Development” will be also be established in the area providing housing and employment to residents of Toco. “A Caribbean Airlines aircraft will be commissioned to bear the proud name of Keshorn Walcott. The Lighthouse a, historical site, will now be known as the Keshorn Walcott lighthouse standing as a beacon to guide us all towards what it takes to get to our dreams,” she said, adding that the Olympian would also receive one million dollars “to be invested as he so desires.” “Keshorn, each of these rewards honour you, there is nothing greater than the glory you have brought to this nation and no greater expression ever than the pride and gratitude every citizen feels,” she told the crowd that chanted the name of the latest sporting hero from the twin island republic.
In his response, Walcott praised God, his coach, manager, Minister Anil Roberts for giving his his set of javelin equipment on the eve of ghis departure for the World Junior Championships and everyone for his success. “I would like to say thanks to everybody who supported me,” he added. The Prime Minister said that gifts for the other Olympians would be announced later. The men’s sprint relay team took bronze after Canada were disqualified while the distance relay team and Lalonde Gordon in the 400 metres, also came away with bronze. Walcott’s achievement represented T&T’s second ever Olympic gold medal behind the legendary Hasely Crawford who won the 100 metres at the 1976 Montreal Games. Sports Minister Anil Roberts said that T&T fielded its largest ever contingent to an Olympic Games, producing the best returns in the nation’s history.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-08-14/mixed-reactions-surprise-holiday
Mixed reactions to surprise holiday
Published: Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Yvonne Baboolal
An unscheduled shutdown of operations is how some surprised members of the business community described the announcement on Sunday night, of a national holiday yesterday in honour of 2012 London Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott. All sectors of the economy would have been affected by the not totally unexpected holiday, said business people who spoke to the T&T Guardian. Trade union leader Vincent Cabrera said thousands of daily and hourly-paid workers would have lost a day’s income because of the honour paid to the 19-year-old athlete from Toco. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in a televised address to the nation on Sunday night, made the surprise announcement to celebrate Walcott winning gold in the men’s javelin event and the achievements of the entire Olympic team. The PM invited the nation to join in a welcoming party, and then a motorcade from Piarco Airport to Walcott’s Toco hometown.
Downtown Owners & Merchants Association (DOMA) president Gregory Aboud said yesterday members of the business community share the national pride felt by all citizens and were extremely proud of the performance of all T&T Olympians. “We, however, were quite startled,” he added, “by the announcement Sunday night that Monday was to be a holiday which can have the characteristics of an unscheduled interruption or shutdown of all operations.” Aboud said the objective of a national celebration would perhaps have been more successfully achieved by adding a national holiday to the Independence weekend and a street parade with the athletes. “This would have given citizens the opportunity to come together and show our national pride, our appreciation to the athletes and, perhaps, to reflect on the many challenges which still lie ahead,” he said. With an advance announcement of a holiday, various sectors of the economy, including the manufacturing and industrial sectors, the Port Authority, the administration of justice, various international courier agencies and the hospitality industry could have been better prepared, Aboud added. “We wish to join with the national community in adding congratulations to the athletes and hope we can resume operations tomorrow (today),” he said. Ibrahim Ali, of the San Juan Chamber of Commerce, had a similar perspective.
He said: “When you call a holiday eight o’ clock in the night for the next day, it becomes unproductive. The entire construction sector has shut down. “People who had appointments with lawyers, doctors were affected. The entire court system and the general economy has suffered from this unexpected announcement. “I know we have to be jubilant and patriotic but they could have found a different way to do it. It was done without consultation and in an ad-hoc manner.” Taran Singh, of the Tunapuna Chamber, felt the occasion was so “once-in-a-lifetime” that something had to give. The ‘something giving,’ he said, was the business sector and Singh felt, in this case, the pros outweighed the cons. He added: “There are a number of businesses that will still open for some part of the day. “History was literally created on the world stage by T&T, which is just a little dot on the map. We have to find a way to celebrate it. “There were thousands of people at the airport. We don’t get a chance to demonstrate this every day or even every year.” Labour union leader Cabrera said the young athletes deserved the public holiday but blamed the inequality of local labour standards if thousands lost a day’s pay because of it. “There are thousands of such workers, at supermarkets for instance, who would have lost a day’s work if they decided to take the public holiday. Labour standards have to be applied across the board so they, too, would be paid for working on a public holiday,” he added. The Grenada Government declared a half-holiday last Tuesday after Kirani James won gold in the Olympic men’s 400 metres. It was Grenada’s first ever Olympic medal and the half-holiday was given the day after James won on August 6.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-08-14/keshorn-beacon-light%E2%80%94kamla
Keshorn beacon of light—Kamla
$1m, house, land in rewards for Olympic gold
Published: Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Derek Achong
A $2.5 million Federation Park, St James, home; 20,000 square feet of land in Toco; $1 million cash and a Toco Housing Development Corporation (HDC) housing development named in his honour. Those were some of the rewards bestowed upon 19-year-old Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott, yesterday upon his return to Trinidad after his participation in the 2012 London Olympics which ended on Sunday. The gifts were announced by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as she addressed thousands of citizens who packed the atrium at Piarco International Airport to welcome Walcott and several members of the national contingent home. Persad-Bissessar said: “Keshorn will shine as a beacon of light to the young people of the nation.” She was flanked by Walcott on her right and T&T’s first Olympic gold medalist, Hasely Crawford, on the left, and revealed Government’s rewards for the 19-year-old Toco resident, who entered the record books on Saturday when he became the youngest Olympic javelin champion in history.
On Saturday, in front of a capacity crowd at London’s Olympic Stadium, Walcott’s 84.58 metres javelin toss edged his closest rival, Ukrainian Oleksandr Pyatnytsya. Persad-Bissessar said that as a result of Walcott’s achievement the Toco lighthouse — a landmark in the community and in T&T — would be renamed the Keshorn Walcott Toco Lighthouse. A Caribbean Airline Boeing 737 aircraft would also be named in his honour, Persad- Bissessar said. The aircraft is expected to be repainted by the end of this week. This has not been the first time an aircraft has been named after a local athlete. A similar accolade was bestowed upon Crawford following his gold medal triumph at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada. Persad-Bissessar also said a HDC development will be constructed in the Toco area which would provide housing and employment for residents. Construction of the development, which will comprise of more than 100 units, is expected to begin by as early as next January after the completion of a tendering process and other preparatory works. Walcott, a student, also will be given a scholarship to the University of Trinidad and Tobago, where he will participate in the university’s elite sporting programme.
Yesterday’s festivities started well before 6 am for most of the attendees who arrived early to catch a glimpse of Walcott and several of other local Olympic athletes, who arrived on the same flight. They were heeding the call of Persad- Bissessar who urged citizens to attend yesterday’s ceremony to welcome home Walcott and the other Olympians, including cyclist Njisane Phillip. Persad-Bissessar also announced on Sunday night she had advised acting President Timothy Hamel-Smith to declare yesterday a public holiday. Scores of Walcott’s family members and neighbours arrived at the airport from Toco, via four chartered Public Transportation Service Corporation (PTSC) buses. The vocal fans had to wait patiently after they learned that the athletes’ flight, which was originally scheduled to land at 9.45 am, was delayed by an hour. The fans, who were dressed in the national colours, were thoroughly entertained by several tassa, steelpan groups and rhythm sections who repeatedly belted out various local compositions, much to their delight. Thousands of miniature T&T flags were distributed by the organisers of yesterday’s welcome programme.
Shortly after 11 am, Walcott greeted the crowd from the balcony of the atrium. Deafening screams of joy echoed throughout the airport, signalling the arrival of the 19-year-old, described by many as an inspiration to the nation. With a toothy grin, Walcott waved to his adoring fans as he displayed the glistening Olympic gold medal that hung from his neck. In his brief address to the crowd, Walcott thanked his parents and two brothers that stood proudly at his side. “Thanks for the support T&T... I did my best,” a soft-spoken Walcott said. Several Government Ministers who were present also extended congratulations to Walcott. Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, in an interview, described Walcott as the ideal role model for the youths of T&T.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/___Keshorn_urged_to_seek_wise_counsel-166066696.html
...Keshorn urged to seek wise counsel
By Jensen LaVende jensen.lavende@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 10:59 PM ECT
Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott was yesterday advised to seek wise counsel on the multi-million-dollar rewards he has been granted by the Government.
Walcott, who won gold in the Olympic field event of javelin last Saturday, returned home yesterday to a mammoth welcoming at Piarco International Airport, along with cyclist Njisane Phillip.
Addressing the gathering at the airport, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar rewarded Walcott with $1 million, a $2.5 million house in Federation Park, 20,000 square feet of land in Toco, an HDC housing development, a scholarship at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean Airlines aircraft to be named after him and the Toco Lighthouse to be renamed the Keshorn Walcott Toco Lighthouse.
In telephone interviews with the Express, People's National Movement (PNM) Senator Fitzgerald Hinds, MP Donna Cox, Port of Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing and former prime minister Basdeo Panday all advised the 19-year-old Trois Roche, Toco resident to seek wise counsel.
"He appears to be a very humble and respectful individual and my advice is that he remains focused, disciplined and humble and most of all remain close to his family. He should keep his feet to the ground and do not allow the stardom and fame to get on top of him" Hinds warned.
Commenting on the gifts showered on the gold medallist, Hinds said he thought they were "quite generous and thoughtful" and he would be awaiting what else would be given to the young athlete.
Hinds added that he was also waiting to hear of plans to construct a stadium in the Toco area "with modern amenities and swimming facilities" to produce more Walcotts.
Sharing Hinds' sentiment, Panday advised the Government to spend the State's resources on other sporting facilities.
"The Government has a lot of money. What I will hope is that more money will be spent on the infrastructure for the development for many more sporting activities. That is what I like to see. He would have had the best advice otherwise he would not have reached where he did, my advice is to the Government really. Provide more sporting facilities in the rural areas as well as the urban and to take sport seriously. I don't think they have done that," Panday said.
Panday congratulated Walcott "on his tremendous victory", saying Walcott put Trinidad and Tobago on the map. He added that he hoped this would enlighten other youths to give up crime and other forms of bad living and emulate Walcott's performance.
Cox said she was in agreement with the prizes but found that not mentioning what the other athletes would receive, if anything at all, was in "poor taste".
She added that Walcott's achievement was an indication that Governments should spend money on things like good coaches and special training facilities, particularly for the javelin as she sees an influx of young people wanting to throw their names into the lists of possible medallists come next Olympics.
She said Walcott would need proper mentors and advice on how to spend his money.
Mayor Lee Sing said: "He should get a counsellor to advise him on what to do with the assets he now has. Whether to rent out the house in Federation Park and live humbly in Toco. He should be told that a million dollars can disappear very quickly if not managed and allowed to grow."
Lee Sing said Walcott has been amply rewarded for his efforts and should recognise the assets given to him was done following a national achievement. He added that such an achievement meant the responsibility is his to be a model for all.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/I_don_t_want_my_life_to_change-166066706.html
I don't want my life to change
Gold medallist at Piarco celebrations:
By Kern De Freitas
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 10:59 PM ECT
A virtual Carnival greeted Trinidad and Tobago's 2012 Olympic javelin champion Keshorn Walcott on his arrival yesterday at Piarco International Airport.
Walcott emerged to a king's welcome, with chants of "Toco! Toco! Toco!" as he entered the airport's VIP Lounge, chants that melded with screams of "Keshorn! Keshorn! Keshorn!" before the massive crowd in the atrium below had even laid eyes on the 19-year-old Toco native.
The outpouring easily beat the welcome for the 2006 Soca Warriors after they qualified for T&T's first World Cup, with thousands of supporters either filling the ground floor of the airport, the outer courtyard or the corridors and stairways trying to get a glimpse of Walcott, and cheering every word uttered by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Minister of Sport Anil Roberts as they paid tribute to Trinidad and Tobago's returning athletes.
Even when a downpour hit, it failed to dampen the spirits of hundreds clad in red, white and black, with hundreds of flags, large and small, fluttering vigorously from left to right.
The cheers first erupted from his family and Toco supporters when Walcott finally entered the VIP Lounge, after the athletes' flight from London was delayed by more than an hour.
Along with the technical staff, among them National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) and T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) officials, the athletes that touched down yesterday included teenage sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye, 4x400m relay runner Machel Cedenio, cyclist Njisane Phillip and Walcott.
Accompanying PM Persad-Bissessar were Community Development Minister Winston "Gypsy" Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Dookeran, Minister of National Security Jack Warner, Minister of Finance Larry Howai and several other Cabinet Ministers.
Undoubtedly Walcott was the man they all came to see, and the crowd met each announcement made by Persad-Bissessar—including Government's decision to reward Walcott with a house in Federation Park, and $1 million—with lusty applause.
During the celebration, announcements, and even Machel Montano's performance of his Olympic tribute "Going for Gold", Walcott did not seem entirely comfortable with all the attention. From the moment he arrived he was mobbed by family, well-wishers and Ministers waiting to greet him.
A tired Walcott even told the media that despite all the accolades and rewards, he hopes things stay the same for him.
"I don't really know right now (about all the rewards)," the Olympic champion said. "I don't want my life to change, so I'm just going to go on and keep doing what I'm doing."
Shortly after that Walcott was led away to the beginning of a long motorcade in his honour, which would take him all the way to Toco.
"I'm a bit tired," Walcott acknowledged, "but I know everyone is proud of me...I'm proud of myself, so I'll just go and celebrate with everyone."
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/A_HOUSE_FOR_MR_WALCOTT-166066756.html
A HOUSE FOR MR WALCOTT
Toco Olympic gold medallist rewarded with $2.5m Federation Park property
By Joel Julien joel.julien@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 10:59 PM ECT
IT was a day of rewards at Piarco International Airport yesterday as Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott returned home after a stunning gold medal performance at the London games.
Walcott, the teenage sensation from Toco, yesterday returned to this country after a record-breaking performance during the men's javelin throw in the London Olympics on Saturday.
Walcott, 19, won gold with a throw of 84.58 metres.
He was yesterday honoured for his feat and left the airport well rewarded.
Among the goodies presented by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to Walcott yesterday was $1 million in cash "to be invested as he so desires".
Walcott will also receive a home in the upscale community of Federation Park valued at $2.5 million.
"For bringing us such pride and recognition to the nation of Trinidad and Tobago Keshorn Walcott will receive 20,000 square feet, that is, four lots of land in Toco," Persad-Bissessar said.
She also said, "A housing project to be called the Keshorn Walcott Housing Development will be established. This development will bring housing and employment to Toco."
"The Lighthouse, a historical site, will now be known as the Keshorn Walcott Lighthouse standing as a beacon to guide us all towards what it takes to get to our dreams," Persad-Bissessar said.
"A Caribbean Airlines aircraft will be commissioned to bear the proud name of Keshorn Walcott," she said. Walcott was also given a model of a Caribbean Airlines aircraft.
He was also awarded a scholarship to the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) "to further his studies in his chosen field".
Walcott however was not the only one rewarded yesterday.
His mother Beverley Walcott who had been asking for it since last week, was given the Olympic flowers she asked for.
In addition to receiving precious metal, medallists at the London Olympics are also given a bouquet of flowers.
During an interview with the Express last week before the men's javelin final Beverley said she had asked her son to bring home the flowers for her.
Her wish came true.
Beverley was seen with the flowers in hand yesterday.
Walcott's coach Ismael Lopez was also honoured yesterday.
Persad-Bissessar yesterday said that "Lopez will be placed in charge of an elite throws programme at UTT where all future talent including Keshorn can be developed in field events".
"Coach Lopez you have done an amazing job and I honour your result by promising you here that your appeal for facilities for field events will be realised as I have advised the Minister of Sport to bring a recommendation before the Cabinet for consideration," Persad-Bissessar said.
The last time Trinidad and Tobago achieved a gold medal was 36 years ago at the Olympic Games in Montreal,Canada in 1976 when sprinter Hasely Crawford won the men's 100 metres final.
It was Carnival in August at the Piarco International Airport yesterday as hundred of people dressed in red gathered to greet the country's newest hero.
There was soca music, body paint, moko jumbies, music trucks and waving flags for Walcott's homecoming.
Ann Phillip, 72, of Pleasantville in San Fernando told the Express she took a bus, a maxi and two taxis just to see Walcott.
But despite braving the rain and transportation woes, Phillip said her only concern during the road trip was that she would reach in time to see Walcott with his medal.
"We have waited very long for this and I am glad to be part of this history," Phillip said.
Angela Dandrade from Freeport said she was up before sunrise to be able to share in the historic moment. She said it was worth it.
"I am glad I came, I am really happy and he just looked so humble, I am glad for him and his success," Dandrade said.
But the people who really revelled in the moment were the people from Toco.
They wore jerseys hailing Walcott as the "pride and joy of Toco".
Marlon Beckles, 23, from Walcott's hometown Trois Roche Village said the entire community was proud of "Keshie's" achievements.
He however hoped that the State would fix the Toco road in honour of the Olympic champion.
Collis Marcano, Walcott's former technical drawing teacher at the Toco Secondary School, said he was "not surprised" with the gold medal accomplishment.
Marcano described Walcott as "exceptional".
Marcano echoed Beckles' call for the Toco road to be fixed.
"He (Walcott) cannot truly enjoy the things he has been given if the roads are not fixed," Marcano said.
Full list of rewards • $2.5m home in Federation Park • $1 million • 20,000 square feet of land in Toco • A scholarship at UTT • Caribbean Airlines aircraft in his name • Toco Lighthouse to be named the "Keshorn Walcott Toco Lighthouse" • HDC development in Walcott's name in Toco.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Olympic_javelin_champ_Walcott_eager_for_the_training_field-166066746.html
Olympic javelin champ Walcott eager for the training field
By Kern De Freitas
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 10:59 PM ECT
The nerves barely showed last Saturday as 19-year-old Keshorn Walcott lined up with seasoned European rivals in the Olympic javelin throw final and then walked away with the coveted title after a best effort and national record throw of 84.58 metres.
The youngster seemed more uneasy dealing with the limelight yesterday during a reception ceremony for returning Trinidad and Tobago Olympic athletes at Piarco International Airport—including sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye, cyclist Njisane Phillip and quarter-miler Machel Cedenio—than he was going up against two-time defending Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen in the Olympic Stadium in London.
"I kind of expected [all the attention] because I was told of it since the day I won the medal," Walcott told the media after he had been honoured by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. "Everyone told me there was going to be a lot of pressure, so I was kind of preparing in my mind, but as you can see I wasn't totally prepared for all this."
Walcott does not want things to change too much despite being honoured with a house in Federation Park, $1 million and several other gifts.
"I don't think it has (sunk) in yet. I didn't really hear much of (the rewards) too well because of the noise, but hopefully I'll hear them after and think about them."
The Olympic and world junior javelin champion is already thinking about life as a senior athlete despite his recent success.
"As everyone knows, (the Olympic Games are) already gone...so I'm just looking to the future, there's more Olympics to come, more World Championships, and now that I'm a senior, I'm just going to go back out there and train.
"It's all about training. Throughout the year I've been training normal, so I'm just going to go back to that, sticking with my coach (Ismael Lopez). I know there are going to be a lot of expectations of me now, so I'm just going to have to live with it."
Walcott recalled his experience with his fellow competitors after he had confirmed his victory in the Olympic Stadium.
"Most of them just congratulated me. The stadium itself was shocked because of where I'm from...everyone knows that Europeans dominate the javelin.
"(But) to achieve this is great. I didn't really set my mind on gold at the Olympics. I achieved my goal the month before at the World Junior (Championships). So going into the Olympics, going out there winning gold, my mind was just all over the place. I know I surprised a lot of persons."
And the biggest endorsement for the teenager came from Minister of Sport Anil Roberts, who had accompanied the T&T team to London.
"What is the greatest thing (about him), he is a man of class," Roberts stressed. "I want my son to be just like him. I've been around athletes all my life, and he is the most humble, classy individual (I've met). It couldn't have happened to a nicer man."
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They better provide him bodyguards too, eh.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Keshorn_makes__Hasely_happy-166066926.html
Keshorn makes Hasely happy
T&T's first gold medallist says it's long overdue
By Kern De Freitas
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 10:59 PM ECT
For many Trinidad and Tobago and Keshorn Walcott fans, it was a joy to see the teenager in the Olympic javelin throw final, getting closer with each effort to that elusive gold.
For Hasely Crawford, who just four days ago was T&T's only gold medallist, it meant he no longer has to stand alone in the stratosphere of national sport.
After returning with members of Trinidad and Tobago's 2012 Olympic team following their record-breaking exploits in London—which saw this country line up in 12 finals for the first time since T&T first competed at the Games 64 years ago, also in London—Crawford was a happy man.
Having clinched T&T's first Olympic gold medal 36 years ago in Lane One of the 100 metres final in Montreal, Canada, Crawford was relieved to finally have elite company.
"It was long overdue. Long overdue," a beaming Crawford told the Express yesterday during celebrations to honour Walcott and the rest of the Olympic team at Piarco International Airport.
"And I'm very happy that Keshorn, a humble, hard-working young man [has achieved such success]. I can remember on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, he was out there with [coach Ismael] Lopez training. He deserves everything he has achieved right now."
Crawford had been waiting to congratulate the 19-year-old Olympic javelin champion in person as he had not seen the Toco-born thrower since his amazing feat. He smiled as he recalled watching the record-breaking moments.
"[Ministry of Sport permanent secretary Ashwin] Creed was sitting next to me and the [National Association of Athletics Administration] president Mr [Ephraim] Serrette and I told them, I said 'listen, [a throw further than 84 metres] is a medal'. Because every time he threw that thing, he improved by two metres.
"So I said '84 is a medal'. He said 'gold or silver, boy?' I said 'a medal'. And after the first round, I told Creed 'call the Minister and tell the Minister prepare for a medal.' And for the last round it was a countdown. When they reached five (throws) I said 'it's a medal'. We went down to gold, and we went waving. It was electric. Very, very electric."
Even more moving for Crawford was hearing for the first time the full Trinidad and Tobago national anthem played on an Olympic stage.
"When I won the gold medal, they played (only a piece of the anthem). So I deliberately stood there because [for] all the other winners, they played the full anthem. I said 'let me hear it this time'. And that ringing sound in my ears, boy, it was fantastic."
Crawford revealed that T&T's progress in field events has come about through NAAA efforts to develop those disciplines.
Cuban Lopez, Walcott's current coach, was instrumental in producing a programme geared towards field events and Crawford is predicting more such athletes will come to the fore in the future.
He sees hope for T&T in future Olympics with a young 2012 team that achieved unprecedented success with four medals—one gold and three bronze—and athletes reaching 12 finals in all.
Crawford is also happy with Government's promise to develop an elite throws programme for Walcott and others to train in Trinidad and Tobago.
"We need to really sit down and come with a serious programme," he said, "so that the next Olympics we'll have a lot more medals here. You won't have enough houses to give those athletes."
For now, though, Crawford is glad to bask in his new company, which represents a changing of the guard, of sorts.
"It's hard. [It was] hard to sit there [waiting to] see a young man going to join me, and he did. I can't put it into better words."
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,164745.html
Gold to gold
Tuesday, August 14 2012
An overjoyed Hasely Crawford, TT’s first Olympic medallist, yesterday paid tribute, Keshorn Walcott, to the young man who after 36 years has joined his elite company.
“It’s long-awaited and couldn’t happen to a better person. Why I am saying this is because Keshorn is very hardworking. People think this comes by guess but Keshorn is a hardworking young man. I can remember Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and the boy training!” he exclaimed.
Crawford noted that it was a spine-tingling moment in London, hearing the national anthem at an Olympics for the first time since 1976 when he sprinted to gold in the men’s 100 metres final.
“When I won the gold they just played a part of it so when he won I say ‘let me stand up and listen to this’ and boy was it a joy listening this thing,” he said enthusiastically.
The Trinity Cross recipient, who was at the Olympic Stadium, London while Walcott was throwing in the men’s javelin final, revealed he got extremely excited upon seeing the young man in action and had a feeling he would not be TT’s sole gold medallist for much longer.
“Before (the Olympics) I was telling the guys (a throw of) 84 metres is a medal and of course he threw 83-something in the first round and no one came close to him. In the second round (when he threw 84.58 metres) I told (Ministry of Sport’s Permanent Secretary) Ashwin Creed to tell the Minister of Sport (Anil Roberts) that I think we are preparing for a gold medal,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Walcott’s Cuban coach, Ismael Lopez Mastrapa, was also ecstatic upon their return from the Olympics and could not stop smiling as people congratulated him as well. Lopez, who took charge of Walcott for just over a year, believes his student’s potential is limitless as he has stunningly reached the pinnacle of sporting excellence at his first appearance at the Olympics.
“It’s exciting and I feel very proud of Keshorn. I don’t have an idea of the future because he is very young. Athletes in javelin sometimes reach their best performance between the ages of 25 to 28,” he pointed out.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,164741.html
OLYMPIC MILLONAIRE
By STEPHON NICHOLAS Tuesday, August 14 2012
As all sons do, Keshorn Walcott made promises to his mother Beverly. His were to bring her back a gold medal from the 2012 Olympic Games and the bouquet of roses, he would receive when presented with his top prize.
Walcott, a humble 19-year-old from the small village of Trois Roche in Toco, yesterday dutifully delivered these gifts to his mother, even as the country gave him gifts of his own: a rousing, jubilant celebration of his Olympic javelin gold and millions of dollars worth in cash, land and property for his stellar achievement.
It was a heartwarming moment at the VIP room of the Piarco International Airport when Walcott surprised his mother with the roses, planting a loving kiss on her cheeks as she blushed in delight.
“I got my roses,” Beverly gushed as he presented the flowers to her.
It was the first time mother and son were seeing each other since Walcott left for the World Junior Championships in Spain on July 6. There he won gold, beginning a journey that would see him stun the athletics world when, last Saturday, at the Olympic Stadium in London, England, he became the first person from the Western Hemisphere in 60 years to win an Olympic field event.
The sport of javelin has been dominated by Europeans for decades and Walcott’s victory left some of the world’s best by the wayside, among them the 2011 World Champion Matthias de Zordo of Germany and the favourite going into the Olympics.
As he touched down at Piarco yesterday, thousands packed the airport’s atrium, arriving by cars, buses and maxi taxis, to give this Toco son a hero’s welcome.
At a massive reception, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar lauded the teenager who has brought glory not only to himself but a nation yearning for something positive.
A beaming Persad-Bissessar, revealed a plethora of gifts which her Government decided to bestow upon Walcott in honour of his historic performance.
Walcott, TT’s first ever Olympic javelin finalist, is now a millionaire and will receive $1 million cash as well as a house in Federation Park worth $2.5 million.
The teenager will also get 20,000 square feet of land in the Toco area, a scholarship to study anything he desires at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), one of the new Caribbean Airlines’ aircraft will be named after him, and the Toco lighthouse will now be known as the Keshorn Walcott lighthouse.
As a gift to Toco for producing this country’s second Olympic gold medallist, the Ministry of Housing and Housing Development Company (HDC) will construct a housing development scheme there which will provide jobs for people in largely fishing community in east Trinidad. A proposal has also been sent to Cabinet for the establishment of a training facility exclusively for field athletes.
As an estimated 8,000 screaming fans in Piarco, clad patriotically in red, vigorously waved miniature national flags and chanted his name, the quiet-spoken athlete stayed true to his roots despite his world seemingly changing during the Prime Minister’s speech.Asked what these gifts would mean to his life, Walcott paused for a few seconds before stating he hopes everything remains the same.
“I don’t really know...I doubt (it would change). I wouldn’t want my life to change but I will just keep doing what I am doing,” he quietly told Newsday.
But yesterday’s massive reception seemed to overwhelm Walcott who struggled to find words to express how he felt while speaking to the thousands before him who chanted “Keshy, Keshy”.
Olympic cyclist Njisane Phillip, who returned on the flight with Walcott, gave the javelin athlete moral support, keeping close to him as did Walcott’s mother.
The six-foot tall World Junior champ thanked the Prime Minister and Minister of Sport Anil Roberts for their support and also paid tribute to those close to him.
“Thanks to my Moms, my Dad (Andy King), my two brothers (Elton and Trenton), my entire family, and most of all I would like to thank God for health and strength. And lastly I’d like to thank you for all the support. I almost forgot my coach, also my manager Sean Roach,” he told his fans, before asking his manager if he wanted to say something.
A pumped-up Roach told the crowd, Walcott’s gold was not his alone but theirs as well.
Walcott is now the man his peers will be hoping to beat in the future but the Toco athlete is unfazed by this new burden of expectation upon his broad shoulders.
“Throughout the year I’ve been training normal so I’m just going back to that and sticking with my coach (Ismael Lopez Mastrapa). I know there is going to be a lot of expectation for me now but I’m just going to have to live with it,” he said.
With a gold medal adorning his neck, Walcott admitted, though, that he was just content reaching the Olympic final and was not expecting to be among the medal winners.
“Throughout that competition I was relaxed, I wasn’t really paying much attention to the competition because I told myself that making the final was good enough for me at age 19 and I went out there just to do my best,” he explained.
And his best was the perfect gift to the country to celebrate its 50th anniversary of Independence on August 31.
With yesterday a holiday to commemorate Walcott’s phenomenal achievement, his adoring fans swarmed the airport to give the javelin champion.
It was a Carnival-like atmosphere reminiscent of the return of the Soca Warriors to Trinidad following their qualification to the Germany World Cup in 2005.
It was virtually a sea of red from around 9 am with fans eagerly awaiting the arrival of Walcott and the rest of the TT Olympic contingent at 9.45 am.
Even a one-hour flight delay and intermittent showers failed to dampen the spirit of the mammoth crowd who were entertained by steelpan, tassa, a rhythm section, music trucks and moko jumbies, and Soca and Road March champ Machel Montano.
The crowds then joined in a motorcade that snaked from Piarco and crawled along the Eastern Main Road, passing through Arouca, Arima, only reaching Sangre Grande at about 6.30 pm.
The final stop, Toco Composite School, where his hometown residents waited patiently for hours for the return of their king.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,164742.html
Top national award for Walcott
By Andre Bagoo Tuesday, August 14 2012
IN ADDITION to the Government rewards announced yesterday, Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott is tipped to make history yet again by being awarded this country’s highest honour, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, by President George Maxwell Richards at the National Awards ceremony to be held at Queen’s Hall on Independence Day.
In addition to being the youngest-ever winner of the Olympic gold medal in javelin, Walcott is poised to become the youngest ever recipient of the country’s highest award, at the age of 19.
While Walcott was being honoured by an adoring pubic yesterday in a motorcade from Piarco to Toco, the National Awards Committee, chaired by Chief Justice Ivor Archie, quietly met at the Chief Justice’s chambers at the Hall of Justice, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain, to conclude the discrete process by which National Award recipients are chosen.
The expected award of the Order of the Republic to Walcott follows a long tradition of this country honouring its achievers in the field of sport. He will become the fifth sports person in this country’s post-Independence history to attain the highest honour.
In 1994, the Trinity Cross (the precursor to the Order) was awarded to cricketer Brian Lara after he broke test-cricket records. It was the first time in 15 years that a sportsman had been given the highest award. In 1979, netball player Eugenia Theodosia Pierre was also bestowed the Trinity Cross.
Three years before her, Hasely Crawford was awarded the Trinity Cross after he brought home this country’s only other Olympic gold medal in the 100-metre sprint at the Montreal Olympics.
The national relay team, which won silver at the Beijing Olympics 2012, were all awarded Chaconia Gold, the second highest award. The team comprised Darrel Browne, Emmanuel Callender, Keston Bledman, Marc Burns and Richard Thompson.
Swimmer George Bovell also got the Chaconia Gold for his bronze medal performance in the 200-metre individual medley at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Sprinter Ato Boldon got the same award after winning bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics 100m sprint and silver in the 200-metre.
It is expected that the members of this years’ Olympic team, which saw TT sportsmen and women turn in their best ever performance at any Olympics, also are in line for honours come August 31, as the country celebrates its 50th Independence Anniversary.
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http://www.youtube.com/v/YE9PpL-aCcw
FULL 32 MIN
http://www.youtube.com/v/tNodIPDkCG0
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Keshorn makes Hasely happy
T&T's first gold medallist says it's long overdue
By Kern De Freitas (Express).
For many Trinidad and Tobago and Keshorn Walcott fans, it was a joy to see the teenager in the Olympic javelin throw final, getting closer with each effort to that elusive gold.
For Hasely Crawford, who just four days ago was T&T's only gold medallist, it meant he no longer has to stand alone in the stratosphere of national sport.
After returning with members of Trinidad and Tobago's 2012 Olympic team following their record-breaking exploits in London—which saw this country line up in 12 finals for the first time since T&T first competed at the Games 64 years ago, also in London—Crawford was a happy man.
Having clinched T&T's first Olympic gold medal 36 years ago in Lane One of the 100 metres final in Montreal, Canada, Crawford was relieved to finally have elite company.
"It was long overdue. Long overdue," a beaming Crawford told the Express yesterday during celebrations to honour Walcott and the rest of the Olympic team at Piarco International Airport.
"And I'm very happy that Keshorn, a humble, hard-working young man [has achieved such success]. I can remember on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, he was out there with [coach Ismael] Lopez training. He deserves everything he has achieved right now."
Crawford had been waiting to congratulate the 19-year-old Olympic javelin champion in person as he had not seen the Toco-born thrower since his amazing feat. He smiled as he recalled watching the record-breaking moments.
"[Ministry of Sport permanent secretary Ashwin] Creed was sitting next to me and the [National Association of Athletics Administration] president Mr [Ephraim] Serrette and I told them, I said 'listen, [a throw further than 84 metres] is a medal'. Because every time he threw that thing, he improved by two metres.
"So I said '84 is a medal'. He said 'gold or silver, boy?' I said 'a medal'. And after the first round, I told Creed 'call the Minister and tell the Minister prepare for a medal.' And for the last round it was a countdown. When they reached five (throws) I said 'it's a medal'. We went down to gold, and we went waving. It was electric. Very, very electric."
Even more moving for Crawford was hearing for the first time the full Trinidad and Tobago national anthem played on an Olympic stage.
"When I won the gold medal, they played (only a piece of the anthem). So I deliberately stood there because [for] all the other winners, they played the full anthem. I said 'let me hear it this time'. And that ringing sound in my ears, boy, it was fantastic."
Crawford revealed that T&T's progress in field events has come about through NAAA efforts to develop those disciplines.
Cuban Lopez, Walcott's current coach, was instrumental in producing a programme geared towards field events and Crawford is predicting more such athletes will come to the fore in the future.
He sees hope for T&T in future Olympics with a young 2012 team that achieved unprecedented success with four medals—one gold and three bronze—and athletes reaching 12 finals in all.
Crawford is also happy with Government's promise to develop an elite throws programme for Walcott and others to train in Trinidad and Tobago.
"We need to really sit down and come with a serious programme," he said, "so that the next Olympics we'll have a lot more medals here. You won't have enough houses to give those athletes."
For now, though, Crawford is glad to bask in his new company, which represents a changing of the guard, of sorts.
"It's hard. [It was] hard to sit there [waiting to] see a young man going to join me, and he did. I can't put it into better words."
(http://media.trinidadexpress.com/images/1344913057822sp5.jpg)
TWO'S COMPANY: Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott, left, and Hasely Crawford display their Olympic gold medals in the VIP Lounge at Piarco Intenational Airport yesterday. Crawford won his medal in the 100 metres final at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and Walcott became T&T's second gold medallist on Saturday when he won the men's javelin at the 2012 London Olympics. —Photo: ROBERT DUMAS
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It's neither Pnm or Unc achievement. None of them pick up a javelin to throw anything. None of them woke up early to go training. None of them travelled from Toco to Port of Spain for training on a regular basis. GTFOH.
Yes but d big mouth fella have done absolutely nutten since he has been there. They have a right d blow their own trumpet because is funding from d much criticise SPORTCO that has made this possible. Look at the field results from CARIFTA and u would c the gr8 results. I hope it motivates the other Toco field athletes to do well.
The big mouth boy will only ever be just that. You see they offer him a spot at UTT? The same Utt that in a mess right now with programmes getting mash up left, right and centre. These people have no shame. Take their money and run far far away from them. Poor footballers can't get their money up to now.
Exactly d same UTT dey technically closin down. Not 2 mention when he was harpin bout d million dollars d warriors get he said we need a policy as how 2 reward sportsmen etc. Where d policy? Is still a vaps ting.
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So when will they upgrade the stadiums I still waiting on the velodrome to get fix. Always wanted to try long jump but the only pit in Trinidad in Port of Spain stueps.
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Toco welcomes its Golden Boy, wants more honours
Created on Tuesday, 14 August 2012 12:57 | Written by Clayton Clarke
TOCO, Trinidad - Residents of Toco are calling for a training facility in honour of Olympic Javelin champion, Keshorn Walcott, to be built in their community. Following the announcement of a housing programme and the renaming of the village's lighthouse in recognition of the 19 year old's historic accomplishment, several persons living in the area felt such a venue was needed. The principal, Verona Davidson-Wallace of Walcott's high school, Toco Secondary (now to be called the Keshorn Walcott Secondary), made the plea to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at a welcome reception at the school's compound in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Davidson-Wallace said the request was made on the success of the school in track and field and numerous others sports. She lamented that the school has a relatively high transportation bill to meet the demands of traveling to other venues to train and compete. The school's head quipped that Walcott's Olympic achievements have justified the investments, as the school also pays for its coaches. She called on the Ministry of Sports to meet the cost of paying the coaches.
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar further announced the changing of the name of the Toco Secondary School to the Keshorn Walcott Secondary and added that Minister of Education Dr. Tim Gopeesingh will be addressing the challenges of Walcott's high school.
The visit to his former school was the last stop of a more than ten hour motorcade from Piarco International Airport to his home village, where thousands of residents waited patiently for "King Walcott" to return home, and got a fireworks display to climax his long day.
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Watching that crowd, i can only imagine how sour it must have been being late for an international flight and trying to get from the check-in counter to the gate. lol
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/166012876.html
BREAKING NEWS - MILLIONS FOR KESHORN WALCOTT
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 3:15 PM ECT
Trinidad and Tobago's Gold Medal Olympian Keshorn Walcott returned home from London today, to be feted at the Piarco International Airport before a motorcade accompanied him to his Toco home. The teenager left the airport a multi-millionaire, after the Prime Minister announced a bag of goodies to reward the nation's new athletic hero. Among the gifts -
* $1 million cash
* A house in Federation Park valued at $2.5 million
* 20,000 square feet of land in Toco
* A scholarship at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).
* Caribbean Airlines aircraft to be named after Keshorn Walcott
*Toco Lighthouse to be named the “Keshorn Walcott Toco Lighthouse”.
* Housing Development Corporation (HDC) project in Toco.
Trinidad and Tobago's Gold Medal Olympian Keshorn Walcott returned home from London today, to be feted at the Piarco International Airport before a motorcade accompanied him to his Toco home. The teenager left the airport a multi-millionaire, after the Prime Minister announced a bag of goodies to reward the nation's new athletic hero. Among the gifts -
Ok, so I all for rewarding achievement, but this seems like major overkill
20,000 square feet of land?!!...ah school named after him?
whey go happen if he win in brazil 2016, he go get half de country or wha?
an wham to the other 8 fellahs that achieve an olympic medal? dem gettin ah bag of salt?
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/166012876.html
BREAKING NEWS - MILLIONS FOR KESHORN WALCOTT
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 3:15 PM ECT
Trinidad and Tobago's Gold Medal Olympian Keshorn Walcott returned home from London today, to be feted at the Piarco International Airport before a motorcade accompanied him to his Toco home. The teenager left the airport a multi-millionaire, after the Prime Minister announced a bag of goodies to reward the nation's new athletic hero. Among the gifts -
* $1 million cash
* A house in Federation Park valued at $2.5 million
* 20,000 square feet of land in Toco
* A scholarship at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).
* Caribbean Airlines aircraft to be named after Keshorn Walcott
*Toco Lighthouse to be named the “Keshorn Walcott Toco Lighthouse”.
* Housing Development Corporation (HDC) project in Toco.
Trinidad and Tobago's Gold Medal Olympian Keshorn Walcott returned home from London today, to be feted at the Piarco International Airport before a motorcade accompanied him to his Toco home. The teenager left the airport a multi-millionaire, after the Prime Minister announced a bag of goodies to reward the nation's new athletic hero. Among the gifts -
Ok, so I all for rewarding achievement, but this seems like major overkill
20,000 square feet of land?!!...ah school named after him?
whey go happen if he win in brazil 2016, he go get half de country or wha?
an wham to the other 8 fellahs that achieve an olympic medal? dem gettin ah bag of salt?
20k sq ft of (4 lots of EMPTY) land in Toco which for most part is hilly is nothing. They could have built his family a new home on the land. Naming his school after him, a matter of a sign. No big deal.
The fact is it has been 36 years since Crawfie, yet a chutney monarch singing about rum and woman can win $2M whereas a young man who's efforts were recognized worldwide, thereby bring focus to T&T is only offered $1M. Something biased there.
I am glad the school principal in Toco asked the PM to consider providing facilities in Toco. They want to take the Toco boy out of Toco and bring him to town to spoil. It is Toco that produced him, let Toco benefit, not just in the area of sport but infrastructure - roads, tourism, etc.
Even though they shouldn't, these politicians do not even know how to capitalize well on an opportunity - so myopic.
I suspect since Gordon, Solomon, Thompson, Bledman, etc did not come back to complete the entire relay contingents they are probably awaiting an opportunity to have them all back to celebrate. I would suspect it would be Independence Day or Republic Day that comes after the close of the European Circuit.
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I doh have an issue with the cash and house.
Hilly or not, land is land...I'm not a fan of any government giving away a scarce resource like it's their personal assets
I happy for what de youth man get....it just seems like a knee jerk drunken orgy of 'gifts'... the follow up to which somebody will wake up hungover the nex day and ask "oh gord boy,wuh we do last night in trute?"
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I doh have an issue with the cash and house.
Hilly or not, land is land...I'm not a fan of any government giving away a scarce resource like it's their personal assets
I happy for what de youth man get....it just seems like a knee jerk drunken orgy of 'gifts'... the follow up to which somebody will wake up hungover the nex day and ask "oh gord boy,wuh we do last night in trute?"
Is Kamla, wha yuh expect?
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I would like a proper stadium in toco. It doesn't have to be large just have a track and the field facilities. Doh need a big stand or anything. It have rel talented youths up there going to waste
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I would like a proper stadium in toco. It doesn't have to be large just have a track and the field facilities. Doh need a big stand or anything. It have rel talented youths up there going to waste
Well they already give the man a house in POS so that they can build the facility in POS.
They are not thinking that where they have found one talent there are many more, as I said myopic.
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I real happy for this yute... I eh go lie.
Now the matter of the gifts is another thing... like Dutty say it have a certain "orgy" of gifts vibe to it that not quite sitting right. Honestly, this would have been better done with some foresight and planning. These things, if any should have been put out there beforehand as an incentive... "If you win a gold medal, you will receive...". Then what of the silver and bronze medalists? True, not quite an achievement as gold... but nutten fuh dem?
Regarding the actual gifts... I doh have much issue with it, I don't know what land they giving him and what use it could be put to, fuh all we know it might end up being more a headache than anything, but nutten else they might be able to build a home, farm it or share with relatives. I real like the house in Federation Park, nice location, nice value on that property... that is something he could legitimately hold on to and pass.
I just want to see the rest ah athletes get something... even token acknowledgement for those who didn't bring home any medals. As I said in a discussion on facebook, I would have preferred that they host a parade for all the returning athletes, ending at the HC. But we's ah vaille qui vaille society so them kinda thing remains the stuff of dreams.
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How do we know what is too much or to little? I glad the youthman getting his rewards. But allyuh should know in TT, any gov't in power go ride on someone's international success. Last time was Lara, the warriors, then the Beijing athletes, now Keshorn and the rest. We should not be surprised. This was so unexpected, more so than when Crawfie won his. The gov't had nothing in mind for an enventual gold medal winner. So lot of things was by vaps. But I will excuse them on that. But like everyone's concern is about promises made. Is a good thing everybody did not win gold(being sarcastic). Because they would have to build a sporting facility in every community where each athlete came from. I feel the only facility we need badly right now is an indoor velodrome. While they building the new pool, the swimmers can still use St. Anthony's. But I still feel they should build the pool, velodrome, tennis, new indoor arena and dormitories near Ato stadium. It is more centrally located. But they should upgrade and maintain the regional and local play grounds. Then there are coaches and nuturing program. That going to be politics. I honestly don't see fairness happening without being align with or have close connection with the gov't. Why I say so. Seeing that the gov't always have to put a disproportinate amount of funds in sports, they will call the shots. So we have to deal with Anil, whether we like it or not.
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Federation Park has a number of homes for high end government and public service officials, I have been to quite a few. Most of them are now very old and outdated. Saying that he got a $2.5M there means he got house on property that otherwise empty would cost most of that sum. Unless they do some serious renovation and upgrades/refurbishment and furnishing for free, that gift will also be a headache.
If I were his family I would sell that house, and use that money to build a nice home and guest house in Toco so that long term the family would be comfortable in familiar surroundings and have a means to support themselves when all the noise and his career winds down.
Regarding the others, it would be unfair to have a parade for the bronze medallists when most of them are still in Europe competing, it's like have a birthday party for yourself and you not there. I expect that will come later.
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I find it would be better if they just say he will get a gift of cash and a house, no need to state the amount and the value/location of the house. That stinks of the gov't trying to impress the masses with their generosity. Nobody need to know the details of the man business especially wit all de wotless dregs lookin to stick somebody for their money.
It will also avoid ppl comparing this one's gift with what the other one get.
I don't know what was said at the rally but I hope the PM expressed gratitude to all the athletes. It woulda been nice to bring them out and introduce each one to the crowd.
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Federation Park has a number of homes for high end government and public service officials, I have been to quite a few. Most of them are now very old and outdated. Saying that he got a $2.5M there means he got house on property that otherwise empty would cost most of that sum. Unless they do some serious renovation and upgrades/refurbishment and furnishing for free, that gift will also be a headache.
If I were his family I would sell that house, and use that money to build a nice home and guest house in Toco so that long term the family would be comfortable in familiar surroundings and have a means to support themselves when all the noise and his career winds down.
Regarding the others, it would be unfair to have a parade for the bronze medallists when most of them are still in Europe competing, it's like have a birthday party for yourself and you not there. I expect that will come later.
As I said... "for all returning athletes".
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Keshorn Walcott receives his Gold Medal (1080p)
https://vimeo.com/47427422
someone embed this please
Internet police take down the video :(
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http://www.youtube.com/v/Awe_Sf14hPU&
Memories ;D cah stop watching
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first time I seeing this. I could cry. ;D
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/166012876.html
BREAKING NEWS - MILLIONS FOR KESHORN WALCOTT
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 3:15 PM ECT
Trinidad and Tobago's Gold Medal Olympian Keshorn Walcott returned home from London today, to be feted at the Piarco International Airport before a motorcade accompanied him to his Toco home. The teenager left the airport a multi-millionaire, after the Prime Minister announced a bag of goodies to reward the nation's new athletic hero. Among the gifts -
* $1 million cash
* A house in Federation Park valued at $2.5 million
* 20,000 square feet of land in Toco
* A scholarship at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).
* Caribbean Airlines aircraft to be named after Keshorn Walcott
*Toco Lighthouse to be named the “Keshorn Walcott Toco Lighthouse”.
* Housing Development Corporation (HDC) project in Toco.
Trinidad and Tobago's Gold Medal Olympian Keshorn Walcott returned home from London today, to be feted at the Piarco International Airport before a motorcade accompanied him to his Toco home. The teenager left the airport a multi-millionaire, after the Prime Minister announced a bag of goodies to reward the nation's new athletic hero. Among the gifts -
Ok, so I all for rewarding achievement, but this seems like major overkill
20,000 square feet of land?!!...ah school named after him?
whey go happen if he win in brazil 2016, he go get half de country or wha?
an wham to the other 8 fellahs that achieve an olympic medal? dem gettin ah bag of salt?
20k sq ft of (4 lots of EMPTY) land in Toco which for most part is hilly is nothing. They could have built his family a new home on the land. Naming his school after him, a matter of a sign. No big deal.
The fact is it has been 36 years since Crawfie, yet a chutney monarch singing about rum and woman can win $2M whereas a young man who's efforts were recognized worldwide, thereby bring focus to T&T is only offered $1M. Something biased there.
I am glad the school principal in Toco asked the PM to consider providing facilities in Toco. They want to take the Toco boy out of Toco and bring him to town to spoil. It is Toco that produced him, let Toco benefit, not just in the area of sport but infrastructure - roads, tourism, etc.
Even though they shouldn't, these politicians do not even know how to capitalize well on an opportunity - so myopic.
I suspect since Gordon, Solomon, Thompson, Bledman, etc did not come back to complete the entire relay contingents they are probably awaiting an opportunity to have them all back to celebrate. I would suspect it would be Independence Day or Republic Day that comes after the close of the European Circuit.
Exactly. How much money did the police from Canada get? How much money did they give for Shaquile Oneil and the basketball program? The government feels that since he is not "well off" any monetary item is sufficient. I am glad that there is an attempt to encourage him to go to complete University. But a scholarship to UTT is just there to appease the masses because UTT is practically free to attend through government programs. If you know how I does get vex when people say " well the government looking after him with those gifts". Last, 20,000 square feet of land only sounds like a lot...
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Keshorn_tells_Toco_sorry_for_midnight_arrival-166210866.html
Keshorn tells Toco sorry for midnight arrival
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Aug 14, 2012 at 10:56 PM ECT
Sorry, Toco.
Olympic Gold medallist Keshorn Walcott apologised to the people of Toco at 1 a.m. yesterday for having to wait for hours at the Toco Secondary School to welcome him home.
"I'm sorry for being late; it wasn't my fault. I just want to say thanks to everyone: thanks for all the ministers, the hard work today, thanks to all the people who came out to the airport; it is a long, long journey to Toco to have this function, so I would just like to thank God for everything ...thank my parents, and thank my coach and thank the people for all their support," said Walcott as the crowd cheered loudly.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar explained to the upset Toco people that their arrival in Toco should have been hours before, but it was just not possible because Walcott was mobbed by thousands of people along the way.
"I stood on that truck from Piarco airport, and my strength came from Keshorn Walcott standing next to me. My strength came all along the route; we should have been here hours ago, Mr Walcott, not true? Mrs Walcott, you were on the truck, too, but everywhere along this route, Keshorn was mobbed; there was an outpouring of love, a tribute to young Walcott here," said Persad-Bissessar.
She said Walcott asked her not to make any long speeches, so the Prime Minister spoke for just about seven minutes where she listed the rewards for Walcott before adding a new one —the renaming of the Toco Secondary School after him. (See story below)
The Prime Minister and Walcott arrived at the Toco Secondary School at approximately 12.20 a.m. yesterday.
By 12.33 a.m., Persad-Bissessar, hand in hand with Walcott's mother, Beverley, had walked onto the stage with Walcott where a short welcoming ceremony followed.
From early afternoon, hundreds from Toco and surrounding areas such as Cumana, Balandra and Sangre Grande, as well as other parts of the country, had gathered at the school to welcome home Walcott.
The numbers eventually dwindled as people left the venue, tired of waiting.
Walcott had arrived at Piarco International Airport from London at 11.15 a.m. on Monday where hundreds had filled the atrium of the airport to show their appreciation.
By 1.15 p.m., following a victory celebration, a large motorcade comprising of Government ministers, officials and members of the public left Piarco for Toco.
Walcott, together with Persad-Bissessar, stood at the back of a decorated three-tonne Kia van for the journey, which turned out to be 11 hours long.
The motorcade snaked along the route as citizens came out and lined the streets to greet Walcott.
In some areas such as Sangre Grande, the traffic was at a standstill for almost two hours as the crowds increased.
Along every community, people came out in their numbers. By 9 p.m., the motorcade had reached Matura, and nearing 11 p.m., it had made its way to Cumana.
The large contingent of cars and trucks had crawled along the route for most of the journey as the roadways were narrow, and all oncoming traffic was instructed by police to pull to the side.
The large music truck had difficulty making its way to the Toco Secondary School because of the narrow, winding roadway.
When the motorcade entered Toco, people on the roadsides were visibly upset.
"You know how long we waiting?", "Why allyuh keep the boy so long?", "We fed up wait!", "Not fair to Toco!" they shouted.
Some people dressed in traditional Carnival costumes had waited patiently until midnight for Walcott.
Scores of Toco residents who had left the Toco Secondary School and had gone home started walking back to the venue to meet Walcott.
At the school, people were upset and booed as Toco/Sangre Grande MP Rupert Griffith made his way to the podium to announce the arrival of the long-awaited guests.
Sensing the anger of the people, Persad-Bissessar explained that the delay was due to the outpouring of love for Walcott.
However, only Walcott was able to placate the people when he apologised to them, and they in turn roared in support.
At 1.20 a.m., there was a huge display of fireworks for about ten minutes, and just after 2 a.m., the Prime Minister departed the venue by helicopter.
A very tired-looking Walcott, still wanting to share in the celebration with his peers, stayed back to lime on the roadway as the motorcade departed. The Express was unable to contact Walcott yesterday for a comment on the long-delayed motorcade.
Contacted yesterday, Griffith told the Express he was booed because people were tired and frustrated of waiting.
"There was nothing I could have done," he said.
Griffith said he had left the motorcade and made his way to the school to prepare for Walcott's welcome.
He said thousands had gathered from early evening as he had organised buses to transport people from Toco and surrounding areas to go to the airport and then back to the school for celebrations.
Griffith said while he understood the people of Toco were upset, there were a "million and one" positives.
A large stage was erected in the savannah of the school compound where a number of performances, including that of soca star Machel Montano, were carded.
Griffith said Montano did not come because of the late timing, but other performers entertained the crowds and left.
Government Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, who was part of organising Walcott's welcome, said the delay was not expected.
"The fact is the delay was caused largely by the enormous outpouring of love and support for Walcott," he said.
"Yesterday was history; the people united in love and patriotism; the only thing that didn't happen was the dead didn't come to life," said Moonilal.
Asked if, in retrospect, the motorcade should have been better planned, Moonilal said it was a moment of celebration, and the country took pride in Walcott's historic achievement.
He said there would be more activities in the Toco community to pay tribute to Walcott.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/REST_FOR_WALCOTT-166211046.html
REST FOR WALCOTT
Olympic champ to take time off after extended season
By Kern De Freitas
Story Created: Aug 14, 2012 at 10:56 PM ECT
A long, well-deserved rest.
That's what is in store for Trinidad and Tobago's new Olympic javelin champion Keshorn Walcott after what his manager Sean Roach and coach Ismael Lopez Mastrapa prescribed for the athlete following an extended season.
Walcott on Saturday shocked the globe by snatching the title with an 84.58-metre throw, becoming only T&T's second Olympic gold medallist after Hasely Crawford's 100m win in Montreal in 1976.
He is also the first male Olympic javelin throw champion from the Western Hemisphere in 60 years. Those feats earned Walcott many accolades, including $1 million, a house in Federation Park, and the honour of having his alma mater, Toco Secondary, renamed in tribute to the 19-year-old Toco resident.
Roach told the Express yesterday that Walcott has worked really hard and deserves to have some rest before he resumes training.
"In terms of Keshorn's (training)...really after all the festivities [what he needs] is rest. He has had a very, very, very long season, and everyone would understand."
Since the world junior champion returned to T&T along with some other Olympic athletes after an eight-hour delayed flight on Monday—which was declared a public holiday in their honour—the thrower was celebrated for more than an hour at Piarco International Airport.
He left the airport in a motorcade that proceeded North East to Toco and got there 11 hours later, before the celebrations continued into the early hours of yesterday morning.
Walcott was notably low key yesterday, possibly trying to escape the attention directed his way since his flight touched down at Piarco.
Roach explained that Walcott has had a packed year so far and needs to recover now.
"A lot of athletes trained towards the Olympics," Roach pointed out. "[Keshorn] trained for the Carifta (Games), then CAC (Central American and Caribbean Juniors), and then he went to World Junior (Championships), and then the Olympics, so his body is very tired. His coach really wants him to rest up. I want to make sure he's well rested."
The plan is to have the Olympic champ recuperate for at least six weeks, with the World Championships in Moscow, Russia looming in August next year.
His management team will not rush Walcott back into action. Roach also confirmed that the teenager, now a senior athlete, will not compete for the rest of the year. In fact, they have not yet confirmed which events he will compete in for 2013, although Roach hinted that they will be looking at some Diamond League events.
"We haven't planned [his programme for next year] as yet," Roach said. "He's not going to be competing at any more meets for the year. Most likely Diamond League meets and whatever his coach tells us he's ready for."
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PM__No_expense_spared_for_school_named_after_medallist-166210856.html
PM: No expense spared for school named after medallist
Story Created: Aug 14, 2012 at 10:56 PM ECT
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday bestowed an additional gift on Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott yesterday by naming the Toco Secondary School after him.
Just before one o'clock yesterday morning, Persad-Bissessar made the announcement at a reception for Walcott at the Toco Secondary School, energising the very tired crowd who had waited hours to see him.
Persad-Bissessar said as she was walking into the school compound, she saw Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh and told him the school would be named the Keshorn Walcott Secondary School.
The Prime Minister also assured the school's principal, Verona Davis-Modeste, that the school would be taken care of in terms of the need for resources.
"Madam, I know you heart is with the development of our children as mine is, and our Minister of Education is now instructed to do whatever is necessary to develop the facilities here at this school at Toco, and Madam principal, if he doesn't do it, come and tell me; I'll take care of you," said Persad-Bissessar.
Davis-Modeste, who spoke before Persad-Bissessar, highlighted the many challenges the school faced with its sporting programmes.
"It was here that the talent of Keshorn Walcott, 2012 men's javelin gold medallist, was unearthed and nurtured; it is moments and accomplishments like these that remind us that amidst our many constraints, amidst our limited resources and amidst the many challenges we face, we can still rise," said Davis-Modeste to loud applause from the audience.
Toco Secondary School, she said, had, from its inception, provided a field of learning and different opportunities for pupils to participate in different sporting activities, which include football, track and field, netball, volleyball, table tennis and cricket.
She said the school faced many challenges in continuing to provide avenues for students to develop holistically.
"These challenges include the lack of proper training facilities and modern equipment, the enormous cost of transportation to access training and competition venues, the high cost of outfitting teams and inability to attract sufficient top-level coaches in all the sporting disciplines due to financial constraints," she said.
Most of the problems, she said, were as a result of the school's geographical location.
She said for the 2011/ 2012 academic year, the school incurred a transportation cost of $48,800 and a coaching cost of $88,090, amounting to approximately $136,890 to manage the sports programme.
"Many have questioned the large sums of money spent yearly on our sporting programmes, but today, Keshorn, you have justified our expenditure," she said.
"If the school and, by extension, the athletes of Toco are to maintain sporting excellence at a national level, we look forward to our field being upgraded, to a Keshorn Walcott Stadium built in the community and the Ministry of Sport assuming the responsibility of paying coaches," said Davis-Modeste.
"Without a doubt, Keshorn has made the country proud; he has made the country recognise what we have known for years that athletes of Toco are a force to be reckoned with. There is no school throughout Trinidad and Tobago whose sporting history, record and accomplishment can compare to ours," she added.
She thanked Walcott for putting Trinidad and Tobago and, in particular, Toco on the world map.
"Thank you for making the world take notice of Trinidad and Tobago and, by extension, Toco.... We will share with generations to come the tears that came to our eyes and the joy that filled our hearts when the Trinidad and Tobago flag was hoisted at the London Olympics and our national anthem played," said Davis-Modeste.
She also offered words of advice to Walcott, saying, "Keshorn, you have put Toco on the world map; keep it in mind, stay humble, never forget those who would have helped along the journey and never forget the hurdles and hardships you have had to overcome along the way."
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Keshorn Walcott receives his Gold Medal (1080p)
https://vimeo.com/47427422
someone embed this please
Internet police take down the video :(
I downloaded it, thanks a lot.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,164790.html
Javelin dare pays off
By Carol Matroo Wednesday, August 15 2012
After feting into the wee hours of yesterday morning Toco once again slipped into its relaxed existence.
Residents took to the streets of Toco on Monday night as they celebrated the victory of one of their own—Keshorn Walcott, who won the first ever gold medal in the javelin thrown for Trinidad and Tobago at the Olympic games in London last Saturday.
As Newsday visited the village in the aftermath of the celebrations it was as if the revelry never happened as the grounds of the Toco Composite School, where the 19-year-old attended, were cleaned of the bottles, cups and other debris from just hours before. Villagers went about their business while others sat on stoops or in bars liming.
Neighbours in Trois Rouche, where Walcott grew up, revealed the Olympic champion had left the village that same morning. In fact, no one was at home however two Finnish visitors Hassan and his wife Erja Abahassine were photographing the house. The Finns placed third in the javelin throw this year. The javelin king’s grandmother Joycelyn Walcott, speaking at her home in L’Anse Noire, said Walcott had been staying with his manager in San Juan for the past seven months to access better training facilities. The proud grandmother said she felt very good about Walcott achievements.
“I feeling real nice, Keshorn born and grow in this house until he started going to the L’Anse Noire Moravian School when he was five-years-old. Then he went to live with his mother (Beverly) in Trois Rouche,” she said. Joycelyn said Walcott had always been a humble, quiet person and did not believe that the multi-million dollar gifts he received would change his personality. She felt her grandson deserved all that he got because of his accomplishments and the pride and joy he had brought to the country.
Walcott’s aunt Anna-Lee, a teacher at Toco Composite, said Walcott had no immediate plans regarding the $1 million in cash he is to receive. She also believed that moving to a $2.5 million townhouse at Federation Park would not change him.
She said the young gold medallist came from an athletic background and has been involved in sports since primary school.
Anna-Lee and her elder brother Elton represented this country in sporting events before both suffered injuries.
“He really wanted to play cricket, he wanted to be a fast bowler. I believed if he had followed cricket he would have succeeded because he was good,” she said.
Anna-Lee said Walcott began throwing the javelin after a dare from his classmates.
“He was in Form Three and he was practising the long jump when he saw some other boys throwing the javelin. He told them, ‘I bet I could throw it further’. They did not believe him but he did,” she said. Anna-Lee said Walcott was a very disciplined athlete and wanted to keep training with his Cuban coach Ismael Lopez.
She said the youths in TT needed more support from their parents when it came to sports.
“Many parents believe that playing a sport would amount to nothing good, Keshorn has proven that is not so,” Anna-Lee said, co-founder of the Toco track and field athletic club. Next door to Walcott’s parents home in Trois Rouche, neighbour Alicia Williams was beside herself with pride for young Walcott.
“Right now I can’t ketch myself,” she said. Her husband Reynold Horn said it was time that Toco be recognised. “Who is we that we can’t put something out there too, you see how he nice up the place?” Horn said as he pointed out the newly graded road that led to the house which sat on a hill.
“When I leave here this morning (yesterday) this place was only bush now the place clean,” he beamed. A contractor was later seen measuring the roadway to continue work on it. Horn said he always believed that Walcott was going to succeed. “He is a black man as long as he reach there he will perform, is yam and dasheen we does eat here,” Horn said.
Teenagers Kimmel Williams and Nishelle Bishop said Walcott’s victory has inspired them to reach for greater things. Debbie-Ann Marcano said Toco is very proud of Walcott.
“People tend to look at Toco as ‘behind God back’, now everyone knows where Toco is,” she said. Macarno added the proposed housing development promised by Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar was a welcomed plan as it would bring jobs for the young men who are unemployed. Anez Baptiste leaned across her front door chatting with several other residents, “I feel real proud of Keshorn with Toco being a rural area and for bringing gold to this environment, I really appreciate everything the Government has given to him, even though he should get some more because he is from a poor family,” Baptiste said.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,164791.html
Missing – Keshorn’s javelin throw
By MIRANDA LA ROSE Wednesday, August 15 2012
How to include the nation’s latest Olympic gold medalist, Keshorn Walcott, in a completed collection of murals commemorating the 50th Independence anniversary, is now on the mind of Minister of Tourism, Stephen Cadiz.
“The ministry will now have to see how Walcott’s win, could be included in the murals, or what could be done before Independence Day,” said Cadiz.
The stories of the nation’s achievements in athleticism, at the local and international levels, are on show in a panel of murals that have been added to the collection on the walls of Tower D, International Waterfront, Port-of-Spain. The murals on sport feature prominently Trinidad and Tobago’s first Olympic medal, won in 1976 by Hasely Crawford, along with other sports icons.
However, the murals were completed before Walcott copped the gold medal in the javelin throw at the London Olympics, and days before the nation marks the 50th anniversary.
At 19 years of age, Walcott is the youngest competitor ever to win a javelin throw at the modern Olympics, the first from the Western Hemisphere to win a gold medal in the event, the first in 40 years from the western hemisphere, and the first national of TT to win a gold medal in a field event. Asked if the panel of murals could be modified to include the nation’s latest achievement won by Walcott, Cadiz yesterday told Newsday, “I don’t know if it could be done.” Making any changes in the murals at this stage, Cadiz said, “wouldn’t be the call of the designer. It would be the ministry’s.”
“Considering what happened over the weekend with Keshorn Walcott winning gold,” he said, “the Ministry will now have to see how Walcott’s win could be included in the murals, or what could be done before Independence Day.” The panel of murals was one of ten, which now adorn the walls of Tower D, are due for an official unveiling by next weekend. The ten panels of murals which complete the Independence anniversary collection, features the peoples who came to TT with their cultures including, religion, commerce and politics.
The first panel shows the indigenous peoples along with the arrival of the Europeans. Other panels depict the cultures of the Africans, East Indians, Chinese, Syrians/Arabic, Spanish and French, and from colonial power to the attainment of political independence, a special feature on Tobago, and last but not least, sport, carnival and industry and commerce.
In July, when the first three panels of murals were installed, Roman Catholic priest Fr Kenneth Assing criticised some of the symbols, such as elephants, portrayed in the artwork saying that they should not have been there.
Cadiz told Newsday that the artist/designer, Brian Mac Farlane, who was commissioned to do the designs, was licensed to depict the historical and contemporary lives in TT, based on his interpretation. The murals, made from papier mache, has a metallic finish.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-08-15/toco-school-also-be-named-after-walcott
Toco school also to be named after Walcott
Published: Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Kevon Felmine
It was an overwhelming experience for Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott as thousands of supporters lined the main road from Arouca to Toco on Monday, waiting to catch a glimpse of their hero at the head of a motorcade following his arrival from the London Olympic Games. For some, the blazing sunlight turned into a cool night but they remained undaunted, waiting for many hours for the 19-year-old javelin champion of the 2012 Olympics to acknowledge their support.
Walcott, who was greeted as a returning hero at Piarco Airport just before midday, arrived in Toco after midnight. This was after enduring a 13-hour flight from London’s Gatwick Airport to Piarco. After the ceremony at the airport, he went on a nine-hour motorcade to Toco on the tray of a truck. Alongside him were his parents, Beverly Walcott and Endy King, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Sports Minister Anil Roberts.
Other Government officials, including National Security Minister Jack Warner, Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh and Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas, followed on another truck. Remaining calm, Walcott waved to his admirers who lined the Eastern Main Road from Lopinot Junction, Arouca, to Hamburg Village in Toco. A visibly exhausted Walcott arrived at 12.15 am yesterday at the Toco Composite School, where many had congregated for a function planned for much earlier in the day.
In a short interview, Walcott said he intended to return to school to further his education and pursue his sports career. However, he could not say when. Asked what was his next step, he simply said: “Rest.” While his next javelin competition is carded for next year, Walcott said the Olympic experience was great.
He said: “Well, as you can see, it was a great experience. I won gold. Everything went well although the place was a bit boring but other than that everything was good. The people were friendly, the facilities were great and I really enjoyed it.” Commenting on his gifts from the Government for his record-breaking achievement, he said:
“I am just thankful for everything. I really was not looking for all the gifts. So I am just thankful for what I have received. When I was over there (London), I was told by the other 2008 medallists it would be crazy so I was kind of premeditating in my mind but it still has not caught up to me as yet.
“I am thankful for the support. The people came out... I am guessing like nine hours... because we took really long to come up here, so I am just grateful they came and we are going to celebrate with them.” Addressing supporters who had to squeeze into the school auditorium and corridors, Persad-Bissessar announced another reward for the champion in addition to those revealed at the airport. She said the school from which Walcott graduated will be renamed the Keshorn Walcott Secondary School and its facilities will be improved.
This comes in addition to her promises made at the airport that Walcott will receive $1 million cash to invest; a $2.5 million house in Federation Park, St James; 20,000 square feet of land near his Trois Roche Village home and a scholarship at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. The Toco lighthouse will also be renamed after him and a CAL aircraft will carry his name.
Persad-Bissessar added that the Housing Development Corporation would build a housing development in the area which she said would create much-needed jobs and provide homes for at least 100 people. She added those were only some of the gifts the Government had in store for Walcott. When Walcott took the podium, he expressed his gratitude. He said: “Firstly, I’d like to say good morning. I apologise for being late, it was my fault. I just want to say to thanks to everyone.
“Thanks to the ministers for all their hard work. Thanks to the people who came down to the airport and made that long, long, journey to Toco to have this function. “I just want to say thank God for everything. I thank my parents, I thank my coach and I would just like to thank all the people for their support. Thank God.” The event ended at 2.40 am with a ten-minute fireworks display at the school grounds Shortly after, people started the long journey out of Toco.
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Keshorn Walcott uses his mother's last name.
His father's last name is King and Keshorn's grandfather is from St Vincent.
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(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292304_345004868918761_1909342756_n.jpg)
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^^^I nearly facking dead jess now when I see that on FB.
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^^^I nearly facking dead jess now when I see that on FB.
I did buss out laughing. We good idle yes. :rotfl:
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So i did some reading of Finland views on the win.
Make sure you using google chrome if you want to translate it automatically.
Jan Zelezny the world record holder named Walcott the biggest surprise of the games.
Zelezny named the Olympic Games, the biggest surprise
http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/olympialaiset/uutiset.shtml/2012/08/1596691/zelezny-nimesi-olympiakisojen-suurimman-yllatyksen
Javelin Olympic champion will be rewarded handsomely
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/yleisurheilu/art-1288491906634.html
Walcott thrown a javelin in just four years
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/yleisurheilu/art-1288491391274.html
Javelin winner will receive a surprise kotimaaltaan plush gifts
http://www.aamulehti.fi/Urheilu/1194761665476/artikkeli/keihaan+yllatysvoittaja+saa+kotimaaltaan+muhkeat+lahjat.html
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/166012876.html
BREAKING NEWS - MILLIONS FOR KESHORN WALCOTT
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 3:15 PM ECT
Trinidad and Tobago's Gold Medal Olympian Keshorn Walcott returned home from London today, to be feted at the Piarco International Airport before a motorcade accompanied him to his Toco home. The teenager left the airport a multi-millionaire, after the Prime Minister announced a bag of goodies to reward the nation's new athletic hero. Among the gifts -
* $1 million cash
* A house in Federation Park valued at $2.5 million
* 20,000 square feet of land in Toco
* A scholarship at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).
* Caribbean Airlines aircraft to be named after Keshorn Walcott
*Toco Lighthouse to be named the “Keshorn Walcott Toco Lighthouse”.
* Housing Development Corporation (HDC) project in Toco.
Trinidad and Tobago's Gold Medal Olympian Keshorn Walcott returned home from London today, to be feted at the Piarco International Airport before a motorcade accompanied him to his Toco home. The teenager left the airport a multi-millionaire, after the Prime Minister announced a bag of goodies to reward the nation's new athletic hero. Among the gifts -
Ok, so I all for rewarding achievement, but this seems like major overkill
20,000 square feet of land?!!...ah school named after him?
whey go happen if he win in brazil 2016, he go get half de country or wha?
an wham to the other 8 fellahs that achieve an olympic medal? dem gettin ah bag of salt?
20k sq ft of (4 lots of EMPTY) land in Toco which for most part is hilly is nothing. They could have built his family a new home on the land. Naming his school after him, a matter of a sign. No big deal.
The fact is it has been 36 years since Crawfie, yet a chutney monarch singing about rum and woman can win $2M whereas a young man who's efforts were recognized worldwide, thereby bring focus to T&T is only offered $1M. Something biased there.
I am glad the school principal in Toco asked the PM to consider providing facilities in Toco. They want to take the Toco boy out of Toco and bring him to town to spoil. It is Toco that produced him, let Toco benefit, not just in the area of sport but infrastructure - roads, tourism, etc.
Even though they shouldn't, these politicians do not even know how to capitalize well on an opportunity - so myopic.
I suspect since Gordon, Solomon, Thompson, Bledman, etc did not come back to complete the entire relay contingents they are probably awaiting an opportunity to have them all back to celebrate. I would suspect it would be Independence Day or Republic Day that comes after the close of the European Circuit.
Exactly. How much money did the police from Canada get? How much money did they give for Shaquile Oneil and the basketball program? The government feels that since he is not "well off" any monetary item is sufficient. I am glad that there is an attempt to encourage him to go to complete University. But a scholarship to UTT is just there to appease the masses because UTT is practically free to attend through government programs. If you know how I does get vex when people say " well the government looking after him with those gifts". Last, 20,000 square feet of land only sounds like a lot...
only shows tt ppl priorites facked up ... Is all.. Meanwhile Diego & woodbrooke ppl, amongst many, shovelling, bailing & celebrating "Gold, boy"
"As long as ah get it , ah happy, ah happy, ah happy". .. We mix up bad... Remove smartmen & Clown leaders and replaced by smartmen & Clown leaders.....this must be the mad part...yep..i done gone mad ahready..no need to cuss me
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/
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http://www.youtube.com/v/ut5Qafi-6ZA
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Isn't tertiary education already free for citizens of Trinidad and Tobago? How can one get a "scholarship" to go study at University of Trinidad and Tobago if it is already free of charge? ??? ???
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Isn't tertiary education already free for citizens of Trinidad and Tobago? How can one get a "scholarship" to go study at University of Trinidad and Tobago if it is already free of charge? ??? ???
It's called gimmicks my friend. Wha yuh worrying bout?!
This is normal behaviour under the current government!
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19253050
Olympics: lighthouse named after champion Keshorn Walcott
Great Britain's gold medallists may be happy with a stamp and a golden postbox, but it doesn't quite match up to Trinidad and Tobago's offering.
Keshorn Walcott threw 84.58m in the men's javelin to win his nation their first Olympic gold in field events.
His reward came in the shape of £100,000, around 20,000 square feet of land and a lighthouse named after him.
Walcott will also have his name adorn a Caribbean Airlines plane, as well as a luxury home after his Olympic success.
The 19-year-old, from the tiny farming village of Toco, became the first non-European to win the men's javelin since American Cy Young in 1952.
He returned home on Monday to Trinidad's Piarco International Airport, where thousands dressed in the national colours of red, black and white greeted him.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had declared Monday a national holiday after the victory - only the second Olympic gold in Trinidad and Tobago's history following Hasley Crawford's victory in the men's 100m at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
Walcott, who is the reigning world junior champion, said: "I was proud to carry the flag of Trinidad and Tobago. Thanks to everyone for all the support and thanks to Mum and Dad, my brothers and sister."
Swimming against the tide
Trinidad and Tobago have only ever won two Olympic gold medals, and 18 medals in total.
Most of those belong to athletics, although there's three weightlifting medals and a solitary swimming bronze - George Bovell in 2004 in the men's 200m individual medley.
Olympics Javelin Analysis
Steve Backley
Triple Olympic javelin medallist and BBC pundit
"The double Olympic champion Thorkildsen has failed to get on the rostrum and that is a huge upset in javelin throwing. A surprise win for Keshorn Walcott. Everyone else struggled with the wind and he has walked away with the gold medal."
Video: Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago wins gold
Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott throws a national record 84.58m to claim a surprise Olympic gold medal in the men's javelin.
The 19-year-old beat Ukraine's Oleksandr Pyatnytsya, who came second with 84.51m, while Finn Antti Ruuskanen's 84.12m took bronze.
Defending Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway had to settle for sixth place.
BBC video link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19230880
Available to UK users only.
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http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/other/14547052/javelin-pot-of-gold-for-walcott-in-trinidad/
Javelin pot of gold for Walcott in Trinidad
Associated Press, The West Australian
August 14, 2012, 11:13 am
Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott didn't just return to a hero's welcome in his Caribbean homeland of Trinidad & Tobago.
He was also promised a cheque for about $US155,000 ($A148,000), a luxury home and a large block of land near his home town.
Oh, and a lighthouse and a Caribbean Airlines plane will be named after the 19-year-old javelin champion, too.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar lavished Walcott with gifts and praise on Monday at Trinidad's Piarco International Airport, where a few thousand revellers dressed in the national colours of red, black and white greeted the young athlete.
Monday was named a national holiday in honour of Walcott, who won the Olympic javelin title with a throw of 84.58 metres.
Walcott's victory was Trinidad's first Olympic gold in a field event and its second overall. The first one was notched 36 years ago at the Montreal Olympics when Hasely Crawford won the 100m dash.
"On behalf of the people of Trinidad & Tobago, we thank you, Keshorn, and may the Lord continue to bless you," Persad-Bissessar shouted into a microphone, trying to get her voice above the crowd's chanting of "Keshorn!".
Walcott, who is from the tiny Trinidadian farming village of Toco, looked slightly stunned by the outpouring of gratitude from his countrymen.
"I was proud to carry the flag of T&T and thanks to everyone for all the support and thanks to mum and dad, my brothers and sister," said Walcott, who was the world junior champion in javelin before his big weekend win at the London Olympics.
Cricket fans might wonder if he is related to the great West Indian batsman Clyde Walcott, but there is apparently no link. Clyde Walcott was from Barbados.
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Full BBC Video coverage of Olympic Javelin Final
Men's Javelin: Dedicated coverage of the Men's Javelin Final (No commentary).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/live-video/p00w3367
Go to Section 1 (00:06:00) for startlist and introduction of 12 finalists just before start of competition*
Go to Section 2 (00:15:00) for Keshorn Walcott's Attempt 1 83.51m NR*
Go to Section 3 (00:27:29) for Keshorn Walcott's Attempt 2 84.58m NR & gold medal throw*
Go to Section 4 (00:39:30) for Keshorn Walcott's Attempt 3 foul*
Go to Section 5 (00:57:00) for Keshorn Walcott's Attempt 4 80.64m*
Go to Section 6 (01:06:40) for Keshorn Walcott's Attempt 5 foul*
Go to Section 7 (01:14:27) for Keshorn Walcott's victory celebration with T&T flag*
Gold: Keshorn Walcott–men’s javelin final–84.58 metres
Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott throws a national record 84.58m to claim a surprise Olympic gold medal in the men's javelin.
The 19-year-old beat Ukraine's Oleksandr Pyatnytsya, who came second with 84.51m, while Finn Antti Ruuskanen's 84.12m took bronze.
Defending Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway had to settle for sixth place.
BBC video link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19230880
Available to UK users only.
http://www.iaaf.org/mini/oly12/Results/ResultsByDate.aspx?racedate=08-11-2012/sex=M/discCode=JT/combCode=hash/roundCode=f/results.html#detM_JT_hash_f
Results Javelin Throw - Men FINAL
Afternoon session
Final - Saturday 11 August 2012 - 19:20
Position Bib Athlete Country Mark
1 3052 Keshorn Walcott TRI 84.58 (NR)
2 3143 Oleksandr Pyatnytsya UKR 84.51 .
3 1727 Antti Ruuskanen FIN 84.12 .
4 1525 Vítezslav Veselý CZE 83.34 .
5 1726 Tero Pitkämäki FIN 82.80 .
6 2599 Andreas Thorkildsen NOR 82.63 .
7 1982 Spirídon Lebésis GRE 81.91 .
8 1901 Tino Häber GER 81.21 .
9 2609 Stuart Farquhar NZL 80.22 .
10 2219 Roderick Genki Dean JPN 79.95 .
11 1725 Ari Mannio FIN 78.60 .
12 2322 Julius Yego KEN 77.15
Youtube Video coverage of Final Day's T&F Finals
Includes Olympic Javelin Final & Victory Ceremony plus Men's 4x100m Relay Final & Victory Ceremony.
http://www.youtube.com/user/olympic/London2012
Go to (0:00:00) for Keshorn Walcott's 1st Round Attempt 83.51m NR*
Go to (0:12:30) for Keshorn Walcott's 2nd Round Attempt 84.58m NR & gold medal throw*
Go to (0:58:40) for Keshorn Walcott's victory celebration when he realised he won*
Go to (1:47:30) for Keshorn Walcott's victory ceremony with T&T anthem being played*
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,164839.html
Walcott to study at UTT
By STEPHON NICHOLAS Thursday, August 16 2012
Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott has turned down offers from the United States (US) to accept a full scholarship offered by Government to pursue tertiary studies at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).
At a gala reception at the Piarco International Airport on Monday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar revealed Government will be honouring the 19-year-old for his phenomenal achievement in London last Saturday.
Among the list of rewards to Walcott was the scholarship to study whatever he desires at UTT.
Walcott was also given a house in Federation Park worth $2.5 million, 20,000 square feet of land and $1 million in cash.
To also honour him, the Toco Lighthouse was renamed the Keshorn Walcott Lighthouse, a Caribbean Airlines aircraft would be named after him, his former secondary school, Toco Composite, will also now bear his name.
Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Walcott, who was offered scholarships in the US, revealed he is staying in Trinidad and will be attending UTT.
“Yes I accepted it (the scholarship) but I’m not sure as yet (what I am studying),” he said.
Walcott, who has gone from virtual obscurity to one of the most famous people in the country, previously attended the now Keshorn Walcott Secondary School in Toco where he wrote his CXC examinations.
He later returned to the same school to pursue Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). Walcott wrote his Level I exams but due to a hectic 2012 season was unable to write the final Level II exam.
Walcott competed at the National Junior Championships on June 3, the National Open Championships on June 24, the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Championships on June 29 and the World Junior Championship in Spain on July 13, winning gold at every single meet.
He then flew to a pre-Olympic camp in Wales before going to the Olympics in London where he beat an impressive field which included World champion Matthias de Zordo of Germany and number one ranked Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic.
“Because we had to focus on certain goals (he couldn’t write the examinations),” Sean Roach, Walcott’s manager stated yesterday. It is unclear if Walcott will complete his CAPE studies or be allowed to study at UTT based on other entry level requirements.
Meanwhile, Walcott, who received a Blackberry smartphone from TSTT on Tuesday, following a visit to their branch on Edward Street in Port-of-Spain, revealed no endorsement deal has been finalised as yet with the telecommunications company.
The reigning World Junior champion was paraded before his adoring fans from Piarco to his hometown of Toco in a motorcade that lasted over seven hours on Monday, ending in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.
The outpouring of love and support for the teenager have been tremendous with more than 7,000 turning up at the airport to greet him and thousands more lining the streets to catch a glimpse of their hero.
Asked how has this experience been for him, Walcott said he really appreciated those who made his homecoming such a grand affair.
“It feels really great. Everything has been coming along great,” he said yesterday, while he noted that rest and recuperation alone are on his mind for the near future.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,164842.html
Javelin king moves up Elite list
Thursday, August 16 2012
Winning the country’s second Olympic gold medal is expected to boost Keshorn Walcott to among the highest earners in the Ministry of Sport’s Elite Athletes Assistance Programme (EAAP) following his historic performance at the London Games on Saturday.
Walcott, the first person in 60 years from the Western Hemisphere to win an Olympic field event, collected between $75,000 to $100,000 earlier this year but will be joining the top bracket of athletes which currently includes cyclist Njisane Phillip, swimmer George Bovell III and shot putter Cleopatra Borel.
The trio each received $200,000 from the Sport Ministry in January as they were recognised as the top local performers in their field and good investments for the future.
Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Ashwin Creed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, revealed there will be a detailed review and analysis of the performance of each athlete on the Elite list and an amendment will be made following a meeting of Cabinet later this month.
Just a few months after being included in the (EAAP), the 19-year-old Walcott repaid the faith put in him by the Ministry by bringing an Olympic gold medal to our shores.
The Toco teenager was not even on the list for the October 2010-January 2012 period, but has certainly justified his case for Elite funding in less than two months.
He set a new personal best of 82.83 metres at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Championships to win gold in late June and later flew to Spain where he became just the sixth athlete from this country to become a World Junior champion.
His exploits, already capping a perfect year, could never top what happened on Saturday where a perfect year became sensational.
Walcott shattered his national record twice in the final to walk in the footsteps of the great Hasely Crawford and become the first TT athlete in 36 years to win an Olympic gold with a massive 84.58 metre throw.
It has been a stunning and swift rise to stardom for the athlete coming out of Trois Rouche in Toco.
Contacted by Newsday concerning Walcott’s omission from the October 2010 to January 2012 disbursement list, Creed noted Walcott had not yet achieved the Olympic ‘B’ qualifying standard but was later added to the list.
“I can confirm that he did get money (prior to the Olympics), he and his brother (Elton) did get money. The Ministry also paid for a one-month training stint in Cuba for him (in May) and bought javelins at a cost of $1,500 each for him to use. It’s not his javelin but it’s for him to use,” Creed stated.
The Permanent Secretary also hinted that athletes who have not been performing may be axed from the Elite list or see their funding considerably reduced.
“We will be assessing the performance of every single athlete on the list because there are athletes who have been receiving money since 2004 and haven’t produced an individual medal as yet,” Creed declared.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Keshorn_can_move_in_within_two_weeks-166351526.html
Keshorn can move in within two weeks
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Aug 15, 2012 at 9:50 PM ECT
Toco-born Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott will be able to move into his new luxury home at Federation Park Villas in about two weeks.
Housing Development Corporation (HDC) managing director Jearlean John told the Express yesterday the HDC was finalising all the legal documents required for Walcott's ownership of the townhouse.
The townhouse comprises three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room, dining room, study and kitchen and is owned by the HDC, she said.
The unit, she added, was fully furnished with 24-hour security on the site.
John said Federation Villas was just about four years old and was not for sale.
John explained that the townhouses were built to accommodate foreign consultants and also for Ministers who may reside in Tobago but come to Trinidad for Cabinet or Parliament meetings. They are not assigned to anyone in particular.
Asked if Walcott would be able to sell the unit if he so wishes, John said he would have the legal title to his Federation Park townhouse.
Upon his return from the London Olympics on Monday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced a number of rewards for Walcott at a reception at Piarco International Airport.
In addition to the $2.5 million townhouse at Federation Villas, Walcott is to receive $1 million cash, 20,000 square feet of land in Toco and a scholarship from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).
In addition, the Toco Lighthouse was named after Walcott as well as the school he attended — Toco Secondary School.
A new Caribbean Airlines aircraft which is to arrive in this country later this month will also carry Walcott's name.
Persad-Bissessar also said the HDC would construct a housing development in Toco to offer housing to persons and also to generate employment in that area.
John said construction of the project would begin on January 2, 2013 at a site in Cumana and is expected to be completed in 18 months.
Efforts to contact Walcott yesterday proved futile as he was said to be engaged in several meetings with his manager Sean Roach.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-08-16/keshorn-enrolls-utt
Keshorn enrolls at UTT
Published: Thursday, August 16, 2012
Shaliza Hassanali
T&T’s Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott will return to school in September. Walcott yesterday signed his letter of acceptance to the Certificate in Sport Studies Programme at the University of T&T (UTT) for the 2012-2013 academic year. The programme, which begins on September 3, 2012, comes under full scholarship which will cover personal security for Walcott, as well as books, room and board, meals, equipment, a laptop, transportation, stipend and health insurance.
The value of the scholarship was not disclosed. UTT will also rename and dedicate its High Performance Programme and build a varsity stadium in Walcott’s honour. Walcott’s manager, Sean Roach, said T&T’s second gold medallist wants to start the programme next month. “We have gotten all the packages today. We know that he (Walcott) wants to start in September so we are going to be reviewing it a couple of days and see what else is being offered. I know there is a great sports management programme here (UTT).”
Walcott could not say what he wants to focus on, education wise. “I am not looking for benefits for myself. For the country it will be great, knowing that we will have an additional stadium to train and have competitions. Now, UTT is getting their own stadium. I am sure there are athletes at UTT who may have trouble in training,” Walcott said beaming with pride, when asked what he thought about the varsity stadium that will be named after him.
The signing took place at UTT’s O’Meara campus in the presence of Tertiary Education and Skills Training Minister Fazal Karim, UTT’s chairman Curtis Manchoon, UTT’s acting president Dr Fazal Ali, Walcott’s coach Ismael Lopez and Roach two days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced at Piarco International Airport that Walcott would be granted a scholarship from UTT as his reward for gold medal performance in the men's javelin throw at the London Olympics last Saturday.
Walcott, 19, of Toco won the event with a throw of 84.58 metres. The certificate in sport studies runs for one year, Karim explained. “Then that leads to the bachelor’s degree. There is a future ahead in terms of how do you move from where he (Walcott) is now to where he can be,” Karim said. Karim said UTT will provide all the resources necessary to maintain, improve and enhance Walcott’s performance on the field.
Karim also revealed that Government was in search of lands for the stadium, which will not be mammoth like the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain. “What we will be looking at is track and field facilities dedicated to athletic students.” In a UTT letter dated August 15, addressed to Walcott, it states, “Further to the announcement of the honourable Prime Minister, the UTT hereby formally offers you a scholarship to pursue your education and continue your training as part of our High Performance Athletic Programme.”
Karim said once Walcott agrees to have the High Performance Programme at UTT renamed in his honour, “We intend to engage in discussions with your management to work out an endorsement contract, as is required, to facilitate your name, image and likeness in an advertising campaign for the programme of the Academy of Sports and Leisure Studies at UTT.”
Walcott will be required to enter into a scholarship contract with UTT, which will set out the value of the scholarship and details on his duties and responsibilities as a student-athlete. Karim also announced that UTT will engage the services of Roach as Walcott’s current coach.
Karim said he wants to continue collaborating with Walcott in recognition of his signal accomplishment, knowing that he has already created a big impact on T&T’s youth. “In advance of this high performance athletic programme that the University of Trinidad and Tobago, embark immediately, on design architecture for its own university stadium. That will be something of a dream come true, but it is also in pursuance of what lies ahead for the performance of our athletes.”
Karim said he intends to take the proposal to Cabinet to acquire the lands needed for the stadium. “I always believe that things do not happen by chance but certainly by intervention.” Roach said this was a happy moment for Walcott and himself. “This whole process and journey was a team effort. The plan for Keshorn to join the UTT programme was not a plan that came after the medal. It was always in our plans. When we set our goals out for Keshorn and for the accomplishments that we wanted him to achieve this year...one of the goals was education.”
Roach said they wanted to start Keshorn’s journey with the best programme available and felt UTT was the ideal institution. “The fact that Keshorn was staying home to train...we wanted to ensure that some of the successes on his journey was homegrown. The University of Trinidad and Tobago was probably one of the best decisions ever made.” Roach said he hopes that Walcott can use his brand to push and develop UTT.
Roach described Walcott’s achievement as a vessel that was needed in the country.
“When you get a national success at this level it is not just for one person...it’s everybody’s input, dreams and prayers. Everybody played an important part. And even with him coming to UTT, this is another part of that journey.”
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2012-08-15/lesson-golden-javelin
DOUBLE ROOKS
Lesson from a golden javelin
Published: Thursday, August 16, 2012
Carl Jacobs
That a 19-year-old youngster from Toco can go to the Olympic Games and win a gold medal against the world’s best competitors seems more like the stuff of fairy tales than an actual real-life event. But that happens to be the amazing achievement which now excites our country into a paroxysm of pride and jubilation. Indeed, Trinis now appreciate that what Keshorn Walcott did at London’s Olympic Stadium last Saturday was, in many ways, more remarkable than any other achievement at the games. First he, a youth from a remote rural area of a small underdeveloped state in the Caribbean, excelled in a traditional sport, the javelin throw, that had long been the exclusive domain of athletes from the well-established countries of Europe and Scandinavia. Keshorn, in fact, is the first Olympian from the Western Hemisphere to win an Olympic field event in 60 years and the youngest ever to do it. In throwing the javelin a record distance of 84.58 metres, the Toco boy, in effect, created a one-man revolution, breaking a kind of cultural barrier and demonstrating the characteristic democracy of competitive sport itself.
As far as T&T is concerned, Walcott’s achievement comes upon us like a breath of fresh air, boosting our jaded spirit. At a time of besetting problems, particularly when so many of our young people seem to be failing the common test of survival, we could hardly wish for a more inspiring example of success against the prevailing odds. Or a more refreshing reminder that our country contains the stuff of which champions are made and that if we try hard enough, if we pursue our goals with the kind of determination shown by young Walcott, then we too can make it. In the arena of T&T chess, influence of the Walcottian saga may well play a part in the quest for higher honours. The country, for example, is yet to produce a player of International Master class, although a few have achieved a measure of success at the world chess Olympiad and other major tournaments abroad. However the lesson to be derived from Walcott’s olympian feat would most usefully be applied to the group of aspiring young chess players who clearly possess enough natural talent to mark them as future champions.
As the story goes, throwing the javelin came naturally to the Tobago schoolboy. He had the required strength, the physical coordination, the love for the sport and the lust to be the best in it. But the youngster needed more than those qualities to be a champion; he needed to master the special technique which this ancient sport requires. In other words, he needed a professional coach, one who would be able to hone his natural talents into an effective throwing machine. Fortunately, he found that trainer in the Cuban Ismael Mastrafe who shaped him first into the gold winner at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona last month and now at the London Olympics. If any of our young and talented chess players are to make a similar kind of breakthrough in the international arena it seems only too obvious that he or she has to come under the consistent care of a professional coach. To provide this kind of higher training is clearly is a challenge for the T&T Chess Association which, under a new administration, needs to clear away the divisive detritus of the past, put its house in proper order and establish its commitment to progress in order to earn the necessary support of both the public and private sectors. The new president Russell Smith, with his official connections in the world chess body, may be in the best position to achieve this kind of breakthrough. He would be well advised, however, to adjust the Association’s old priorities, concentrating less on foreign trips and more on developing the skills of bright young players including getting the Association’s chess-in-school programme going at last.
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(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292304_345004868918761_1909342756_n.jpg)
I know that fella
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Father of double Olympic medallist Keston Bledman:
My son deserves a house too
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/My_son_deserves_a_house_too-166351536.html
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I'm a bit late with this, but in any case, some reports from Down Under:
ABC News (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-12/keshorn-walcott-throws-during-the-javelin-final/4193186) (6.16am)
ABC News (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-12/walcott-wins-shock-javelin-gold/4193174?section=sport) (With report, 6.18am)
Red carpet rolled out for teen medal winner (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/olympics/news-london-2012/red-carpet-rolled-out-for-teen-medal-winner-20120814-2476d.html) (The Canberra Times)
Javelin pot of gold for Walcott in Trinidad (http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/other/14547052/javelin-pot-of-gold-for-walcott-in-trinidad/) (The West Australian)
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Now, UTT is getting their own stadium. I am sure there are athletes at UTT who may have trouble in training,” Walcott said beaming with pride, when asked what he thought about the varsity stadium that will be named after him.
When I spoke to Mike Grayson who worked with Gally at UTT, I was told that a sporting facilities was all part of the campus in Wallerfield or O'meara. Everything was dropped when the new gov't came in. So is a good thing the Walcott afterglow taking effect. Build more stadiums.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,164901.html
Javelin champ welcomes Toco houses
By KEVIN SUNICH and LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Friday, August 17 2012
TRINIDAD and Tobago’s golden boy Keshorn Walcott said yesterday he was happy with Government’s plan to construct a housing development in Cumana.
Speaking with the media at the Crowne Plaza hotel, Port-of-Spain, at the start of a motorcade into Diego Martin and Carenage, Walcott said he has always dreamt of doing something great for his community and the news of the housing development could not have come at a better time.
“In Toco, the people are in need of houses and there is also a big need for jobs. So each and everything that is being done, I hope it is being done to help the people. I want to see them have a better life in the community”, said 19-year-old Walcott, winner of the 2012 Olympic gold medal for the javelin event.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the housing development project at the celebrations marking Walcott’s arrival from the London Olympics on Monday at Piarco. The Prime Minister said the project will bring housing as well as employment to the people of the community who rely heavily on fishing as their main source of income. The project will see 50 three-bedroom houses built in Cumana by the Housing Development Corporation. Walcott also said he was in no hurry to move into his new $2.5 million townhouse at Federation Villas, Federation Park, West Port-of-Spain. The house was one of his gifts from the State and people of Trinidad and Tobago.
“I am not thinking about that right now. I am trying to get back to my normal life at the moment. Actually I have not even see the place as yet. I not in a rush, since the house will not be going anywhere,” he said.
Walcott also said that while he has been blessed with a gift and is glad he could use it to impact lives in a positive way, he has never seen himself as a role model. He has to change his mindset now, he said.
“I think now because of my accomplishments I have to make up my mind. I hope that people will be able to learn from my experience. Each of us could accomplish what we want if we put our minds to it. I am thankful that persons will now look up at me and I am going to do my best to be inspirational and lead the way,” he said.
Later, at the first stop of the motorcade at the public swimming pool at Wendy Fitzwilliam Boulevard, Diamond Vale, Walcott, greeted by excited fans, both adults and young people, said he was taking the public attention in stride; that he knew the medals would bring attention.
“While in London I was trying to prepare for it too, the other guys were telling me about it so I prepared mentally,” he said.
Yesterday, Walcott, along with other Olympic athletes Machel Cedenio (4×100m relay team), Mikel Thomas (Hurdles) and Roger Daniel (shooter) shared out hampers to persons affected by last Saturday’s flood in Diego Martin.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-08-16/keshorn-move-among-vip-neighbours
Keshorn to move in among VIP neighbours
Published: Friday, August 17, 2012
Rhonda Krystal Rambally
When Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott moves into his $2.5 million home at Federation Villas, he can expect to see familiar faces such as Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Minister of Tobago Development Dr Delmon Baker and another who was demoted in the Cabinet reshuffle in June. Sources yesterday said the politicians were among some of the occupants of the high-class townhouses at Federation Park, St Clair. When contacted, Ramlogan denied that he lived in one of the units, while Baker referred all questions to the Ministry of Housing and its acting permanent secretary Joy Creese. Calls to the other minister’s mobile phone went unanswered. Ramlogan said units were assigned to various ministries. He said foreign lawyers who represented the State would usually stay at the residence instead of the Hyatt which was more costly. “My residence is in San Fernando,” he said. The AG admitted that from time to time he would overnight in one of the units if Parliament sat late into the night or if he had late meetings. “If one is available I would stay, but most times they’re always booked,” he said.
A security guard stationed at the booth outside the property yesterday said Federation Villas was a private development for government officials. It was his only response about the property, despite being questioned for about ten minutes. Two men were seen walking between neatly trimmed hedges and outdoor lamps. The guard refused to say what the men were doing. A silver SUV was parked in the driveway of one of the units, several feet from the remote-controlled gate at the entrance. Towards the side of another unit there were three jhandis (Hindu flags).
The units, which were built townhouse-style, are owned by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC). Sources said there were 16 fully-furnished units “which are all outfitted the same.” Walcott’s mother, Beverly, said her son or his coach Sean Roach were better suited to talk about moving into the new home. “I have no idea about it,” she said. For winning a gold medal in the men’s javelin throw, Walcott will also receive $1 million, 20,000 square feet of land in Toco and a scholarship from the University of Trinidad and Tobago. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the rewards on Monday during a ceremony at Piarco International Airport. On Wednesday, Walcott enrolled at the university and signed his letter of acceptance to the Certificate in Sport Studies programme for the 2012/2013 academic year. His name will be carried on a new Caribbean Airlines aircraft, and the Toco Lighthouse and Toco Secondary School will be named after him. The PM also announced that the HDC will launch a housing project in Toco.
Imbert: Rewards appropriate
Former government minister under the People’s National Movement, Colm Imbert, said it was his understanding that some government ministers were housed at Federation Villas.
In a telephone interview, Imbert said the development was completed before the May 2010 general election and the units were reserved for use by visiting dignitaries and diplomats.
He said ministers who were in receipt of government housing cannot be entitled to a housing allowance.
“If you have to be placed in government housing then you have to give up the allowance,” he said.
He said there was “some” justification for Tobagonian ministers to stay at the residence.
Commenting on the rewards given to Walcott for his achievement, Imbert disagreed with the particular house and the scholarship.
Everything else, Imbert said, was appropriate.
He said the home at Federation Villas was not a good move.
“They should have given him a stand-alone house.
“They should have identified a suitable property in Federation Park or its environs and renovated it rather than give him a house in that particular development with other government officials,” Imbert said.
He said he believed Walcott should have been given an open scholarship to study at any of the best sporting universities in the world.
He added bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon, the bronze winning 4x400 metre and the 4x100 metre teams should be given a combination of cash and other things and the choice to study sports wherever they wanted.
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Daniel praises Walcott
'We can't pay him for what he's done'
By Roger Seepersad
Former Trinidad and Tobago Olympian Alvin Daniel heaped praises on Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott and said the 19-year-old deserves everything he got and more.
Daniel, who represented T&T at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain in the men's 400 metres and the 4x400-metre relay, said: "We can't even pay this young man for what he has done for this country.
"I am impressed by Keshorn, but one of the things that was disturbing was some of the things some people are saying about the rewards he got for his achievement," he added.
"I have been listening to some of the statements people have been making and they need to understand what it takes to win an Olympic medal or any medal of that nature.
"Athletes give up a lot of their lifestyles to represent T&T. They dedicate a lot of their time to training and I don't think we can fully repay Keshorn for giving up ten years of his life to give us that status and put T&T on the map," Daniel added.
"We must always come together as one and support each other's achievements and we must show appreciation and move on. What he (Walcott) got and is still getting, I am all for that because to sit at home and have your anthem playing in front of 80,000 people in an Olympic Stadium...they can not finish paying him for that."
Daniel also believes that Walcott is in good hands with his manager Sean Roach and says the young man from Toco should not be made into a political tool.
"We need to sometimes put aside the politics a little bit. This young man did something for Trinidad and Tobago, not the UNC (United National Congress), not the People's Partnership or the PNM (People's National Movement). He did it for Trinidad and Tobago...don't make him feel like he is doing something for a political party," Daniel said.
Daniel also called on the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sport to come together and implement more programmes within the primary and secondary schools to identify talent and work with them.
He also congratulated Petrotrin for coming to the forefront and supporting the athletes and hopes that other corporate bodies do the same.
He also had some advice for Walcott, saying: "When you achieve certain things, while you may not want your life to change, it will change.
"The most important thing is be down to earth, be humble and never forget where you come from, remember your neighbours, friends and most importantly, your family," Daniel concluded.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,165030.html
Hasely to Keshorn: I feel sorry for you
By COREY CONNELLY Sunday, August 19 2012
His ascent from struggle to stardom is by no means a novel one.
But what made Keshorn Walcott’s success so phenomenal was his ability to muzzle those who felt that he stood little chance of winning a medal against the stellar line-up of European javelin throwers in the recently-concluded Olympic Games in London.
For many, the Toco-bred Walcott, 19, was the underdog of the competition, a face without a name.
Few, it appeared, knew though, that he entered the Olympic javelin toss as the world’s junior champion and had been participating competitively in the field event for years before his glorious win, more than one week ago.
Now, Walcott, Trinidad and Tobago’s second Olympic gold medallist, seems poised for greatness and has been bestowed with a slew of attractive rewards, including $1 million in cash and an apartment in Federation Park, courtesy the People’s Partnership Government.
“To win a gold medal you need a lot of character and clearly he (Walcott) has that,” said Hasely Crawford, who won TT’s first gold medal in the 100-metre race at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada.
“A lot of us will see a little boy but bear in mind he has been breaking records for the past few years. Three years go he won two gold medals in Carifta. He has been winning but we have not been paying attention because it was a little boy from Toco.”
Crawford, who witnessed Walcott’s winning throw in London, told Sunday Newsday on Thursday that he has been following the young man’s career for several years and was deeply impressed by his grit and determination.
In fact, Crawford said he was confident the athlete would have medalled in London.
“The point I am making is that he has serious character but we weren’t seeing it. Something about that fella, he loves a challenge. That is why it was so easy for me to predict that he would have won a medal because I was paying attention,” he said during an interview at his home in Federation Park.
Defying all odds, Walcott’s powerful javelin throw of 84.58 metres, was one of the major upsets of the Olympics —a victory which threw light on the potential of Caribbean athletes to excel in a sport, which, for years, had been dominated by Europeans.
But while he also enjoys an esteemed position as the youngest athlete to win the javelin toss at the Olympic Games, Crawford said Walcott must be wary of those who may seek to capitalise on his hard-won success.
Crawford, who celebrated his 62nd birthday on Thursday, said, “He needs to have a proper management structure around him in every sense of the word — in terms of his finances, his future endeavours, his coaching programme, or else he will fail. My advice to him is to get a proper structure of people who are really there for his welfare. If that don’t happen, he will be in trouble.”
The San Fernando-born Crawford was 26 when he won the Men’s 100-metre race in a time of 10.02 seconds at the Montreal Olympics to become the country’s first Olympic gold medallist.
The then Dr Eric Williams-led People’s National Movement (PNM) Government named a British West Indian Airways (BWIA) jet after him. He also received four free flights per year for the rest of his life courtesy the airline. More than a decade later, in 2001, the nation’s premier sporting facility, the National Stadium, would be renamed the Hasely Crawford Stadium in honour of his achievement.
Crawford also appeared on postage stamps and was awarded the country’s highest honour, the Trinity Cross (now Order of TT) in 1978.
Admitting to have fallen prey to the adulation in the wake of his success, Crawford said he later made a conscious decision to stay away from the limelight.
Instead, the former Olympic champion, during his glory days, said he chose to nurture relationships with several members of his support team and others whom he felt had his best interests at heart.
Of those post-1976 years, Crawford said, “I saw a lot of two-faced people. They come to you with a lot of ulterior motives. I had my guard up early o’clock and I started to move away from people. Keshorn will have to be very careful of the kinds of people he deals with.”
In fact, Crawford said he felt sorry for Walcott, who, like him, emerged from modest beginnings to be at the top of his game.
“In a sense I feel sorry for him because I haven’t seen anything put in place for him. Maybe, he has a management team around him. I hope he can really get that kind of support,” he said.
Almost four decades after his victory, Crawford, who has maintained his burly physique, makes no apologies for “retreating into a shell” over the years.
“I had to pull back and people called me cocky because of it,” he said.
While many regarded him as a national hero, others sought to take advantage of his status, he said.
To demonstrate this point, Crawford recalled an incident in which a jeweller deliberately hiked up his fee for services on an item because he felt the former athlete had received a large amount of cash from the then Government for winning the Men’s 100-Metre race. Crawford recalled that a former Chancellor of Germany had given him a gold watch “that was dear to me,” but after a minor mishap, it needed to be repaired.
“I took it to a jeweller and he told me, ‘You is Hasely Crawford, you have money, you win gold. You is Eric Williams boy.’ He charged me $15,000 to fix the watch and he did not even open the watch yet. He just tell himself I had money. So all these things made me pull away,” he said.
The ill intent did not end there. Crawford said people ridiculed him on the streets, saying that he would have lost the race if there was another five yards to go.
Many also scrutinised the persons with whom he interacted, he recalled.
He said, “I remember people started calling me a womaniser and when I tried to fix that in terms of who I was seen out with and I started hanging out with more guys, they called me gay. I am not scared to talk about it because I was never gay. “But I am saying these things because I want people to know what you go through as an athlete. You name it, I was it. It’s sad but I learned from my mistakes. All these things happened because I was trying to find way to protect myself.”
The unfortunate episodes, Crawford said, “made me get hard and I paid dearly for it.”
He said in hindsight, he would not have done it any other way.
Crawford said Walcott, too, will have to develop a strategy to protect himself during his reign as an Olympic javelin champion.
“That is why I feel sorry for him because he will go through it. And it is a good thing once you can deal with it. I think I had the strength to deal with it,” he said.
“ Maybe the discipline of the sport helped me to deal with it. I was very disciplined. I always gravitated towards people who could help me. My advice to him is that he has to be careful of the people he has around him. People will come around him because of who he is, not necessarily because they really care about him. He also has to find a way quickly to really analyse people. That is what I did.”
A long-serving member of the National Association of Athletics Administration of Trinidad and Tobago (NAAA), Crawford described Walcott as focussed, saying he did not appear to be interested in the trappings of fame.
In fact, Crawford said he and Walcott were similar in many respects.
“I had a qualified, experienced coach around me and he has a qualified, certified coach around him for years. To really be successful, you need a good coach,” he said.
Like Walcott, Crawford said he also had a good support staff.
“So, I had a structure around me. It don’t happen just like that. You have to have structrure around you that you believe in 100 percent.”
Asked about the gifts that have been presented to Walcott, Crawford would only say, “Whatever he gets, he deserves it. There is something about the young man I like. I can’t say what it is. Maybe I see myself in him. But is something about that fella that touches me.”
Former Siparia-born Olympic quarter-miler, Ian Morris, who has also enjoyed a successful track career, told Sunday Newsday that he took his fame in stride.
“I deal with mine simple. I didn’t make anything go to my head. I just went with the flow, whatever happened, happened,” he said.
Commentators mentioned Morris’ name (in reference to the Caribbean line-up) during the finals of the Men’s 400-metre race in London when Grenada’s Kirani James, 19, ran 43.94 seconds to win the event. James had also delivered the island’s first-ever Olympic medal.
“I felt happy to know that they remembered and they mentioned it — that Kirani James had broken Ian Morris’ Caricom record,” he said.
Saying that he was pleased with the gifts that have been bestowed on Walcott, Morris said, “I believe that the young fella has a good head on his shoulders. He has good people behind him — his manager, his coach — and I am hoping that they can advise him in the proper way and not let him squander and let the things get to his head and falter. It is tremendous to see that he has gotten so many great gifts.”
Morris, who regarded his personal best time of 44.21 seconds in the semi-finals of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, as the pinnacle of his career, said he would like to see other local athletes excel in their respective events.
“We had, this year, the biggest entourage of about 30-something athletes and to me nearly all of them who had competed did extremely well for Trinidad an Tobago and the Caribbean on a wider scale because if you looked at how the Caribbean athletes performed, we have dominated events where the Americans had dominated especially in the track and field,” he said.
Morris said he was also delighted that the corporate fraternity has expressed a renewed interest in supporting local athletes.
“I am seeing that Petrotrin has come on stream because of what has happened. Where were they before? he asked. “Why choose now, because of our success? Why didn’t they come on stream to help before?”
Morris said he was in Jamaica during the start of the track and field competition at the London Olympics providing commentary on the performances of the Caribbean athletes.
“The Caribbean athletes did extremely well this Olympic year,” he said.
Morris also noted that the business community in Jamaica had thrown its support behind the country’s athletes, who included sprint sensations Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Warren Weir, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Veronica Campbell-Brown.
“Corporate Jamaica came out and supported. You don’t wait for someone to break a world record or win a gold medal, silver medal or bronze medal. But they do come out and support.” Morris said he hoped Petrotrin would invest heavily in track and field over the next few years
He said, “We can identify a lot of talent here in Trinidad. We can groom athletes right here in Trinidad instead of going abroad, just as how the Jamaicans did.”
Morris also wants the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) to widen its track programme with a view to keeping young athletes at home.
“If we could see that happening then we will be doing things for the country. If they could do that instead of going abroad to study — although there is a wider scale in terms of good competition — but of they could do it here in Trinidad I would be happy,” he said.
Crawford told Sunday Newsday that Walcott’s talent was unearthed more than a decade ago during the National Gas Company’s (NGC’s) Right On Track initiative, a national track and field programme which targeted young children.“People believe he just came out of the blue but he was part of a talent identification programme all through the country,” he said.
“Every Saturday morning we used to take a bus, we take our coaches, our equipment, buy our own water and food and go to all the far flung communities. Athletes were exposed to all the state of the art equipment and some coaching and Keshorn arose out of that programme.”
So successful was the programme, Crawford said it was subsequently taken to Grenada, St Vincent, Dominica and St Lucia on a pilot basis.
“That is how Kirani James was found,” he said.
Crawford said Right On Track highlighted the fact that youngsters who have expressed an interest in track and field need to be supported.
“If we really want to get more of those Keshorn’s and Ato Boldon’s, we really need to support them at that tender age. People really want to come but they need a lot of support in terms of equipment.”
Crawford said Walcott must always believe that success was well within his grasp.
“To be successful, you have to eat it, sleep it, dream it, to reach to the top,” he said. “Athletes do not enter an event to fail. When you go out there, you want to beat people.”
Crawford recalled that he was “one cocky fellow” during his heyday in athletics.
“I remember on the night before my 100-metre Olympic race, I went to Don Quarrie’s room (to intimidate him) and his manager had to run me. Nobody was better than me,” he said with a laugh.
Quarrie, of Jamaica, had placed second in the event, and for many years, was Crawford’s closest rival. The two men have since remained good friends.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/business/2012-08-19/tt-patriotic-frenzy-converts-dollars-local-merchants
T&T patriotic frenzy converts into dollars for local merchants
Published: Sunday, August 19, 2012
Michelle Loubon
Hurling his javelin, Olympic gold medal Keshorn Walcott, 19, set Trinidad and Tobago in a frenzy on August 13. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar remarked residents in the north western peninsula who were affected by floods paused and sang the National Anthem on the historic day. Walcott’s victory coincides with T&T 50th anniversary celebrations. These twin events have prompted a surge of patriotism and nationalism in this small island state.
National flags are spotted sprouting from people’s cars. Official buildings are draped with the red, white and black colours. It is wrapped snugly on columns. There are zig zag buntings galore at malls. Citizens are registering their support and solidarity by purchasing national flags, bangles, T-shirts and memorabalia. There is a renewed sense of optimism. Both proprietors and hucksters reported a surge in sales of national bric-a-brac and mementoes.
At Khemlani’s, proprietor Raj said: “We have started seeing a big upsurge. Trinis are always last minute. A lot of people are coming in for a miniature flag. Even little tokens for the children. But I would say next week would be the big bang.” Quizzed on whether it was due to Walcott’s win, he said: “Yes. It does have something to do with it. We are all proud of him. People were gearing up for Independence. They were coming in. There is a bigger influx.”
His shop boasted the novelty item—windmills turning in red, white and black colours. Casting his eye in the direction of a windmill guarding his cash register, he said: “It goes for $49.99. People are putting it outside their homes. It is eyecatching. It is just waiting to catch the wind.” Among the myriad of items being sold were flags from $9.95 to $15, bangles ($35) key chains ($6.95), T-shirts ($59.95 to $75) and belts at $49.95. The steelpan fetched $135.
He also noticed several Trinidadians living in the North America who returned for the August vacation were purchasing souvenirs. One such customer was Queen’s New York resident Stacey Charles. Gushing about how excited she was to be in town for the Walcott celebration, she said: “I spent about $600. I bought items for friends..like pen holders and a big map with the clock. I am proud to be a Trini. I will take a drive to Toco (Walcott’s hometown). When you tell people you are from Trinidad, it’s real swag. They say “You all like to party. I say lime (dialect for hanging out).”
Walcott a hit on Charlotte Street
In never ending line, vegetable and fruit vendors at Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, draped the red, white and black flag on their stalls. Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing and the City Corporation had bequeathed the fabric to them. They were groaning with cassava and freshly sliced pumpkin. Random checks with the vendors like Glenda Mutroo revealed they were immensely proud of Walcott. They complained about relocation since their produce got wet when the rains fell.
At the mere mention of Walcott’s name, they erupted into euphoria. Having calmed herself sufficiently, Diane Williams said she had noticed an increase in the sale of die. She said: “Yes. I think it is because of the Walcott medal. I think it has to do with Independence. “I sold about 40 die at $20. each. People are putting them in their cars. They are buying it for their children. We are selling flags at $20. Throwing caution to the wind, she said: “Sales have gone up by 100 per cent.”
At East Side Plaza, Shirley Bobb said she had checked a San Juan supplier for flags. But she had been unsuccesful. While she was proud of Walcott, she felt the shoddy treatment meted out to remaining Olympians marred the true meaning of Independence. “At the same time...they should have focused on the other guys too. We had people like Lalonde Gordon from Tobago. It didn’t look good. We had to celebrate everyone.” Apart from waving flags, citizens like Hope Melville wore a red top and matching bangles.
Small businesswoman Lorraine Smith stocked up on red shoes with red pom poms at $185 and red tops from $40 to $100. Unlike the flag sellers, Smith said: “Sales have been slow. I am hoping for it to pick up by Independence.” Stuck in traffic, retiree Christopher Hill said: “I am looking forward to Independence. I was a young man during Independence. It was the Dr Eric Williams’ era. It is a new generation...a Walcott generation.”
At Henry Street, huckster Kevin Phillip sold red, white and black bangles at $10. They caught the eyes of Maxine Wilson and her daughter Zarelle Maillard. Wilson said: “I am planning to spend about $100 on flags for Independence. I always try to cheer up the children.” At the busy intersection by the fast food outlet, Cherli Ann Marson’s flag was conspicuous. She said: “Yes. I’am looking forward to Independence. When we all came out to support Walcott, I did not see no race on that day. That is the way team T&T should always be.”
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,165030.html
Hasely to Keshorn: I feel sorry for you
By COREY CONNELLY Sunday, August 19 2012
His ascent from struggle to stardom is by no means a novel one.
“A lot of us will see a little boy but bear in mind he has been breaking records for the past few years. Three years go he won two gold medals in Carifta. He has been winning but we have not been paying attention because it was a little boy from Toco.”
Crawford, who witnessed Walcott’s winning throw in London, told Sunday Newsday on Thursday that he has been following the young man’s career for several years and was deeply impressed by his grit and determination.
In fact, Crawford said he was confident the athlete would have medalled in London.
“The point I am making is that he has serious character but we weren’t seeing it. Something about that fella, he loves a challenge. That is why it was so easy for me to predict that he would have won a medal because I was paying attention,” he said during an interview at his home in Federation Park.
Defying all odds, Walcott’s powerful javelin throw of 84.58 metres, was one of the major upsets of the Olympics —a victory which threw light on the potential of Caribbean athletes to excel in a sport, which, for years, had been dominated by Europeans.
But while he also enjoys an esteemed position as the youngest athlete to win the javelin toss at the Olympic Games, Crawford said Walcott must be wary of those who may seek to capitalise on his hard-won success.
Crawford, who celebrated his 62nd birthday on Thursday, said, “He needs to have a proper management structure around him in every sense of the word — in terms of his finances, his future endeavours, his coaching programme, or else he will fail. My advice to him is to get a proper structure of people who are really there for his welfare. If that don’t happen, he will be in trouble.”
The San Fernando-born Crawford was 26 when he won the Men’s 100-metre race in a time of 10.02 seconds at the Montreal Olympics to become the country’s first Olympic gold medallist.
The then Dr Eric Williams-led People’s National Movement (PNM) Government named a British West Indian Airways (BWIA) jet after him. He also received four free flights per year for the rest of his life courtesy the airline. More than a decade later, in 2001, the nation’s premier sporting facility, the National Stadium, would be renamed the Hasely Crawford Stadium in honour of his achievement.
Crawford also appeared on postage stamps and was awarded the country’s highest honour, the Trinity Cross (now Order of TT) in 1978.
Admitting to have fallen prey to the adulation in the wake of his success, Crawford said he later made a conscious decision to stay away from the limelight.
Instead, the former Olympic champion, during his glory days, said he chose to nurture relationships with several members of his support team and others whom he felt had his best interests at heart.
Of those post-1976 years, Crawford said, “I saw a lot of two-faced people. They come to you with a lot of ulterior motives. I had my guard up early o’clock and I started to move away from people. Keshorn will have to be very careful of the kinds of people he deals with.”
In fact, Crawford said he felt sorry for Walcott, who, like him, emerged from modest beginnings to be at the top of his game.
“In a sense I feel sorry for him because I haven’t seen anything put in place for him. Maybe, he has a management team around him. I hope he can really get that kind of support,” he said.
Almost four decades after his victory, Crawford, who has maintained his burly physique, makes no apologies for “retreating into a shell” over the years.
“I had to pull back and people called me cocky because of it,” he said.
While many regarded him as a national hero, others sought to take advantage of his status, he said.
To demonstrate this point, Crawford recalled an incident in which a jeweller deliberately hiked up his fee for services on an item because he felt the former athlete had received a large amount of cash from the then Government for winning the Men’s 100-Metre race. Crawford recalled that a former Chancellor of Germany had given him a gold watch “that was dear to me,” but after a minor mishap, it needed to be repaired.
“I took it to a jeweller and he told me, ‘You is Hasely Crawford, you have money, you win gold. You is Eric Williams boy.’ He charged me $15,000 to fix the watch and he did not even open the watch yet. He just tell himself I had money. So all these things made me pull away,” he said.
The ill intent did not end there. Crawford said people ridiculed him on the streets, saying that he would have lost the race if there was another five yards to go.
Many also scrutinised the persons with whom he interacted, he recalled.
He said, “I remember people started calling me a womaniser and when I tried to fix that in terms of who I was seen out with and I started hanging out with more guys, they called me gay. I am not scared to talk about it because I was never gay. “But I am saying these things because I want people to know what you go through as an athlete. You name it, I was it. It’s sad but I learned from my mistakes. All these things happened because I was trying to find way to protect myself.”
The unfortunate episodes, Crawford said, “made me get hard and I paid dearly for it.”
He said in hindsight, he would not have done it any other way.
Crawford said Walcott, too, will have to develop a strategy to protect himself during his reign as an Olympic javelin champion.
In fact, Crawford said he and Walcott were similar in many respects.
“I had a qualified, experienced coach around me and he has a qualified, certified coach around him for years. To really be successful, you need a good coach,” he said.
Like Walcott, Crawford said he also had a good support staff.
way and not let him squander and let the things get to his head and falter. It is tremendous to see that he has gotten so many great gifts.”
Morris, who regarded his personal best time of 44.21 seconds in the semi-finals of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, as the pinnacle of his career, said he would like to see other local athletes excel in their respective events.
“We had, this year, the biggest entourage of about 30-something athletes and to me nearly all of them who had competed did extremely well for Trinidad an Tobago and the Caribbean on a wider scale because if you looked at how the Caribbean athletes performed, we have dominated events where the Americans had dominated especially in the track and field,” he said.
Morris said he was also delighted that the corporate fraternity has expressed a renewed interest in supporting local athletes.
“I am seeing that Petrotrin has come on stream because of what has happened. Where were they before? he asked. “Why choose now, because of our success? Why didn’t they come on stream to help before?”
Morris said he was in Jamaica during the start of the track and field competition at the London Olympics providing commentary on the performances of the Caribbean athletes.
“The Caribbean athletes did extremely well this Olympic year,” he said.
Crawford won gold in 10.06.
Morris' 44.21 was in the 1992 final. Not the semis.
VB
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I saw a pic on facebook earlier of Keshorn on stage with some models showing Island People costumes at their band launch.
Ah wonder if that is the kinda thing Crawford is warning against....
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Yep, guess so. Or Maybe Island People donating some of their huge proceeds to his scholarship fund???? who knows. Maybe when he is forty or fifty he will open up like Crawfie.
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I hope he have he head on. Rel people look like they want to use him.
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Crawford won gold in 10.06.
Morris' 44.21 was in the 1992 final. Not the semis.
VB
Morris ran 44.25 in the final but set the NR of 44.21 in the semis
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Crawford won gold in 10.06.
Morris' 44.21 was in the 1992 final. Not the semis.
VB
Morris ran 44.25 in the final but set the NR of 44.21 in the semis
:beermug:
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http://www.youtube.com/v/D7MB40wzos4&sns=fb
Description
"For those who are interested in something else than the running events , this competition provided certainly the biggest surprise of the Games in athletics with the win of Keshorn WALCOTT from Trinidad who was not even one of the outsiders in spite of his recent world junior title in Barcelona. But the 19 year was afraid of no one of the big names and to qualify for the top 12 final was already an achievement. as he has with 82,83m the 2nd lowest PB.The competition conditions were not for a great javelin wind (indeed most of it came from the left) . The Greek LEBESIS had the 1st lead with 81,21m but soon WALCOTT landed the 1st punch with 83,51m to get the lead. Every body was thinking " Well good , nice throw , but wait for the big guns to start firing !" Indeed most of the favorite got over 80m in the 2nd round (Pitakamaki 82,68m, Thorkildsen 82,63m , Vesely 81,69m) but they received another punch right in the face when WALCOTT improved to 84,58m.
The only serious reaction came from Oleksandr PYATNYTSYA 84,51m , 7cm short ! . 7 of the finalists had PBs over 85m and could go for the win , especially the CZE Vesely who had such a nice qualification throw at 88m but VESELY was running too fast and could not finish his throws properly ,but throw after throw they look more and more disappointed , The NZL FARQUHAR was out after 3 rounds and only 80,22m. PITKAMAKI an THORDKILSEN were consistent over 80m , not able of more. People were starting to think " and if this junior was finally going to win ! " ...And he won when the last desesperate throws of RUUSKANEN 84,12m (Who saved the Finns honor in the throwing events at these games) for the Bronze , PYATNYTSYA 83,53m to confirm his 2nd place and VESELY 83,34m for a disappointing 4th place.
This young man from Trinidad is a good champion . He is talented indeed , but has a good and efficient technique . We also noticed the good throwing from the Greek LEBEDIS (7th 81,91m) , and the Kenyan (yes Kenya has throwers !!!) small but good thrower Julius YEGO. A new generation is coming in the javelin throw ! You could see the faces of most of the throwers after the competition , obviously they were still under shock !"
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Nice video from Olympic Committee
http://www.youtube.com/v/-fjUWhSM6Hc&
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Now, UTT is getting their own stadium. I am sure there are athletes at UTT who may have trouble in training,” Walcott said beaming with pride, when asked what he thought about the varsity stadium that will be named after him.
When I spoke to Mike Grayson who worked with Gally at UTT, I was told that a sporting facilities was all part of the campus in Wallerfield or O'meara. Everything was dropped when the new gov't came in. So is a good thing the Walcott afterglow taking effect. Build more stadiums.
The whole sport programme was about to be shut down. His javelin throw saved an entire programme.
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Now, UTT is getting their own stadium. I am sure there are athletes at UTT who may have trouble in training,” Walcott said beaming with pride, when asked what he thought about the varsity stadium that will be named after him.
When I spoke to Mike Grayson who worked with Gally at UTT, I was told that a sporting facilities was all part of the campus in Wallerfield or O'meara. Everything was dropped when the new gov't came in. So is a good thing the Walcott afterglow taking effect. Build more stadiums.
The whole sport programme was about to be shut down. His javelin throw saved an entire programme.
Amazing how people don't see the benefit of sport. But they say they want to stop crime
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Now, UTT is getting their own stadium. I am sure there are athletes at UTT who may have trouble in training,” Walcott said beaming with pride, when asked what he thought about the varsity stadium that will be named after him.
When I spoke to Mike Grayson who worked with Gally at UTT, I was told that a sporting facilities was all part of the campus in Wallerfield or O'meara. Everything was dropped when the new gov't came in. So is a good thing the Walcott afterglow taking effect. Build more stadiums.
The whole sport programme was about to be shut down. His javelin throw saved an entire programme.
Amazing how people don't see the benefit of sport. But they say they want to stop crime
:applause:
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One thing that might have been overlooked (unless I missed the posting), is that Keshorn missed the WJR by 11cm with his 84.58 throw.
He is second for all time WJ throwers.
http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=o/age=j/season=0/sex=M/all=y/legal=A/disc=JT/detail.html
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/business/Keshorn_s_home_attracts_tourists-166988916.html
Keshorn's home attracts tourists
...but roads a problem
By Joel Julien joel.julien@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Aug 21, 2012 at 11:00 PM ECT
TOCO has seen an increase in the number of local tourists to the area following the recent gold medal success of Keshorn Walcott at the London 2012 Olympics, councillor Terry Rondon has said.
More than 1,000 local visitors went to Toco on Monday for the Eid-ul-Fitr public holiday, Rondon said.
Toco, known for its beautiful beaches, now has a new tourist attraction: the childhood home of Olympic champion Walcott.
Walcott shot to international stardom with his gold medal-winning javelin throw of 84.58 metres in the London Olympics on August 11.
His achievement has drawn local tourists from throughout the country to his family's home at Trois Roches, Toco.
And while Rondon and the residents of Toco are glad for the influx of visitors, a new problem has arisen.
The road to Toco is in "urgent need of repair" and Rondon yesterday made an appeal to the Central Government for help.
Rondon, the councillor for Toco/Fishing Pond, said the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation was doing its best but it needed the Government's help to fix the road.
Rondon said there were several traffic accidents along the Toco Main Road on Monday as motorists swerved to avoid potholes.
"We are always grateful for all the visitors we get, people have come in search of Walcott's home and his hometown village and we are happy for that but we need help with the roads," Rondon told the Express yesterday.
"We (the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation) are responsible for cleaning the beaches, and trying to ensure the area is beautiful but we need help with the roads, it is too much," he added.
Rondon said he was grateful for all the Government has done for Walcott but road woes in the area also needed to be addressed.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/WALCOTT_vs_LARA-166989416.html
WALCOTT vs LARA
Olympic gold medallist to bowl to 'Prince' in T20 for 50 Festival
Story Created: Aug 21, 2012 at 11:00 PM ECT
Trinidad and Tobago's Olympic javelin champion Keshorn Walcott will try his hand at cricket when he bowls to batting legend Brian Lara on the second day of the Twenty20 for 50 Cricket Festival at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain on Saturday.
Teenager Walcott, who won the gold medal in the men's javelin at the London 2012 games, will ceremoniously bowl the first ball of the innings to another famous son of the soil, Lara, who captains one of the four squads competing in the tournament, which is being held in commemoration of T&T's 50th anniversary of Independence.
In a media release yesterday, the organisers said: "Fans will be treated to this symbolic interaction between the two men, both of whom have flown the red, white and black high, and brought international fame to themselves and to T&T, through their excellence in sport."
The release added: "Keshorn is a most exciting addition to the line-up of distinguished patrons of the event, which includes Sir Garfield Sobers, Sports Ambassadors Dwight Yorke, Lara and Daren Ganga."
Lara and Ganga will each captain an all-star team in the tournament which also features the T&T and Jamaica national teams.
The T20 for 50 will feature two games being played each day, the first at 2:30 p.m. and the second from 7 p.m. There will also be top local artistes performing between matches and tickets for the tournament cost $100 per day.
Trinidad and Tobago will be using the three-day tournament, which bowls off on Friday, as preparation for the Champions League T20, which takes place in South Africa in October.
T&T continue their preparation for this weekend's tournament with a training session at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva from 9 a.m. today.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2012-08-22/walcott-vs-lara
Walcott vs Lara
Published: Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Olympic Gold medallist Keshorn Walcott will get another dream come true when he bowls to former West Indies captain Brian Lara to open the second day’s play of the Twenty20 for 50 Cricket Festival at the Queen's Park Oval on Saturday. This was revealed via a statement issued to the media yesterday. Walcott, who won the gold medal in the Men’s Javelin event at the London Olympic Games earlier this month, had once hoped to be a star cricketer like Lara but realised his talent in the field event which has brought him much success. The javelin thrower will be one of several sporting icons involved in the three-day festival, along with legendary West Indies allrounder Sir Garfield Sobers and former Soca Warriors captain Dwight Yorke. Sobers will serve as the ambassador and manager for the Brian Lara All Star Team, and will be present at all of the matches, as will Yorke in his capacity as sports ambassador. The tournament, which is being held to commemorate the country’s 50th Anniversary of Independence, will also include a Daren Ganga All Star XI as well as the T&T and Jamaican national teams.
Former South African players Herschelle Gibbs, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Kemp and Loots Bosman along with West Indies players Fidel Edwards, Dwayne Smith, Assad Fudadin and Sunil Narine have all been confirmed for the two All Star Teams with the full line ups expected to be announced later this week. The Red Force has been in intense training over the last couple months and views the tournament as an integral part of its preparation for the upcoming Champions League Twenty20 in October. While centered around cricket, the Twenty20 for 50 is a celebration of the country’s heritage in sport and culture. In addition, top local artistes will perform between matches to entertain patrons, while the Sport Company of T&T will honour 50 nationals who have contributed to the development of sport. Patrons may continue to purchase tickets, valued at $100, at various Sports and Games locations and at the Queens Park Oval ticket office.
TOURNAMENT FIXTURES
Friday
Jamaica vs Daren Ganga XI, 2.30 pm
T&T vs Brian Lara XI, 7 pm
Saturday
T&T vs Daren Ganga XI, 2.30 pm
Jamaica vs Brian Lara XI, 7 pm
Sunday
3rd Place Play-off, 2.30 pm
Final, 7 pm
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,165183.html
Sando hails Keshorn
By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Thursday, August 23 2012
SOUTHERNERS came out in their numbers to see and greet, Keshorn Walcott, this country’s second athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. The 19-year-old champion was scheduled to arrive at 10 am at Harris Promenade, San Fernando, but although he arrived two hours later, the large crowd remained patient.
Standing on a large music truck, Walcott and other athletes, made their way on to Harris Promenade in front of the San Fernando City Corporation (SFCC) and the crowd went into a frenzy. Persons, of all ages, armed with the national flag waved and shouted his name.
Standing in the balcony of the corporation building, he briefly addressed the crowd. “Thanks for all the support. Thanks for waiting and coming out in the hot sun. I am grateful for all the support,” he said as the crowd began cheering.
San Fernando Mayor Dr Navi Muradali welcomed the young athlete and presented him with the key to the city. The mayor also gave him two plaques from the corporation. Muradali explained when he was watching Walcott on televison, it did not occur to him that a gold medal would follow.
“I remember how we all felt when we won the medal and when the national anthem was being played in London, England. He brought tears to many eyes, not only in TT but across the world,” Muradali said.
San Fernando West MP Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan also welcomed Walcott and the other athletes saying she was delighted to see them “in the flesh” in the city. “What we saw in London was the best. Keshorn is the first person in the western hemisphere in the past 50 years to win the gold medal in javelin. He is the youngest ever winner of such medal at the Olympics,” she said.
Walcott and the other athletes including Miguel Thomas, Roger Daniel, Andrew Lewis, Machel Cedenio and Reyare Thomas were treated to entertainment from various artistes. During the performances, Walcott signed many autographs and posed for photos with fans.
Keshorn is scheduled to visit the Prime Minister’s Siparia constituency this morning starting from the Bakal Recreation Ground at 8 am and then proceeding from Siparia, Erin and finally to Point Fortin.
Hasely Crawford won this country’s first Olympic medal in 1976 in the 100 metre race in Montreal, Canada.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2012-08-24/olympians-celebrated-central
Olympians celebrated in Central
Published: Friday, August 24, 2012
His smiles were far and few between as is his demeanour. But this didn’t stop hundreds of fans from showering Keshorn Walcott with an outpouring of love on Wednesday evening. The fans, dressed in the national colours, waited for three hours for the Olympic team’s caravan to arrive at Gilbert Park in California. When they came, aboard an open truck, a frowning Walcott offered tentative waves. But sailor Andrew Lewis jumped down and warmly greeted fans. The police cleared the way and when the Olympians mounted the stage, the cheers were deafening. Walcott posed with fans and when asked to smile for the photographs, he responded: “I don’t smile.” Chairman of the Couva/Tabaquite/ Talparo Regional Corporation, Dave Persad, said it was difficult to isolate the medal-winning Olympians. “All of our finalists and our coaches made us proud. Without them we will not be here today,” he said.
However, Persad said tribute must also be paid to those who had excelled not just in sports but in literature and engineering as well. Meanwhile, Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial predicted that T&T will get 16 gold medals in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She added that all of the Olympians had gone through rigorous training to achieve their places in their respective finals. Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh said the T&T 2012 Olympic team was the most successful to have represented T&T. He said the Olympians succeeded in boosting patriotism and challenged the business community to support the team as they prepare for the 2016 Games.
“It was the business owners from the Point Lisas Industrial Estate who support Keshorn and his fellow Olympians as they fly our red, white and black flag high,” Indarsingh said.
Junior Chutney champion Anthony Batson serenaded the team with his songs Rangle Dal and Sundar Popo’s hit tune Nanny and Nana. Keron Williams, aka “Wakaman,” who composed a song, We win Gold, on the night of Walcott’s victory, also showered the Olympians with gratitude. The Olympians also received hampers from KC Confectionery, which is located in the heart of Couva. Later on, the motorcade travelled to Chaguanas where Walcott was given the key to the Borough of Chaguanas by Mayor Orlando Nagessar. The bandwagon rolled into the Saith Park area around 6.30 pm and even though the event was scheduled to start around 1.30 pm, the hundreds who gathered eagerly remained until the Olympians arrived. Nagessar praised the athletes for representing T&T with distinction at the Games. The Olympians were paraded throughout the town and through the nearby village of Felicity where they were warmly greeted and congratulated for their achievements.
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(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/253902_4453647387593_459561073_n.jpg)
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Sure even Keshorn must realize by now that there is no free lunch ! I could not believe it when I saw the Caravan still travelling and Keshorn have to pass out hampers ... has the boy had a good night sleep since he arrived from London ?
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/businessday/0,165209.html
Keshorn’s gets CAL’s youngest jet
By Vernon Khelawan Thursday, August 23 2012
THE promise made by Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar to have one of Caribbean Airlines’ (CAL) aircraft adorned with the name Keshorn Walcott, this country’s only gold medallist at the recently concluded London 2012 Olympics, has been kept.
Late last week the fleet’s youngest Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, registered Y-SXM (St Maarten) and just about a year old, was brought into the hangar at Piarco after it landed from a North American flight and in just about an hour had Keshorn Walcott’s name painted on the fuselage, before almost immediately taking off on a flight to New York.
Walcott created the greatest upset at the London Olympics when he threw the javelin 84.58 metres to cop the top spot in the field event, which for decades have been dominated by the Europeans making himself the youngest winner ever in that sport.
Chairman Rabindra Moonan told Business Day, the process took very little time to be completed. When asked why the choice of the B-737 and not one of the larger B-767s, the first of which is expected to arrive in the country tomorrow, Moonan gave three reasons for the decision.
He said the company wanted the name to be on the youngest aircraft of the fleet and secondly the B-737 has a lower profile (stands lower to the ground) and the name could be more easily seen, whereas the B-767, although a much older aircraft, stands very high off the ground. Additionally, the B-767s would be used almost exclusively on the London service and that’s where the Olympics were held, while the B-737 is on all CAL’s North American and Caribbean services, “where we need to send the message of our success”.
Moonan said that in the not-too-distant future, a small ceremony will be held at Piarco to officially mark the event.
Meanwhile the airline’s third brand new turbo prop ATR, registered TTC, which arrived a week ago and is awaiting its final certification, was pressed into service at the weekend to take members of the Defence Force to Tobago for celebrations marking the 50th Anniversary of the country’s Independence. While the aircraft cannot carry fare-paying passengers until the company gets the green light from the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA), it was allowed to transport the soldiers to the sister isle.
As for ATR # 4, no set time has been given for its arrival in Port-of-Spain, the brand new aircraft is ready for delivery and has been for some time, although Business Day has been informed that arrangements are currently being made to raise the money (US$19 million) to pay for the plane, which will be registered TTD whenever its gets to Trinidad.
Although the first of the two B-767s leased from Lan Chile is expected tomorrow, it would not operating the transatlantic service because there would still be some legal and certification issues to be completed.
Those aircraft were specifically chosen to do the POS-London Gatwick (LGW) service which began last June 14, but some regulatory and oversight challenges debarred that from happening, forcing CAL to lease a similar aircraft for the service.
Robert Corbie, acting CEO, told Business Day last week that while the aircraft are on the ground they would be used for refresher training for both cockpit and cabin crews. It is anticipated that the TTCAA would do everything in its power to have the certification process concluded in the shortest possible period, to allow the aircraft to begin their transAtlantic flights.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,165674.html
Walcott’s manager hails national award
By JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH Saturday, September 1 2012
Yesterday, Olympic Men’s javelin gold medallist, Keshorn Walcott became the youngest ever Trinidad and Tobago national to receive the nation’s highest and most prestigious award, the Order of the Republic.
Walcott was the only 2012 Olympian to receive this iconic recognition, while eight other London Olympic medallists attained the Humming Bird Medal (gold). They were the 4x400m Relay bronze medal team of Lalonde Gordon, Ade Alleyne-Forte, Jarrin Solomon, Deon Lendore and the 4x100m equivalent of Richard “Torpedo” Thompson, Marc Burns, Keston Bledman and Emmanuel Callender.
These nine athletes have joined an illustrious list of 70 other highly respectable and historic locals who were also on the receiving end of some of this country’s highest accolades.
Speaking to Newsday before Walcott received the Order of Republic of Trinidad and Tobago yesterday, Walcott’s manager, Sean Roach expressed high levels of gratitude with his javelin prospect’s decorated achievements, both on and off the field.
Roach admitted that Walcott’s rewards were a true reflection of hard work and dedication by the coaching staff, managerial team and the gold medallist. “It’s a success for him (Walcott), it’s a success for me and it’s a great success for Trinidad and Tobago as a whole. We deserved it and the country deserves it as well. This is what happens when you work hard. I have dreamt about this for sometime now. By Keshorn having all this success and achieving a lot of his personal goals, at the same time, I am also achieving mine,” he stated. Even though Roach was grateful for all the national, regional and international recognition, he was hopeful that their winnings would inspire various forms of athletic development. He believed that this would be key in TT’s success at the forthcoming 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro and beyond.
“While we made it happen (Olympic gold), I would prefer if we can create multiple Keshorn Walcotts. Athletes that can go out there and bring home more gold for Trinidad and Tobago, so that when an Olympic contingent is returning from a Games they will be coming back with over 10 gold medals. It’s a proud and honourable feeling,” he added. Walcott’s coach, Cuban Ismael Lopez Mastrapa, also shared similar sentiments and credited the young athletic stalwart on his national achievement.
“I feel very happy for him and Trinidad and Tobago. He has been working very hard over the years and he is a good kid,” he said. Speaking from Texas yesterday, Keshorn’s brother, Elton (national triple-jumper) was elated with the news of his brother’s national recognition.
He explained that this was the type of motivation athletes needed to further elevate themselves competitively.
“I think that the honour being placed upon him shows that dedication towards living a better life gives you the drive needed to excel. He is a great athlete. He is the example of a success story written in the stars!” he exclaimed.
Elton admitted, his brother’s Olympic achievement has increased the awareness of field sports and highlighted the less popular athletes, who came from much simpler backgrounds.
“It (Olympic gold) has already done a lot for the sport. He has shown that there is versatility in track and field and there is a lot of talent in the rural areas,” Elton added.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,165635.html
CHOOSE SPORT
By Andre Bagoo Saturday, September 1 2012
THE YOUNGEST ever recipient of the country’s highest award, Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott, 19, last night issued an appeal to the youth of the nation to turn away from the temptations of a life of crime and instead choose sport.
“Sport is a good way of not wasting time out there,” he said when asked what message he had for youth. “You should consider it an option. It’s the better option for young people out there to go into rather than going into crime.”
He was speaking to the media at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, minutes after he rose from the front row of the hall, took eight steps up to President George Maxwell Richards to receive the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 20 days after winning gold at London, throwing the javelin 84.58 metres.
Walcott dedicated the award of the nation’s highest honour to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
“I am proud to have received this knowing that it was big surprise to me when I was told. I am just really happy right now. I was told this week,”Walcott said. “Other than winning the Olympic gold medal this is another big achievement in itself, getting the highest award of Trinidad and Tobago. I would have to dedicate this award to the people of Trinidad and Tobago for all the support that was given.”
He said there was now “a little” pressure on him to top his achievements to date. But he has more in store.
“There are all these things that I want to accomplish and this is just a stepping stone,” he said. “I believe that I can achieve once again. Topping this is going to be hard but I am going to try my best. It is going to put a little bit of pressure on me knowing that the expectation is there. So I am just going to go out to represent.” Walcott said he was not abandoning the people of his home town, Toco.
“I have not abandoned you guys as some people have been saying and I am coming up there soon,” he said.
Another award recipient Justice Anthony Lucky had advice for young people too, this time those thinking of a career in law.
“Always aim for excellence and to realise that the law enlightens itself to you,” he said. “Law is a jealous mistress. You have to be dedicated, committed and honest and honesty pays off in the long run. When you are honest, your conscience is clear. If you aim for this and for excellence, you will achieve. As St Benedict said, pray and work.”
Lucky who was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold) nine years after retiring from the bench to become a judge at the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLS), added, “I thank God for blessing me with graces and divine mercy so that I can serve Him, my family and the community and our country. I pray that he will continue to use me in service to mankind throughout the world. I wish to thank my family wife, Cintra, my daughters both here and abroad as well as my working colleagues in the ITLS in Hamburg Germany.”
Lucky is the father of two: Antonia and Gillian Lucky, the head of the Police Complaints Authority and also a lawyer.
Other recipients of National Awards last night included John Babb, veteran journalist, who urged young reporters out there to be prepared for work.
“Young reporters out there – this is very hard work,” Babb told reporters. “You got to be on time, dig in the trenches and come up with some accurate reporting. You have to work. You have to work. Journalists now want to go onto Facebook and that’s it. That is not enough.” He warned that poor standards in the media will worsen unless journalists are drilled.
“Do not waste time,” he said. To media houses, he said, “take them, the young ones, and drill them from morning until night week after week after week.” He remembered the days when journalists had to spend months just to earn a byline. Babb received the Hummingbird Medal (Gold).
Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society, Dr George Laquis, received the Chaconia Medal (Gold) for service to medicine.
“This award is all for the Cancer Society,” he said. “It was given to me but it is really for the Cancer Society and will help us in the fight against this disease.”
Attorney Lynette Seebaran-Suite, who was awarded one of the Medals for the Development of Women (Gold) said, “I am very proud to get this medal, given in recognition of work done in respect to the development of women over the years and on behalf of the various organisations I belong to.” She said the award was a tribute to the work of organisations such as ASPIRE, Family Planning Association and the Network of NGOs for the Advancement of Women.
Fashion designer Peter Elias, wearing Georgio Armani, who was awarded a Humming Bird Medal (Silver) said, “I feel happy and humble, having worked with the Miss TT process for more than 15 years as part of a larger team. I felt I gave it my all and when I look back I realise that we really did well not only in terms of competition results but in terms of putting Caribbean fashion out there and telling the world about our unique style.”
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,166189.html
Walcott celebrated by Cuban Ambassador
Thursday, September 13 2012
KESHORN WALCOTT, Trinidad and Tobago Olympic javelin gold medallist, was honoured by Cuban Ambassador to TT Humberto Rivero Rosario at the Cuban Ambassador’s residence at Westmoorings on Tuesday evening.
According to Walcott’s manager Shawn Roach, “Basically they just wanted to show appreciation for the success that was brought back between the parties of myself, Keshorn and his coach (Ismael Mastrapa).
“And his coach being Cuban, they felt really proud that he was able to assist Keshorn in getting a medal. They wanted to show that the link between Cuba and Trinidad has proven well.” Roach added, “They wanted to, at least, let Keshorn know he’s always welcome in Cuba, whenever he wants to (go) and train. Sometimes, his schedule takes him to Cuba. This year, he was actually in Cuba for a month and next year he’ll be in Cuba for two months.”
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2012-09-13/keshorn-admits-he%E2%80%99s-still-shock
Keshorn admits he’s still in shock
...it’s still catching up with me says gold medallist
Published: Thursday, September 13, 2012
Clayton Clarke
Olympic men’s javelin champion Keshorn Walcott is still in shock at his historic performance at the London Olympic Games on August 12. The 19-year-old Toco resident bettered the national record of 84.51 metres to stun the field and the world. Speaking at press conference with 18 of this country’s London Olympians at the Hyatt Regency yesterday, Walcott shared that the was still in awe with the achievement. “I have been trying to cope with people telling me what I did but it is still catching up with me. Just making the Olympics was one of my major goals then advancing to the finals but (winning) a medal was never there (on my list).” The Toco Secondary School graduate added that he was going to London for the experience. “I was not a favourite so coming out as the champion was a surprise for me and the country I am sure.” The four-time Carifta champion added that the support he has been given is overwhelming.
“Coming home and seeing the support has been shocking and going around the country and seeing so many persons happy (about my achievement) has been wonderful,” said Walcott. Many of Walcott’s Olympic teammates were inspired by his accomplishment. Pistol shooter Roger Daniel boasted that he felt proud of Walcott. “I was travelling (when he won the gold). He made me feel proud to be wearing the red, white and black. It is tremendous. That was the high point of the Games for me.”
World Championships women’s 400m hurdles bronze medallist Josanne Lucas indicated that she too was proud. “He did wonderful,” said Lucas, who did not compete at the Games as she was injured prior to travelling to London. But her absence did not stop her from celebrating the feat, adding: “I was not there to see him personally but I put on my national uniform and sang along when the national anthem was played. It was a proud moment to live for.” Reserve on the men’s 4x400m relay, Machel Cedenio, expressed that it was a wonderful feeling seeing Walcott take the title. “I was at the stadium when he was throwing and supporting him at every round. When he won we all jumped up and celebrated. We were proud to be a Trinbagonians,” said the quarter-miler.
Also present were the men’s 4x100m bronze medal team of Richard Thompson, Keston Bledman, Marc Burns and Emmanuel Callender. Thompson said the team’s bronze medal run after taking silver in 2008 in Beijing shows the consistency of this country’s sprinters. “Over the years, we have formed a chemistry. I have to commend the guys because no one was not fully healthy as they experienced knicks and knacks (injuries) throughout the year. So for us to pull it together and win another medal is a huge accomplishment.” Also present were double bronze medallist quarter-miler Lalonde Gordon, swimmer George Bovell III, triple-jumper Ayanna Alexander, hurdler Jehue Gordon, sailor Andrew Lewis, sprinters Rondell Sorillo and Jamol James, cyclist Njisane Phillip and shot putter Cleopatra Borel.
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Walcott's manager-He was just hoping to qualify for Olympic finals (http://trackalerts.com/news/lead-stories/8284-walcott-s-manager-he-was-just-hoping-to-qualify-for-olympic-finals)
By Sincratio Hueben | Sunday, 24 March 2013 23:52
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Keshorn Walcott made clean sweep of all the major awards following his historic gold medal triumph in the men's javelin at the 2012 Olympic Games.
On Friday, four time Carifta champion, won the First Citizens Sports Foundation Sportsman of the Year. Walcott became this country's second ever Olympic champion after Hasely Crawford who won the men's 100m dash at the 1976 Montreal, Canada Olympics.
Walcott's manager Sean Roach said the champion success in London was unexpected as "just qualifying for the quadrennial Games was his major goal." The 19 year old was content with dominating the junior scene.
"One goal was to become number one on the 2012 World Junior rankings and wanted to be number one from his first throw. He was number 9 at the end of 2011. Another goal was to throw a record at every meet and end off his final year at Carifta with a win.
"His team also wanted him to win the world Junior Championships and qualify for the Olympics. Attaining the gold (in the London) was never in the picture. But in London we said he got so far why not go not go one step further," explained Roach.
Roach added that Walcott is a hard worker. "He still training hard and never miss a practice and you can see he could not be here tonight. He wants to continue to be successful and make up proud." Roach, a former national high jumper, added that Walcott will looking to continue the phenomenal year he had in 2012.
"We are looking at just continuing to be successful. Now he is doing his final preparations (in Cuba) before starting competition. He has not taken a competitive throw since the Olympics. He will compete in his first meet here at home before heading out to the Diamond League in Europe. His main goal is the World Championships in Moscow, Russia from August 10 to 18 .
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Keshorn Walcott (http://www.carifta2013.com/index.php/component/k2/item/200-keshorn-walcott)
Published in Carifta Greats
Trinidad & Tobago javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott was born on the second of April 1993.
The Shocker
On the final evening at the London Olympic Games, Walcott performed a feat that was certainly the shocker of the London Games.
Also, no male athlete from any country other than Cuba in the Central America and Caribbean region has ever made it to a final in the javelin; much less win the Gold in the javelin.
It is also quite unusual for any male athlete in the Americas, other than the Cubans, to reach an Olympic or World Championships final.
It is different with the females though, as Cuban Maria Colon won the Gold medal in the javelin in Moscow in 1980 and another Cuban, Osleidyz Mendez captured the Gold medal in Athens and the Bronze medal in Sydney. She also held the World record for the event.
Quick Accent
Walcott rose quickly in the event.
In 2009 he participated in the Bressanoe IAAF World Youth Championships in the javelin, throwing 66.72m (218’11”) with the 700g instrument.
In the Carifta Games in the Cayman Islands in 2010 he threw 63.41m (208’-1/2”) moving to the 800g javelin.
At the Central American and Caribbean Jr. Championships held in Santo Domingo, Walcott won with a 67.01m (219’10-1/4”) throw. Moving to the IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada, he finished ninth in the second qualifying group with a throw of 66.05m (216’8-1/2”).
He improved to 72.04m (236’4”) in Montego Bay, Jamaica in 2011, at the Carifta Games for the victory. Then at the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico in October of 2001, Walcott further improved his best to 75.77m (248’6-1/2”).
At the Carifta Games in Bermuda at Easter of 2012, Walcott improved his personal best yet another time, achieving 77.59m (254’6-1/2”) for the Gold. That July he made a giant throw of 82.83m (271’8-1/2”) at the Central American and Caribbean Jr. Championships in Salvador, El Salvador to win. This was a new championships record as well as an Olympic qualifying distance.
At the IAAF World Jr. Championships in Barcelona several weeks later Walcott won the Gold medal with a throw of 78.64m (258’0”) on his final attempt.
A month later, the kid from Trinidad & Tobago shocked the world by winning the Olympic Gold with a throw of 84.58m (277’6”) another Trinidad & Tobago national record.
The shock went all the way to the Scandinavian countries who have dominated this event for years.
Here was a “young boy”, who nobody had ever heard about until the World Junior Championships, winning the greatest prize of all, The Olympic Gold.
Walcott’s Place in Javelin History
The World record in this event is held by Czech Jan Zelezn’y at 98.48m (323’1”), done in 1996. Zelezn’y is World and Olympic champion also.
Walcott is just eighty-fifth on the World All Time list.
Cuba’s Guerlermo Martinez holds the Central American and Caribbean record done in Guadalajara at the Pan American Games in 2011. His record is 87.20m (286’1”) (A).
Walcott is third on the All Time Central American and Caribbean All Time list and seventh on the All Time NACAC list.
Born in Toco in the northwest corner of Trinidad, Walcott was coached by, would you believe, Cuban Ismael Lopez.
Walcott was the youngest athlete ever to capture an Olympic javelin Gold medal. He also was the first athlete to win both World Junior and Olympic crown in the same year.
Rising Star Award
With a year like 2012 Walcott could not escape winning the Male Rising Star of the Year at the IAAF Gala in Barcelona in November. This award was presented by none other than the World record holder Jan Zelezn’y.
Alpheus Finlayson
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...Says consistency key for Walcott (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Says-consistency-key-for-Walcott-200971651.html)
Story Created: Apr 1, 2013 at 9:29 PM ECT
“If Keshorn Walcott never wins anything else in his lifetime, he would have already achieved the ultimate,” says former 100m Olympic silver medalist Ato Boldon.
But the USA-based Boldon is backing the London 2012 javelin champion to continue to making great strides in the sport.
Walcott, who only turns 20 today, was a surprise winner of the Olympic gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London with a 84.58 metres throw which made him the youngest-ever Olympic champion in javelin history, and also the second non-European to ever win javelin gold. Prior to beating Ukraine’s Oleksandr Pyatnytsa and Finland’s Antti Ruuskanen, Walcott was the 2012 javelin World junior champion in Barcelona, but still only considered a junior athlete.
“I am actually one of those persons betting on Keshorn Walcott simply for the reason that he was still so green in London and is open to so much improvement. I back him, not necessarily to win the World Championship, but to continue to improve.”
Boldon said the task for Walcott’s Cuban coach Ismael Mastrapa is to ensure that the young Trinidadian gives consistent performances now that he is competing as a senior athlete this season.
“No matter what Keshorn did at the Olympics it would have been a great achievement simply to have been in the final. What he has to concentrate now is on personal growth and improving consistently, rather than just winning World Championships and such,” Boldon said.
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Thanks Aviator, brought goosebumps and tears to my eyes
Keshorn Walcott Olympic medal ceremony.
http://www.youtube.com/v/xi8ee2tgYdY&feature=channel&list=UL
dem cats on de podium with Keshorn probably saying " where the F@#k is Trinidad and Tobago?" :rotfl:
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I had an interesting conversation in Vevey, Switzerland at a Nestle event with Andreas Thorkildsen, he of the 2 Olympic javelin golds and a world title plus 3 world silvers. First of all, he was absolutely tickled at the fact that Keshorn Walcott won the Olympic gold, because of how it shook up the event, and how he did it, making everyone choke trying to chase his first throw in London. More importantly, I got a chance to ask him about Keshorn, and if he was 'the real deal', as I have said repeatedly he seems to be, although I know nothing about the event. "Absolutely" was his response. "Keshorn has every tool you want in a javelin thrower, and he will be around for a long time. He will have a dip in form perhaps in the next few years during his transition to being a pro, as I myself did, but watch out with that kid. He also has a great coach" I needed to get this out there so that Trinis, some of whom have already started the inevitable march towards writing him off as a one-year wonder, can know that someone with no reason to do so, who is one of the best ever in that event, says Keshorn will be better than he already has been. Just leave him alone with the negativity.
Rumble young man, rumble.
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I had an interesting conversation in Vevey, Switzerland at a Nestle event with Andreas Thorkildsen, he of the 2 Olympic javelin golds and a world title plus 3 world silvers. First of all, he was absolutely tickled at the fact that Keshorn Walcott won the Olympic gold, because of how it shook up the event, and how he did it, making everyone choke trying to chase his first throw in London. More importantly, I got a chance to ask him about Keshorn, and if he was 'the real deal', as I have said repeatedly he seems to be, although I know nothing about the event. "Absolutely" was his response. "Keshorn has every tool you want in a javelin thrower, and he will be around for a long time. He will have a dip in form perhaps in the next few years during his transition to being a pro, as I myself did, but watch out with that kid. He also has a great coach" I needed to get this out there so that Trinis, some of whom have already started the inevitable march towards writing him off as a one-year wonder, can know that someone with no reason to do so, who is one of the best ever in that event, says Keshorn will be better than he already has been. Just leave him alone with the negativity.
Rumble young man, rumble.
thank you for sharing cause we have plenty "experts" on this forum.
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Yeah thanks for sharing this AB
I am wary of the culture of "inferiority complex" we grew up under and I believe is still strong in T&T.
I never did my best in an environment of --looking for the one negative in the midst of plenty positives.
I like what the football forum is doing with the positive messages to the NT.
We need to have a balanced approach BUT you can't go wrong with encouragement and belief in yourself and ourselves.
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I had an interesting conversation in Vevey, Switzerland at a Nestle event with Andreas Thorkildsen, he of the 2 Olympic javelin golds and a world title plus 3 world silvers. First of all, he was absolutely tickled at the fact that Keshorn Walcott won the Olympic gold, because of how it shook up the event, and how he did it, making everyone choke trying to chase his first throw in London. More importantly, I got a chance to ask him about Keshorn, and if he was 'the real deal', as I have said repeatedly he seems to be, although I know nothing about the event. "Absolutely" was his response. "Keshorn has every tool you want in a javelin thrower, and he will be around for a long time. He will have a dip in form perhaps in the next few years during his transition to being a pro, as I myself did, but watch out with that kid. He also has a great coach" I needed to get this out there so that Trinis, some of whom have already started the inevitable march towards writing him off as a one-year wonder, can know that someone with no reason to do so, who is one of the best ever in that event, says Keshorn will be better than he already has been. Just leave him alone with the negativity.
Rumble young man, rumble.
The only problem with this is keeping him away from the dotish politicians in TT that will fete him at every turn for their own selfish needs.
Hopefully his handlers will manage his training and development in such a manner that he remains focussed and is kept away from the politico
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Keshorn’s house ready (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,199924.html)
Wednesday, September 3 2014 (T&T Newsday)
The house promised to Olympic gold medallist, Keshorn Walcott, has been completed and the keys will be handed over to him in a few days.
Housing Minister, Roodal Moonilal, disclosed this yesterday at a press conference at his ministry’s office, South Quay, Port-of-Spain.
Upon his return from the London Olympics in August 2012, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced several rewards for Walcott’s achievements including a house in Federation Park worth $2.5 million, 20,000 square feet of land and $1 million in cash.
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High praise for Cuban coach (http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2014-09-03/high-praise-cuban-coach)
By Nicholas Clarke (T&T Guardian)
Published: Thursday, September 4, 2014
President of the T&T Olympic Committee Bryan Lewis has praised Cuban-born coach Ismael Lopez Mastrapa for his impact on Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott.
Following an injury-plagued 2013, Walcott bounced back to set new national javelin records at both last month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and this weekend’s Zurich leg of the IAAF Diamond League.
Lewis said that Mustafah, who has worked with Walcott since 2009, had been instrumental in the 21-year-old’s good form.
“Keshorn’s success is a reflection of the hard work he has been putting in with his coach and team,” he said. “We are blessed to have a coach of Ismael Mustafah’s calibre working with our athletes. Obviously his programme is working.”
Lewis is attending a preparation forum in Brazil for the Rio 2016 Olympics. He said that while it would be premature to speculate about Walcott bringing home another gold medal in two years time, he was confident about his continued improvement.
“Once good health prevails, Ismael will have athletes where they need to be. He has an excellent understanding of sporting science and long term athletic development. He knows what needs to be done and where athletes need to be at particular points in time.”
Meanwhile, NAAA PRO Peter Samuel said that Walcott could take satisfaction from having answered his critics.
“You don’t break the national record twice within a month by fluke. A lot of people criticise him without understanding the sport properly. Keshorn is still only 21, which is very young for a javelin thrower. If you check the history of the event, a lot of athletes peak in their late 20s and early 30s. He’s still mastering his trade and will get better as the years go by.”
Samuel added that Walcott was on course for a stellar career.
“We in T&T like to write people off. He had an injury last year but he is over that now. This season he’s got better and better and the sky’s the limit for him... I foresee Keshorn throwing into the early 90s range within two years time and barring injury, I think he can be in three more Olympics.”
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Lewis makes case for housing for athletes (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Lewis-makes-case-for-housing-for-athletes-297732021.html)
Story Created: Mar 26, 2015 at 8:53 PM ECT (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20receives%20keys%20and%20plaque%20to%20new%20house.png) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20receives%20keys%20and%20plaque%20to%20new%20house.png.html)
Keshorn Walcott receives keys and plaque for new fully fitted house as reward for his Olympic gold
Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis’ proposal of an Elite Athlete Housing Assistance Programme is receiving positive support from sports and other stakeholders in Trinidad and Tobago.
Lewis, who said the housing programme would work along similar lines as the Elite Athlete Assistance Programme (EAAP), envisions that housing for national athletes would be geared towards those athletes who dedicate years of their youthful life to representing their country at Olympic and world level sport.
“Their choice to dedicate themselves to national duty and service through sport ostensibly place them at a significant social and economic disadvantage. This is a situation and a burden that must be addressed,” Lewis said via press release.
“Currently the burden is a de-motivating one for athletes. Representing T&T at the Olympic and world level should be considered national duty and service,” Lewis said.
The former Harvard rugby player said unlike the EAAP, the housing programme would address team sports and Lewis is including team sports in the proposed #10golds24 athlete housing assistance programme.
“The TTOC is preparing a request to send to the relevant authorities with a view to having the proposed Athlete Housing Assistance Programme implemented as soon as possible,” he stated.
Lewis added that there are national athletes who have served the country with distinction for five years or more who need assistance to obtain HDC housing, and this initiative aims to give priority to those athletes similar to the priority given to members of the national security services.
“I am proposing that a similar policy be implemented for national sportsmen and women who have a history of long and meritorious service.
Just as is done with the Elite Athlete Assistance Programme, the national sport organisations and the TTOC are well positioned to clarify and confirm those athletes in both team and individual sports that merit favourably consideration under the Elite/High Performance Athlete Housing Assistance Programme,” Lewis explained
He said that a policy for housing for national sportsmen and women, with a priority on those who have represented T&T at Olympic and World level in both team and individual sports, would be a powerful statement of intent.
“This country’s athletes-sportsmen and women have earned the right to receive consideration. Dedication to national duty and service through sport must no longer place our athletes at a disadvantage and compromise their constitutional and human rights to the dignity of a roof over their heads.
“Implement a housing for national sportsmen and women aspect of the 100 houses a week distribution drive,” Lewis said.
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Walcott 7th in Ostrava
...as Bolt claims 200m, Powell takes 100m (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150526/sports/walcott-7th-in-ostrava)
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Published on May 26, 2015, 8:48 pm AST (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20at%20Ostrava%202015.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20at%20Ostrava%202015.jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott competing at Ostrava 2015
Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott finished seventh in the men's javelin, at the Ostrava Golden Spike IAAF World Challenge meet, in the Czech Republic, yesterday.
The reigning Olympic champion's best throw on the day was a season's best 81.56 metres, produced in the sixth and final round of the competition.
Julius Yego struck gold with a huge 86.88m effort-a new Kenyan national record. German Thomas Rohler (85.36m) finished second, while third spot went to Finland's 2007 world champion Tero Pitkamaki (83.96m).
Walcott's first throw was 81.22m, good enough for second spot after the opening round. He improved to 81.50m in round two, and stayed in the runner-up position.
By the end of the third round, however, Walcott was sixth, four throwers moving ahead of him. Among them was Yego, with his superb 86.88m effort. The reigning African and Commonwealth Games champion then opted to pass on his last three attempts.
Walcott threw 80.38m in round four, and 79.73m in the penultimate round. The 22-year-old Toco field athlete then closed off on a high, landing the spear 81.56m.
The Ostrava meet was Walcott's second outing this season. He opened his 2015 campaign on May 15 at the Doha Diamond League meet in Qatar, where he finished eighth with an 80.68m throw.
Usain Bolt was the star attraction in Ostrava. The Jamaican sprint legend emerged victorious in the men's 200 metres event. He stopped the clock at 20.13 seconds for a comfortable cushion on Isiah Young, the American finishing second in 20.35.
Another Jamaican sprinter, Asafa Powell won the men's 100m dash in 10.04 seconds. Young secured the runner-up spot in 10.13.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sergio DuFour's report on IAAF Ostrava track meet (http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-Ostrava-track-meet---305105341.html)
Story Created: May 26, 2015 at 10:43 PM ECT (TV6TNT.com)
Keshorn Walcott was in action today at the IAAF World Challenge in Ostrava and managed a seventh placing with a 81.56metre effort.
He was the only T&T athlete in the competition, which witnessed Jamaican Usain Bolt in action in the 200m event and Asafa Powell took the 100m.
Click link to view report: http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-Ostrava-track-meet---305105341.html
Ostrava - Men's Javelin Throw
https://www.youtube.com/v/lx7cIysl-aU
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Walcott explodes at Golden Gala (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,212204.html)
Friday, June 5 2015 (T&T Newsday)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20sets%20new%20natonal%20record%20at%20Rome%20Golden%20Gala%202015.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20sets%20new%20natonal%20record%20at%20Rome%20Golden%20Gala%202015.jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott sets new natonal record at Rome Golden Gala 2015
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S Keshorn Walcott stunned spectators at the IAAF Diamond League Meet in Rome yesterday, throwing the spear a fantastic 86.20 metres to snatch bronze in the Men’s Javelin event and smashing his own national record in the process.
The 2012 Olympic champion left it very late; in fact, it was his sixth and final throw that got him among the medals. In his first five attempts, Walcott had recorded distances of 79.52, 80.59, 78.77, 76.76 and 81.62, and seemed likely to finish out of the top three. However, the Toco-born athlete got everything right in his final throw, eclipsing his previous national mark of 85.77, set last year in Zurich.
The winner, Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic had a best throw of 88.14, while Kenya’s Julius Yego (87.71) took the silver medal. Walcott’s effort on Thursday took him into fifth in the Diamond Ranking for 2015 with just one point; Vesely leads with five points.
Keshorn Walcott (T&T) 86.20m NR Javelin Rome Diamond League 2015
https://www.youtube.com/v/q0L1BSlyXbk
Following his performance, the National Association of Athletics Administrations of Trinidad & Tobago (NAAA) issued a public congratulation to Keshorn on his achievement.
TT’s other athlete in Rome, Jehue Gordon, did not fare nearly as well. The World Champion, who fell and did not finish at the Prefontaine Classic last weekend, finished seventh yesterday from a field of nine in the 400 metre hurdles, clocking in 49.22 seconds; it was his fastest time for the year. American Johnny Dutch took the gold, as he did in Prefontaine, finishing slightly faster this time in 48.13.
Meanwhile, US sprinter Justin Gatlin maintained his run of form, taking the men’s 100 in 9.75; Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut was adjudged second after clocking the identical 9.98 as American Michael Rodgers. Jamaican Nesta Carter (10.06) finished fourth.
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Record-breaking Walcott
Olympic champ bags bronze at Golden Gala (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150605/sports/record-breaking-walcott)
By Kwame Laurence (T&T Express)
Published on Jun 5, 2015, 12:01 am AST
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20competes%20in%20the%20Mens%20Javelin%20event%20at%20the%20Golden%20Gala%202015.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20competes%20in%20the%20Mens%20Javelin%20event%20at%20the%20Golden%20Gala%202015.jpg.html)
HERCULEAN EFFORT: Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott competes in the Men's Javelin event at the Golden Gala, the 4th stage of IAAF Diamond League 2015 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, yesterday. —Photo: AFP
Keshorn Walcott saved his best for last at the Golden Gala IAAF Diamond League meet, in Rome, Italy, yesterday. In the sixth and final round of the men's javelin, the reigning Olympic champion landed the spear 86.20 metres—a new Trinidad and Tobago record—to grab bronze.
World champion Vitezslav Vesely struck gold in the event, the Czech Republic thrower producing an 88.14m effort. Silver went to Julius Yego, the reigning African and Commonwealth Games champion breaking his own Kenyan record with an 87.71m throw.
Walcott's 86.20m effort was 43 centimetres better than his previous national record, the 85.77m standard he had established in Zurich, Switzerland, last August.
World champion Jehue Gordon finished seventh in the Golden Gala men's 400m hurdles, the T&T athlete getting home in a season's best 49.22 seconds. Americans Johnny Dutch and Michael Tinsley finished first and second, respectively, clocking 48.13 and 48.34. Puerto Rico's Javier Culson was third in 48.65.
Another T&T athlete, Wayne Davis II clocked 13.84 seconds to finish ninth in the men's 110m hurdles. Russian Sergey Shubenkov earned gold, just getting the better of France's Garfield Darien. Both hurdlers got to the line in 13.23 seconds. American Jeff Porter, meanwhile, was third in 13.32.
On Tuesday, at the Aileen Meagher International Track Classic, in Canada, Kyle Greaux snapped up silver in the men's 200m in 21.30 seconds, behind Cuban Roberto Skyers (21.18) and ahead of Canadian Gavin Smellie (21.45). In the 100m dash, Greaux was seventh in a wind-aided 10.92. Barbadian Ramon Gittens clocked 10.40 for the win.
Greaux's T&T teammate, Alena Brooks seized silver in the women's 800m in two minutes, 09.33 seconds. American Bethany Praska emerged victorious in 2:05.99.
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Keshorn Walcott sets T&T record in Rome (http://www.trackalerts.com/Articles/keshorn-walcott-sets-t-t-record-in-rome/13927/)
June 5th, 2015 8:54am (TrackAlerts.com)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20TTO%20Javelin%20Champion.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20TTO%20Javelin%20Champion.jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott, Trinidad & Tobago Javelin National Record Holder.
Olympic Games champion Keshorn Walcott set a new Trinidad & Tobago national javelin record at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea Diamond League Meet in Rome, Italy on Thursday (4 June) (Video Below).
Walcott hurled the iron spear out to 86.20m to improve his previous national mark of 85.77 achieved at the Weltklasse Meet in Zurich, Switzerland on 28 August last year.
The new national figures were good enough to earn Walcott third, his best placing for the year.
In a release, the National Association of Athletics Administrations of Trinidad & Tobago (NAAA), sent congratulatory message to Walcott.
"This is the third time in ten months that he has broken the National Record," the release said.
In Rome, the Toco javelin star was beaten by reigning World Champion Vitezslav Vesely of Czech Republic and Commonwealth champion Julius Yego of Kenya. Vesely threw a world leading mark of 88.14 to take the top spot while broke his Kenya record with a 87.71m effort.
Also, "The NAAA's will also like to congratulate Jehue Gordon on his season's best (49.22) in the 400m Hurdles also in Rome. It was good seeing Jehue back on the track after he crashed out in the same event just five days ago in Eugene Oregon."
Keshorn Walcott (T&T) 86.20m NR Javelin Rome Diamond League 2015
https://www.youtube.com/v/q0L1BSlyXbk
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Keshorn’s coach predicts ‘something better’ (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,212244.html)
By JOEL BAILEY Saturday, June 6 2015 (T&T Newsday)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20alongside%20his%20Cuban%20coach%20Ismael%20Lopez%20Mastrapa%202014.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20alongside%20his%20Cuban%20coach%20Ismael%20Lopez%20Mastrapa%202014.jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott alongside his Cuban coach Ismael Lopez Mastrapa after training session
ISMAEL LOPEZ Mastrapa, coach of Trinidad and Tobago’s second Olympic gold medallist, javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott, is pleased with the improvement shown by the 22-year-old, who broke his national record at the IAAF Diamond League Meet in Rome, Italy on Thursday.
Walcott earned a bronze medal with a distance of 86.20 metres, bettering his previous standard of 85.77 which he registered last year.
In a telephone interview yesterday, the Cuban-born Mastrapa commented, “I feel happy of course.
We (were) waiting for that. I was not surprised for him because this year our training has been good.
“He improved a lot from last year,” Mastrapa added.
“That’s why I was not surprised, but we’re waiting for something better.”
Mastrapa noted that Walcott will be aiming to reach peak form ahead of the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada from July 21-26, as well as the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China from August 22-30.
He said, “the World Championships is coming. We are using, for preparation for the World Championships, the Pan Am Games.
We think that he will continue improving if he keeps at it.
He have a little problem with the left ankle but we hope that everything is going to be okay.” But the National Championships are scheduled from June 26-28 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Mastrapa stated, “he comes back from Europe next week.
We will continue in preparation for the Pan Am (Games) and the World Championships. Of course he will take part in the National Championships.”
With the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil around the corner, Walcott’s coach said, “to keep at that level, he has to compete with the best in the world.
He has to compete at a high level. That’s our goal.
“I was waiting on that ‘jump’ to 86 metres,” he added. “He’s improved on everything from last year.”
Concerning Walcott’s ankle, Mastrapa stated, “the ankle is getting better but elite athletes, they have to deal with those kind of problems. But it’s okay.”
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Keshorn breaks javelin record again (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,212339.html)
Monday, June 8 2015 (T&T Newsday)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20breaking%20records%20and%20inspiring.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20breaking%20records%20and%20inspiring.jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott breaking records and inspiring
OLYMPIC CHAMPION Keshorn Walcott set a new national javelin mark and Cleopatra Borel produced a superb shot putt effort, as Trinidad and Tobago made its best showing at the IAAF Diamond League for the year, picking up a silver and a bronze medal in Birmingham yesterday.
Walcott reset his national javelin mark for the second time in the space of three days, hurling the spear 86.43 metres to earn his second-successive bronze medal, while Borel produced an 18.80m throw to take silver in the Women’s shot putt.
Walcott’s second-successive bronze medal came in a drama-filled javelin contest among the same three men who mounted the podium in Rome on Thursday last.
Kenyan Julius Yego led from the opening round with a distance of 85.95 metres, only for Walcott to eclipse that in the third round, with his best effort of 86.43m. The lead changed hands again as World Champion Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic produced an 88.18m throw with his final effort; but Yego had the final say, hurling the spear a fantastic 91.39m with his last effort.
It was a Diamond League record, an African record and the best in the world since 2006.
Aside from his second-successive bronze medal, the Toco-born Walcott had the satisfaction of confirming his return to form, following a series of unremarkable performances in recent times. Yesterday’s throw went 0.66 metres further than last Thursday’s effort of 85.77m.
In the Women’s shot putt, Borel produced her best for the day with her final effort. It was 0.88 metres behind the winning throw of 19.68m that earned Germany’s Christina Schwanitz the gold, and Borel left four Americans, a Hungarian and a British athlete all in her wake.
Sprinter Keston Bledman finished fifth in the men’s 100m heats in 10.11 seconds, the ninth-fastest of the 16 entrants. The American Marvin Bracy won the final in 9.93 seconds, ahead of Britain’s Adam Gemili and American Mike Rodgers, who both clocked 9.97. Jamaica’s Nesta Carter was fourth in 10 seconds flat.
TT quarter-miler Jarrin Solomon contested the Men’s 300 metres and finished eighth and last in 33.22 seconds.
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Borel silver, Walcott bronze but javelin record falls again (http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2015-06-08/borel-silver-walcott-bronze-javelin-record-falls-again)
Published: Monday, June 8, 2015 (T&T Guardian)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20TampT_1.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20TampT_1.jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott...second bronze medal in Diamond League in four days.
Four days after resetting the national javelin record in Rome, Keshorn Walcott did it again, raising his and T&T’s best ever mark to 86.44m for another third place finish at the latest Diamond League leg, yesterday in Birmingham, England. The event also saw shot putter Cleopatra Borel claiming second place with a top class effort of 18.80 metres which put her sixth overall on the world leading list.
With one scratch, all five other throws were in excess of the 80-metre mark, the third of which gave the 22-year-old another confidence booster ahead of next month’s Pan American Games and August’s IAAF World Championships. His other efforts were 80.56, 85.21, 85.59 and 84.97m.
This followed last Thursday’s national breaking throw for Walcott, who placed third in Rome with an 86.20m effort. It would also mean that Walcott broke the national record for the fourth time in under a year. He did it twice at the beginning and end of August last year, when he threw 85.28m in a qualifying event for the Commonwealth Games and then 85.77m at the Zurich leg of the 2014 IAAF Diamond League.
Yesterday’s javelin programme was regarded among the most dramatic and eventful in Diamond League history with that discipline hosting the most revered group of athletes in any of the other track and field events on the day.
An exceptionally special day for the traditional favourites in the men’s javelin, Kenyan Julius Yego, last year’s Commonwealth gold medallist, won the leg on his final throw with an incredible 91.39m effort, the best throw in the world this year. In fact, Yego’s effort also broke the African record and was the best javelin throw by any athlete since 2006. World champion Vitezslav Vesely finished second with an 88.18m, his best of the year.
Yego took an early lead with an 85.95m throw on his first attempt, significantly better than 80.56m opener. However, Walcott and Yeho then exchanged leads by the third round after the former threw his national record breaking 86.43 effort.
Yego, on the same round, again took the lead with a 86.53m hurl. But prior to Yego’s final hurl, Vesely also took a turn in the lead when he seemingly won the leg with a season best effort of 88.18m.
No one thrower, including Walcott was able to respond to Vesely, with the exception of Yego who lit up the arena with his best ever effort on the final throw of the night.
There was confusion and debate as to the legitimacy of the mark given that the spear fell out of the sector given that they had not been extended beyond 87 metres.
And, even after it was measured, the judged decided it was outside of the sector.
It took all of 20 minutes, even after the meeting ended, for the officials to reverse their decision and to award Yego the victory and a legitimate personal, national continental and IAAF Diamond League record and the world leading mark.
At the end of the event, Yego went within one point of Vesely on the Diamond League rankings with six points, while Walcott remains tied in fourth with two points.
Keston Bledman lined up in the men’s 100m heats but was unable to make it to the final which was eventually won by USA’s Marvin Brady, who clocked 9.93 seconds, followed by runners-up Adam Gemili of the UK and the other American Michael Rodgers, who tied in 9.97. Nesta Carter of Jamaica placed fourth in ten seconds.
Bledman ran 10.11 seconds in the first round, one spot behind France’s Jimmy Vicaut who barely made it into the final with 10.09 seconds. Kim Collins of St Kitts was also unable to progress to the final after he finished fifth in the heats clocking 10.17 seconds.
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Record re-set
Walcott throws 86.43m for Birmingham bronze (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150608/sports/record-re-set)
By Kwame Laurence
Published on Jun 8, 2015, 1:00 am AST (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20competes%20competing%20in%20Mens%20Javelin%20event%20at%20Rome%20Golden%20Gala%202015..jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20competes%20competing%20in%20Mens%20Javelin%20event%20at%20Rome%20Golden%20Gala%202015..jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott sets new T&T national record again!
Keshorn Walcott re-set his own Trinidad and Tobago men's javelin record at the Sainsbury's Birmingham Grand Prix IAAF Diamond League meet in England, yesterday.
The reigning Olympic champion threw 86.43 metres to improve on the 86.20m standard he had established in Rome, Italy, last Thursday. Walcott's new national record earned him bronze in yesterday's competition.
Walcott's series of throws was impressive. He opened at 80.56m, and followed up with an 85.21m effort. The 86.43m T&T record came in round three, and was followed by an 85.59m throw. Walcott fouled in the fifth round, but bounced back to land the spear 84.97m in the sixth and final round.
Julius Yego had the statisticians busy, joining the 90-metre club with a huge 91.39m effort in round six. The monster throw re-set the Kenyan and African records. Czech Republic's reigning world champion, Vitezslav Vesely threw 88.18m to snap up silver.
Watch the video 'Keshorn Walcott sets new national record'
https://www.youtube.com/v/yAK144M7TTE
Meanwhile, T&T's Cleopatra Borel threw the iron ball a season's best 18.80m to pick up silver in the women's shot put, behind Germany's Christina Schwanitz (19.68m). However, Jarrin Solomon trailed the field in the men's 300m, the T&T athlete finishing eighth in 33.22 seconds. South Africa's Wayde van Niekirk won in 31.63.
In the men's 100m, T&T sprinter Keston Bledman clocked 10.11 seconds to finish fifth in heat one and ninth overall in the qualifying round, just missing out on a top-eight finish and a lane in the final. American Marvin Bracy topped the championship race in 9.93.
At the Flanders Cup, in Belgium, on Saturday, T&T's Josanne Lucas triumphed in the women's 400m hurdles in 57.61 seconds.
At the Jim Bush Track and Field Championships, in California, USA, T&T athlete, Mikel Thomas struck gold in the men's 110m hurdles in 13.39 seconds.
Janeil Bellille seized silver in the women's 400m hurdles in a season's best 56.72 seconds. Magnolia Howell was sixth in the women's 400m in 54.96, and seventh in the 200m in 23.95.
In Florida, Semoy Hackett, back in competition after serving a 28-month doping ban, opened her season in fine style, securing silver in the Star Athletics Sprint Classic women's 200m. The T&T sprinter completed the half-lap race in 22.81 seconds. Shermund Allsop clocked 10.51 to finish second in the men's 100m “C” race.
At the New Jersey International Invitational, Andre Marcano bagged bronze in the men's 100m dash in 10.70 seconds. In the qualifying round, Marcano clocked 10.63, and Lalonde Gordon got to the line in 10.88.
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VIDEO; http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-Keshorn-on-NAAA-Meet--7450---309683531.html
Keshorn on NAAA Meet
Even though Olympic gold medalist Keshorn Walcott is getting set to compete at the NAAA's national championships this weekend, he isn't taking the meet too seriously. In fact, his goal is to shine at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing this summer, with the hope of medaling. We met up with Walcott while he was training at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
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Walcott goes for ‘Worlds’ redemption (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,213262.html)
By JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH Friday, June 26 2015 (T&T Newsday)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20world%20number%205%20in%20Javelin%20training%20with%20world%20number%201%202%20amp%203%20Tero%20Pitkamaki%20Vitezslav%20Vesely%20and%20Julius%20Yego%20in%20Birmingham.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20world%20number%205%20in%20Javelin%20training%20with%20world%20number%201%202%20amp%203%20Tero%20Pitkamaki%20Vitezslav%20Vesely%20and%20Julius%20Yego%20in%20Birmingham.jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott with javelers Julius Yego, Tero Pitkamaki & Vitezslav Vesely in Birmingham
AFTER FAILING to finish in the final top 10 at the 14th edition of the IAAF World Championships in Russia two years ago, Olympic men’s javelin champion Keshorn Walcott is intent on restoring his international competitive presence when the 15th version of the decorated track and field event runs off in Beijing, China, from August 22-30.
And even though the 22-year old recently reset his national record at back-to-back Diamond League events in Rome, Italy (86.20 metres) and Zurich, Switzerland (86.43m) earlier this month, Walcott is determined to better his performance this time around, after a shaky showing at the Worlds in 2013. Presently in a pre-Olympic year, the Toco-bred athlete dismissed early preparations for the 2016 Summer Games just yet, and has decided to direct all focus on the Beijing Champs in August.
“I currently feel no pressure for the Olympics because my goals haven’t been set for Brazil as yet,” said Walcott. “This is because I really want to focus on the World Championships. I had a disappointing performance last time around and I really want to redeem myself. The World Championships is on my mind and I really want to put forward my best. Once I do well this year there (China), its going to be a confidence boost for me going into the Olympic year.”
The reigning national champion admitted that prior to his recent distances, he struggled a bit in other competitions worldwide. Pleased with his improvements under ace throw coach Ismael Lopez Mastrapa, Walcott also revealed that his hectic season ahead will be focused mainly on maintaining his form throughout and until Rio de Janeiro.
Since his historic golden throw at the London Games, the 2012 World Junior Championships winner has been increasingly competing on the world stage among the globe’s best athletes. He has also spent a large amount of travelling with these world renowned field athletes and has been constantly amplifying his knowledge of the sport.
“I learn more by talking to them,” he said. “We travel a lot together so we share a lot of information amongst each about training and things like that. “Everybody has their individual strengths and specific techniques. But there are some similarities in the javelin throw that we all need to know, so by watching, and talking with each other, we all help each other out.”
Walcott is presently nursing a minor ankle injury but is confident that he will fully recover for the National Senior Track and Field Championships, which begins today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
His next major international event will be the Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland on July 9.
“I know I’m still young and still learning the sport. Knowing that a lot of these guys have been involved in the sport approximately five to 10 years more than me, it’s great to know that I’m able to be up there with them. I still have a lot more to go and more improvements still to make.
Being able to compete with these guys now, its still a huge learning process for me getting used to top flight competition. When you see them at the Olympics or World Championships, it’s not really going to be any new faces so there’s no intimidation or fear by me,” he ended.
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29 JUN 2015 Report, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Walcott returns home for championship record and first win of the year (http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/walcott-gordon-tt-champs)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20at%202015%20Trinidad%20and%20Tobago%20Championships.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20at%202015%20Trinidad%20and%20Tobago%20Championships.jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott at the 2015 Trinidad and Tobago Championships
(Curtis Chase/Trinidad Express) © Copyright
Global champions Keshorn Walcott and Jehue Gordon enjoyed contrasting wins at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on the final day of the Trinidad and Tobago Championships on Sunday (28).
Walcott was in a class of his own in the javelin, the London 2012 Olympic Games gold medallist landed his spear at 84.84m in the first round to break his own championship record.
Walcott followed up with an 82.71m throw in round two.
Having thoroughly entertained his adoring home fans, the 22-year-old national hero then passed on his last four attempts and eventually won by more than seven metres.
Even though Walcott was a little down on his recent form in Europe, where he set national records of 86.20m and 86.43m at the IAAF Diamond League meetings in Rome and then Birmingham, he was still pleased with his first win of the year.
In contrast to Walcott, Gordon was forced to work hard for the men’s 400m hurdles title.
The 2013 IAAF World Championship gold medallist went out aggressively but the defending national champion Emmanuel Mayers was still on level terms at the halfway point.
Gordon and Mayers were still battling stride for stride coming off the penultimate barrier but it was the Moscow champion who was a stronger at the end, crossing the line in 50.06 with Mayers second in 50.24,
“It was definitely not easy,” Gordon told local media after the race. “These guys, they’re hungry. I just had to keep my eyes on my lane, use my experience, and bring my ‘A’ game at this point in time.
"The conditions, they were not too good with the wind, but hey, we all had to compete under the same circumstances. I guess I was the better man today."
Gordon will be in Beijing in late August to defend his world title.
"I would give it my best. It’s definitely not going to be easy but you know me, it’s always about making sure I’ll be at my best at that point in time. Once it comes to the championships, it’s not really about times, but making sure that we’re fit enough to go through the rounds, make it to the final, and bring home a medal."
Making it a double victory for the Walcott family on Sunday, his older brother Elton Walcott topped the men’s triple jump field with a wind-aided 16.40m effort. He also produced a legal 16.32m jump.
Kyle Greaux won the men’s 200m title in a personal best of 20.42 while Reyare Thomas captured the women’s 200m crown in a wind-assisted 22.97.
Cleopatra Borel reached 18.46m to enjoy a comfortable victory in the women’s shot put.
Kwame Laurence (Trinidad Express) for the IAAF
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Olympic champ joins elite 90m club (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,213922.html)
By ASHFORD JACKMAN Friday, July 10 2015 (T&T Newsday)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20throws%20over%2090m%20at%20Lausanne%20DL%202015.png) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20throws%20over%2090m%20at%20Lausanne%20DL%202015.png.html)
OLYMPIC CHAMPION Keshorn Walcott produced a throw of 90- plus metres on his first attempt, then sat back and watched as his rivals in the Men’s Javelin strove desperately and in vain to match it, at yesterday’s IAAF Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.
On a day when most of the pre-meet hype seemed to centre around the strongest Men’s 100-metre field assembled for the year, the Toco-born 22-year-old forced his name into the headlines with that single gold medal-winning effort of 90.16 metres, leaving all his world-ranked rivals in his wake.
Walcott’s feat set several marks. It was the third time he had broken the national record for the year; on June 4th, he produced 86.20m with his sixth and final effort in Rome, taking the bronze medal in the process. Three days later, he reset the mark at 86.43m in Birmingham.
Yesterday’s new mark was a meet record for the Athletissima, and the second-longest throw for 2015; it was also the greatest distance ever achieved by any athlete from the western hemisphere.
Responding to the news, TT Olympic Committee Brian Lewis was ecstatic. “Really great news! It’s great to see Keshorn reaping the rewards of his hard work and discipline. He has one of the best coaches (Cuban Ismael Mastrapa Lopez) in the world. Keshorn has tremendous potential.”
Lewis, speaking from Toronto where he was attending a Pan American Sport Organisation (PASO) meeting added, “He has shown progression since London 2012, and it’s a good performance ahead of the Pan Am and Worlds.”
When Newsday confirmed that Walcott had won, Sports Minister Brent Sancho responded, “I’m extremely elated to know that Keshorn has again improved on his fine display, and we’re hoping that he continues on in this great vein of form that he’s in.”
For the record, the next-best effort, by Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic, was 87.97m, while Finland’s Tero Pitkamaki (87.44) claimed the bronze.
Ephraim Serrette, president of the National Association of Athletics Federations (NAAF) paid credit to Walcott and the team working with him. “I think he’s progressing well. The programme that he’s working with, actually I think they have understood the whole preparation aspect,” he told Newsday. “So he would have started throwing 80, 85, 86 and now (he’s) peaking at a time when he should be doing those type of throws; and getting it in the first throw is even better,” Serrette said, explaining that Walcott is still contending with an ankle injury, so that it might have influenced his decision not to throw again unless necessary.
Serrette added that being selective about the meets in which they compete had contributed significantly to the success of Walcott and female shot putter Cleopatra Borel. “So I think the programme they’re working with is working. If you look at Cleo (Borel), she’s done a 19.26 as well, so they continue to perform at a particular level coming closer to the World Championships. It’s now for them to hold that going into the Pan Am and the World Championships and repeat, or even do better.”
Leader of the People’s National Movement, Dr Keith Rowley, also weighed in on Twitter: “Congratulations Keshorn Walcott on winning gold for T&T @ IAAF Diamond League. What an inspiration to young people!”
While Walcott was ruling over his experienced rivals, it was a disappointing day for the other TT athletes at the Athletissima.
Running in lane six, Keston Bledman finished fifth in the star-studded 100 metres. American Justin Gatlin beat the filed convincingly in 9.75 seconds, while Jamaican Asafa Powell was adjudged to have taken second place after clocking the same time (9.92) as Tyson Gay.
Bledman and Mike Rodgers also dead-heated at 10.03, but the American was adjudged to have been ahead. World champion Jehue Gordon finished eighth and last in the 400 metre Hurdles, running a very slow 50.07 seconds.
On Twitter after the race, a disappointed Gordon stated: “Things didn’t go the way I wanted it to tonight. Know that’s not the kind of shape I’m in but God is good. Once it’s his will it will happen.”
American Bershawn Jackson took the gold in 48.71 seconds, with South African Van Zyl (48.92) and Russia’s Denis Kudryavtsev (49.01) taking the minor placings.
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Keshorn Walcott wins Gold at Pan Am Games 2015 with 83.27m Javelin throw
https://www.facebook.com/TTOlympicCommittee/photos/a.689083454471461.1073741834.123604181019394/888950354484769/?type=1&theater (https://www.facebook.com/TTOlympicCommittee/photos/a.689083454471461.1073741834.123604181019394/888950354484769/?type=1&theater)
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Keshorn Walcott 2 One Minute
https://www.youtube.com/v/dval7dKmxIY
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Triumph through pain
Walcott very proud of Pan Am gold
http://trinidadexpress.com/20150806/sports/triumph-through-pain
Keshorn Walcott is proud, very proud of his Pan American Games men’s javelin gold medal.
“All championships are important to me, no matter what the level. I set myself some goals and Pan Am was one of them, so the gold medal was a big achievement for me.”
When he arrived in Toronto, Canada, last month, 22-year-old Walcott was battling an ankle injury and not certain to compete.
“Coming off my last competition in Monaco, I couldn’t walk for two or three days. I had to be whee l-chaired through the airport coming all the way to Canada. The decision was for me not to throw, but me and my harden self, I tend not to listen to too much people. I tend to try to find my answers in my mind.
“I took the risk,” the 2012 Olympic champion continued, “because something told me to take it. We spoke about the ankle before with the doctors and stuff. It seemed like my season was over, so I just told myself I don’t think I could do too much more harm to my ankle, so at least let me achieve one of my goals for the entire year if I have to finish up my season. I think God blessed me. I went out, I took the risk, and now I’m still able to continue.”
Walcott was the class of the field at last month’s Pan Am Games, striking gold with an 83.27 metres throw.
“It means a lot to me, knowing that I haven’t been winning that much since the Olympic Games. That was kind of a confidence boost for me. No matter the level of competition, I’m back on top. Going forward, it will set some standards for me, knowing that I added Pan Am champion to my list.”
Walcott does not relish the limelight, but could not avoid it following his 2012 Olympic triumph. He is grateful there’s no more Walcottmania in T&T.
“It died down a bit, so it’s better now. You still go places and people come at you asking for pictures and what not, but I think I’m handling it okay. And now that I’m a lot more busy, I’m out of the country a lot, it’s easier for me. I don’t have that much downtime to be out. When I train, it’s train, home, different things, so people don’t see me that much. It’s a little bit easier for me now.”
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Walcott: Medal bonus was a motivator (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150806/sports/walcott-medal-bonus-was-a-motivator)
By Mark Pouchet (T&T Express)
Published on Aug 6, 2015, 9:11 pm AST
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London Olympic gold medallist Keshorn “Keshie” Walcott
London Olympic gold medallist Keshorn “Keshie” Walcott believes the medal bonus initiative by the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) was a motivator for local athletes to perform and can drive them to achieve more medal success.
Walcott, winner in the javelin event, was one of three Pan Am Games medallists at Olympic House to receive their medal bonus and to mark one year to go to the RIO 2016 Olympics. As a gold medal winner at last month’s Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, Walcott picked up US$3,000.
Fellow individual gold medallist, shot putter Cleopatra Borel will receive a similar amount. Silver medal winners, hurdler Mikel Thomas, quarter-miler Machel Cedenio and cyclist Njisane Phillip will get US$2,000, while bronze medal swimmer George Bovell III will receive US$1,000. The 4x400 gold medal and 4x100 bronze medal relay teams will get a combined US$9,000 and US$3,000 respectively.
“I think it’s a good idea to begin with the initiative. Some people may not admit it but it is always something to look forward to besides the medal itself, something that will give you a little extra push, knowing you are going to get some reward for all your hard work outside of the competition,” said Walcott. Walcott related that he and Cuban-born coach Ismael Lopez Mostrapa always try to time the big throws for the major championships like Worlds, Pan Ams, Commonwealth, and the Olympics, but said “it was a bit of a surprise” when he launched the spear to a new national record of 90.16 metres in Switzerland on July 9.
“My coach and I always try to the big throw at the right moment but we always expected that throw (over 90 metres) to come this year. I guess it came a bit earlier than we expected,” said Walcott.
Walcott also related that he and Mostrapa pondered heavily on his decision to participate in the Pan Am Games after he injured the left ankle on July 17 in Monaco, days before his event in Toronto. He said he was embarrassed to be pushed in a wheelchair through the Pearson International Airport in Toronto ahead of the quadrennial hemispheric Games.
“I always tell myself tomorrow is never promised, so I always try to do my best when I get out there to achieve my goals while representing the country to the best of my ability. So coach and I sat down and decided this may be my only chance (at a Pan Am Games) and we might as well take it’’, Walcott said.
Walcott said he has matured significantly from the dark-horse 19-year-old who shocked the world with a gold medal toss at the 2012 London Olympics, and is a more experienced and seasoned campaigner these days.
And he was especially complimentary of his training partner and fellow Pan Am Games gold medallist Cleopatra Borel, the Women’s shot put champion.
“Cleo and I have been training together and knowing how hard she works, it is great seeing that she is rewarded in her performances. Hopefully she can go on an do much better and achieve more success at Worlds and other major championships,” Walcott said.
The TTOC hosted the ‘One year to Rio 2016’ acknowledgement at Olympic House on Wednesday in unison with the rest of the world in marking the one-year countdown to the Olympics on August 5 next year.
According to Lewis, the TTOC used the landmark day to celebrate the road to Rio and commemorate the athletes that had achieved excellence in Toronto.
The proceedings opened with a short video presentation highlighting team TTO’s performances in Canada and TTOC president Brian Lewis reinforced the vision of achieving the ten or more gold medals by the year 2024. “Toronto 2015 and the performances of our athletes started to make some people believe that it (#10Golds24) may have been possible; that it wasn’t far fetched and unrealistic,” he stated.
“Rio 2016 therefore, in the context of ten or more Olympic gold medals by the year 2024 is going to be very important because thereafter comes Tokyo 2020 and then 2024,” he continued.
National Association of Athletic Administrations (NAAA) president Ephraim Serrette said his organisation had a good working relationship with the TTOC and would work hard to facilitate the athletes in their pursuit for international glory.
Also in attendance on Wednesday was Emmanuel Callender and Dan Neil Telesford, both part of the 4x100m relay team, the country’s first Olympic gold medallist Hasely Crawford, TTOC general secretary Annette Knot, Pan Am Games Chef de Mission Diane Henderson and former TTOC general secretary, senator Elton Prescott.
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Keshorn after failing to qualify for the final round in Biejing World Championships
https://www.youtube.com/v/w5hZTRLWif8
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Ankle injury not to be blamed, says Walcott (http://ankle-injury-not-be-blamed-says-walcott)
Published: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 (T&T Guardian)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro003/Keshorn%20Walcott%20in%20training%20in%20Finland%202015.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro003/Keshorn%20Walcott%20in%20training%20in%20Finland%202015.jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott about to start training session in Finland.
BEIJING—Reigning Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott is suggesting that an ankle injury is not to be blamed for his elimination from the Javelin event at the World Championships on Monday.
Walcott was eliminated after placing 26th out of 33 competitors, managing only two legal throws, 75.16 metres and 76.83, his best effort.
“I just went out there, tried to perform well but it was just a bad competition,” said the Trinidadian athlete who set three new records for 2015.
“No other explanation, just a bad competition. Of course, I expected better throws but I do not know what was going on.”
Walcott, 22, entered the championships as one of the pre-event favourites with a personal and season best of 90.16m. However he has been battling an ankle injury which he said did not hamper his performance.
“The distances were way off and you can see the results,” he said. “There was a lack of competition for me since my ankle injury but my ankle held up good today and I am thanking God for that. But I would have to say it was a bad competition because I was really out of it”. Walcott says he is considering ending his season to allow his ankle injury to completely heal in time for the next season.
“So I just have to go back and continue working on it because I do not want to start back training with any problems. I think I am going to call the season there, and continue working on my ankle,” said Walcott. (CMC)
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Walcott 3rd Bronze too for Mikel Thomas* (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150908/sports/walcott-3rd-bronze-too-for-mikel-thomas)
By Kwame Laurence, kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Sep 8, 2015, 10:54 pm AST (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Keshorn%20Walcott%20competes%20in%20mens%20javelin%20qualifying%20event%20at%20the%20IAAF%20World%20Championships%20at%20the%20Birds%20Nest%20Stadium%20in%20Beijing%20China.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Keshorn%20Walcott%20competes%20in%20mens%20javelin%20qualifying%20event%20at%20the%20IAAF%20World%20Championships%20at%20the%20Birds%20Nest%20Stadium%20in%20Beijing%20China.jpg.html)
OLYMPIC CHAMPION: Trinidad and Tobago's reigning Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott competes in the men's javelin qualifying event, at the IAAF World Championships at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing, China, on August 24. —Photo: AP
Keshorn Walcott returned to 80-metre land in his first outing since a forgettable campaign at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, last month.
Competing at the IAAF World Challenge meet in Zagreb, Croatia, yesterday, Walcott threw 82.99 metres to secure third spot in the men's javelin. Thomas Rohler landed the spear 85.44m to top the 10-man field, forcing his fellow-German Andreas Hofmann to settle for silver with an 84.98m throw.
At the World Championships, Walcott could only manage a 76.83m effort, the Trinidad and Tobago field athlete finishing 26th in the qualifying competition. It was the second time in as many World Championship appearances that the 2012 Olympic champion failed to advance to the final.
Yesterday, Walcott put the Beijing 2015 disappointment behind him, bagging bronze in Zagreb with a solid performance.
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Walcott spears bronze at World Challenge (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,216780.html)
Wednesday, September 9 2015 (T&T Newsday)
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Keshorn Walcott competes in the Men's Javelin event at the Golden Gala 2015
TRINIDAD AND Tobago’s Olympic Javelin champion Keshorn Walcott marked his return to competition following a disappointing World Championships with a podium finish at the IAAF World Challenge in Croatia yesterday.
The 22-year-old, who failed to qualify for the “Worlds” final after all his throws fell under 77 metres in Beijing, produced a best effort yesterday of 82.99m, good enough to take the bronze medal.
Gold and silver went to the German pair of Thomas Rohler (85.44m) and Andreas Hofmann (84.98) respectively.
Walcott, who has been working around a foot injury for several months, will next see action on Friday at the season-ending IAAF Diamond League meet in Brussels, Belgium.
However, earning a medal in Belgium will take some doing; among his rivals will be Rohler, Hofmann, Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic and Julius Yego, the Kenyan who took the gold at the World Championships in China.
Up to press time yesterday, the only other TT athlete listed to compete in the Diamond league finale was Renny Quow, in the Men’s 400m.
Meanwhile, TT ’s Semoy Hackett finished a disappointing 7th in the Women’s 100m in 11.60 seconds; American Candyce Mc Grone won it in 11.10 and was followed home by the Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou (11.17) and Simone Facey of Jamaica (11.25).
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Quow golden; Keshorn 3rd in Diamond ranking (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,216918.html)
Saturday, September 12 2015 (T&T Newsday)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro004/Renny%20Quow%20after%20victory%20in%20Brussels%202015%20DL%20400m.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro004/Renny%20Quow%20after%20victory%20in%20Brussels%202015%20DL%20400m.jpg.html)
Kevin Borlee congratulates Renny Quow after his victory in Brussels 2015 DL 400m
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro003/Keshorn%20Walcott%20in%20Brussels%20%202015.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro003/Keshorn%20Walcott%20in%20Brussels%20%202015.jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott in Brussels the day before Diamond League javelin competition
Seasoned quarter-miler, Renny Quow, struck gold at the final leg of the AG insurance Memorial van Damme Diamond League Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday, ending his 2015 campaign in the prestigious athletics competition on a high.
Meanwhile reigning Olympic men’s javelin champion, Keshorn Walcott, settled for bronze in his pet event, capping off a strong season where he cracked the 90m barrier for the very first time. Keshorn also finished third in the Diamond standings.
Earlier, the 28-year old Quow clocked 45.29 seconds, holding off eventual silver medallist, Belgian Kevin Borlee (45.43s) and bronze receiver, Jamaican Peter Matthews (45.74s). Quow, who partnered with compatriots Machel Cedenio, Lalonde Gordon and Jarrin Solomon to grab gold in the Men’s 4x400m relay event at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, will wind down his competitive campaign in the coming weeks as he prepares for a hectic 2016 track season, prior to the Olympic Games. Grenadian Kirani James, who did not compete yesterday won the Diamond after a stellar season. In the men’s javelin, the 22-year old Keshorn launched the spear a distance of 84.03m to grasp bronze.
The Toco-bred field athlete was the only competitor hailing from the western hemisphere, but still showed mettle on the day by securing a podium finish.
Winning gold was Finnish athlete Tero Pitkamaki (87.37m) while German Thomas Rohler snatched silver with 86.56m.
With yesterday’s meet counting for double points in the Diamond Ranking, Pitkamaki’s victory made sure he would pocket the diamond with an unassailable 17 points while Vitezslav Vesely, who placed sixth yesterday, was second with 15 points. Walcott trailed in third with eight points.
Yesterday’s Belgian stage brought to an end the 13-leg 2015 Diamond League series. Competition resumes in June next year in Doha.
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VIDEO Report; https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/videos/10153716551192996/
RUNDOWN TO RIO - KESHORN WALCOTT
When we say javelin, who is the first person that comes to mind? Keshorn Walcott, right?
As we continue our 'Rundown to Rio' segment, Ryan Bachoo talked to Keshorn about being the face of local javelin.
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Walcott mentors Santa Cruz youths* (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20151110/sports/walcott-mentors-santa-cruz-youths)
Published on Nov 10, 2015, 9:11 pm AST (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro059/Keshorn%20Walcott%20shows%20the%20youngsters%20how%20to%20take%20a%20free%20kick%20during%20his%20visit%20to%20the%20Santa%20Cruz%20United%20Football%20Academy.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro059/Keshorn%20Walcott%20shows%20the%20youngsters%20how%20to%20take%20a%20free%20kick%20during%20his%20visit%20to%20the%20Santa%20Cruz%20United%20Football%20Academy.jpg.html)
LIKE THIS: T&T’s reigning Olympic men’s javelin gold medallist Keshorn Walcott shows the youngsters how to take a free kick during his visit to the Santa Cruz United Football Academy at the Brian Lara Recreational Grounds, Santa Cruz, on Saturday.
T&T’s reigning Olympic men’s javelin gold medallist Keshorn Walcott took time off his pre-season training for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to visit the Santa Cruz United Football Academy, at the Brian Lara Recreational Grounds on Saturday.
Walcott’s visit was part of the Academy’s mentorship programme. He shared with young footballers how hard he trained to excel in his sport of javelin and how he threw coconuts and mangos on the beach (in Toco) as part of his preparation. The 22 year-old also encouraged them to be disciplined in order to be successful.
He also showed off his dribbling and ball skills. Walcott played for the Toco Secondary School football team while attending there. He was one of many sports celebrities to speak to the youngsters recently. West Indies and T&T cricketer Dwayne Bravo also visited the Academy.
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See Video Report; http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-SPORT-PERSONALITY-KESHORN-WALCOTT-2007---360512991.html (http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-SPORT-PERSONALITY-KESHORN-WALCOTT-2007---360512991.html)
SPORT PERSONALITY KESHORN WALCOTT
It's that time of the year again where TV6 looks into the outstanding performances of five of the top athletes. This evening our personality is none other javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott... who has had his ups and downs. Nonetheless, the Olympic gold medallist did have some performances, which brought joy to the people of T&T
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Walcott grateful for elite $$ assistance (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,224432.html)
By JOEL BAILEY Wednesday, February 24 2016 (T&T Newsday)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro089/Darryl%20Smith%20hands%20over%20Elite%20Funding%20cheque%20to%20Keshorn%20Walcott.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro089/Darryl%20Smith%20hands%20over%20Elite%20Funding%20cheque%20to%20Keshorn%20Walcott.jpg.html)
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith, hands over
Elite Athlete Assistance Programme Funding cheque to Keshorn Walcott.
OLYMPIC JAVELIN champion Keshorn Walcott expressed his appreciation for the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, who provided him with a cheque yesterday, at the VIP Room, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, as part of its Elite Athlete Assistance Programme (EAAP).
Walcott was among a group of 15 athletes who received a total of $1.4 million from the EAAP. The other athletes who were beneficiaries of the funding yesterday were Cleopatra Borel, Aleena Brooks, Machel Cedenio, Jehue Gordon, Jamal James, Emmanuel Mayers, Jarrin Solomon, Reyare Thomas, Kamaria Durant, Quincy Wilson (track and field); Marlon James Moses, Clement Marshall (shooting); Dylan Carter (swimming) and Kale Wilson (squash).
“I’m always grateful for the help from the Ministry of Sport,” said Walcott. “They have been helping me since early in my career. I’m thankful for the help.” Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Darryl Smith, in his address to the athletes in attendance, noted, “you all usually get these cheques in April (or) May. (It’s) just proper planning and putting things in place.
We were thinking about the future and we’re just planning ahead now.
“And we’re able to give these cheques two (and) three months earlier,” he added.
“Because we don’t want the rushing that is the usual norm when you have to travel and you want to train.” The Minister admitted, “we have inefficiencies. We are not perfect but we are trying our best to put policies and things in place to put the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs back on top. And I will not sleep a night until I get that done.” The 22-year-old Walcott will enter the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as the first Trinidad and Tobago athlete to be defending his title since Hasely Crawford did so at the 1980 Games in Moscow, Soviet Union (now Russia).
“The season has been good,” said Walcott. “I’m still in different aspects of training now, in the general stages still. My meets are a long way off. I don’t have indoors.” Walcott added, “training has been good, preparation has been coming along really well so hopefully I’ll continue doing what I need to do.” The 2015 Pan American Games champion has his training sessions at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, under the guidance of the Cuban-born coach, Ismael Mastrapa.
“Most times I go to Cuba for a few weeks,” said Walcott.
“When I start competition I normally have a base, either in Finland or some other (European) country, just for the travelling.” On his current tag as an Olympic champion, the 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist pointed out, “it feels good to know I’m the Olympic champion. Hopefully I’ll go out there and do my best and retain my title. That will be my goal.” He added, “me and my coach, that’s what we’re (preparing) for, for the last four years, and hopefully things will go how we want.” Walcott admitted that his season will start in May but his schedule has not been mapped out as yet.
“(It usually) starts with the Diamond League or, hopefully, a local meet,” he said.
“We don’t map out the entire season because things tend to change. Nothing is carved in stone. The season will begin in May and continue until September.”
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Keshorn launches T-shirt line (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160311/sports/keshorn-launches-t-shirt-line)
Published on Mar 11, 2016, 10:14 pm AST (T&T Express)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro129/Keshorn%20Walcott%20t-shirts%2005.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro129/Keshorn%20Walcott%20t-shirts%2005.jpg.html)
Keshorn Walcott at his T-shirt line launch at The Fan Club, Trincity Mall
Keshorn Walcott will be launching his official line of T-shirts today at The Fan Club, Trincity Mall, at 2 p.m.
T&T’s second Olympic gold medallist will also take the opportunity to meet fans, sign autographs and take photos with fans who purchase his brand new shirts. Four different lines of shirts will be available for sale at a price of $175 for the first edition.
Walcott’s manager Sean Roach said the launch of the shirts is in keeping with calls from Keshorn’s fans to be part of the young champion’s support as he prepares for the Rio Olympics. “It has taken a while but we are happy to let Keshorn’s fans know that they can now associate with him and show their support in a meaningful way.”
Walcott said he was looking forward to the launch. “I am always happy to be with the fans. They have always been supportive of me, and I hope that this line of shirts will give them a greater reason to be part of the Keshorn Walcott success.”
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro129/Keshorn%20Walcott%20t-shirts%2002%20resize.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro129/Keshorn%20Walcott%20t-shirts%2002%20resize.jpg.html)
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Walcott pleased with brand test* (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160315/sports/walcott-pleased-with-brand-test)
By Kwame Laurence, kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Published on Mar 15, 2016, 11:50 pm AST (T&T Express)
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KEEPING THE FANS HAPPY: Keshorn Walcott signs one of his jerseys for a fan, at Trincity Mall on Saturday. The 2012 Olympic men’s javelin champion has launched his official line of T-shirts.
—Photo: ANISTO ALVES
Keshorn Walcott was a satisfied man, following the launch of his official line of T-shirts, at the Fan Club in Trincity Mall, on Saturday. “It went well,” the reigning Olympic men’s javelin champion told the Express, “better than I thought knowing we only advertised it one day.
“The people came out, whether it be more for pictures than jerseys,” he quipped. “It was good. Hopefully it will be better in the future. I’m thankful to the people, knowing that they’re looking at what I’ve been doing.
We just posted it on social media and also did something in the papers, and the people came out. It has been a long time since we’ve done anything, and since we’re out of competition now, it was an opportunity for the people to get to see me and know what I’m up to.”
The 22-year-old field athlete said there’s more to come from the Keshorn Walcott brand.
“We did the jerseys as a test to see how strong the brand is going to be. We’re trying to do small things first, and build up to something big. So hopefully, after the T-shirts, we can get into something better.
We’ll venture into different things and learn. You can go into selling T-shirts and not know what else you could advance into.
“The T-shirts,” Walcott continued, “can make money, not just for me but for the other athletes with our training group. It can help, for example, when we’re going to Cuba. If some other athlete needs to go but does not have the funding, we could help. But the main focus is trying to keep my brand strong.”
Walcott, his training partner Shakeil Waithe, discus thrower Quincy Wilson and shot putter Cleopatra Borel will train in Cuba for close to six weeks under the watchful eyes of their Cuban coach Ismael Lopez Mastrapa. Walcott, Waithe, Wilson and Mastrapa are expected to fly to Cuba on Saturday. Borel, meanwhile, will travel to the northern Caribbean island following her campaign at this weekend’s IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon, USA.
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Add a bronze to your Olympic medals young man :applause:
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160820/news/bronze
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I am going to make a bold prediction from now!!
Keshorn Walcott provided that he remains fit and keeps improving is going to be our first three times Olympic medallist at three separate Olympic games, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Also I expect Keshorn to medal at London 2017 World Champs provided he remains injury free. This will prove his consistency and make him one of the most respected Javelin throwers in the world in this new Javelin era where Black Javelin throwers start changing the mainly European domination of the sport.
Hopefully by next year Shakeil Waithe will also become a regular 83m plus Javelin thrower and will also be able to join Keshorn Walcott at upcoming World Championships and Olympic Finals.
In fact by Tokyo 2020 we could possibly have 3 Javelin throwers Keshorn Walcott, Shakeil Waithe and Tyriq Horsford (who will be 20 by 2020) in the Olympic Men's Javelin Final and become like Finland and Germany who are both regularly able to qualify up to 3 world class Javelin throwers to the Olympic Finals. 8)
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I am going to make a bold prediction from now!!
Keshorn Walcott provided that he remains fit and keeps improving is going to be our first three times Olympic medallist at three separate Olympic games, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Also I expect Keshorn to medal at London 2017 World Champs provided he remains injury free. This will prove his consistency and make him one of the most respected Javelin throwers in the world in this new Javelin era where Black Javelin throwers start changing the mainly European domination of the sport.
Hopefully by next year Shakeil Waithe will also become a regular 83m plus Javelin thrower and will also be able to join Keshorn Walcott at upcoming World Championships and Olympic Finals.
In fact by Tokyo 2020 we could possibly have 3 Javelin throwers Keshorn Walcott, Shakeil Waithe and Tyriq Horsford (who will be 20 by 2020) in the Olympic Men's Javelin Final and become like Finland and Germany who are both regularly able to qualify up to 3 world class Javelin throwers to the Olympic Finals. 8)
yeah we have good young talent in javelin
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Four years is a long time from now. I am looking forward to next year World Champs and next year regional Championships to see how our athletes improve from this year to next year.
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Keshorn the Redeemer
A review of Team TTO at the Rio Olympics
You've heard of “Christ the Redeemer”, the iconic statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro, atop the Corcovado mountain. Well, a new saviour was at work in the Brazilian city on Saturday, August 20. “Keshorn the Redeemer”.
While not on the same scale as Jesus Christ, who was killed on a cross some 2,000 years ago so the world could have the opportunity for salvation, Keshorn Walcott's many hours of sacrifice, training at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, brought deliverance.
For 15 days, Trinidad and Tobago waited on a podium finish at the 2016 Olympics. And then, on Day 16 at the Games of 31st Olympiad, Walcott allayed the fears of a nation with men's javelin bronze.
Trinidad and Tobago was able to breathe a huge sigh of relief, thanks to Walcott's third-place finish, the 23-year-old athlete following up on the gold he had earned at London 2012. Walcott was indeed the country's last hope for a podium finish at Rio 2016 for he was the last T&T athlete in competition, his medal-winning 85.38 metres throw coming on the penultimate day of the Games.
Walcott's teammates, too, would have been relieved, for they had come under attack from members of the public in the preceeding fortnight. The criticism of national teams is common.
Read More; http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160902/sports/keshorn-the-redeemer
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WATCH: The Story of Keshorn Walcott
https://www.facebook.com/TTOlympic/videos/1295076427205491/
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Respect to Keshorn anyway he dey :beermug: :beermug:
https://www.facebook.com/TeamTrinbago/photos/a.110018710344314/114370679909117/?type=3&theater
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Walcott: 'I will do whatever it takes for Olympic glory'
JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH (T&T NEWSDAY).
Two-time Olympic medallist Keshorn Walcott is in Puerto Rico working on an intense training regime in anticipation of a long-awaited return to top-flight competition.
The javelin ace returns to the international stage at the 60th Ostrava Golden Spike Games in Czech Republic on Wednesday, after a hiatus of over 19 months from the sport, owing to the pandemic. His last meet was the IAAF World Athletics Championships in September 2019.
Walcott arrived in Puerto Rico ten days ago and will use it as a base to travel to competition in Europe ahead of the July 23-August 8 Tokyo Games. His coach, Ismael Lopez-Mastrapa is expected to join him within the coming days.
The 28-year old described the past year “non-existent,” as he was unable to compete at the few major meets on the European circuit. From mid-March 2020 to early November, all sporting facilities were shut down to reduce the spread of covid19.
On November 6, however, the government announced that athletes preparing to represent TT on the local and international circuit could resume training at sporting facilities, once they adhered to strict covid19 protocols.
As tough as it was to delay outdoor training during that seven-month period, Walcott used the down time to get some much-needed rest. Now, with the Olympics just over two months away, Walcott is eager to return to competition.
“I decided to take it upon myself this year. Last year was non-existent regarding competition. There were competition still ongoing in Europe, but clearly I’m at a year’s disadvantage in terms of catching up. I decided to try my best to leave TT early as possible.
“Whether or not it would take three or four months out here (preparing) before Olympics, I have to make it happen if I have any hopes of performing well at the games, You can train all you want, but it’s a different setting when it comes to competition.”
After next week’s stint in the Czech Republic, Walcott travels to Gateshead, Great Britain, for the IAAF’s first instalment of the 2021 Wanda Diamond League. From there, he heads to Finland for the June 7-8 Paavo Nurmi Games. Walcott is also scheduled to participate in a handful of other meets before the Summer Games.
With all of his competition venues in the eastern hemisphere, Walcott will have to pass through an array of covid19 checkpoints, quarantine facilities and other mandatory requirements to enter various countries. He has no plans to return to TT before the Tokyo Games.
Luckily, he has already received his first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine in Trinidad and is open to receiving his second dose in another country, once it's made available.
Walcott supports the idea of athletes being vaccinated beforehand to minimise the risk of catching the virus, especially during international transit.
Additionally, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and China recently teamed up to offer vaccines to athletes and teams preparing for the Tokyo and 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
“I am not one of those anti-vaccine people. I am trying to achieve something (Olympic glory) and I will do whatever it takes for me to achieve that.
“For me, it’s easy staying at home in Trinidad. When I’m abroad and moving about, passing through different countries and airports, I don’t want to put myself at risk. I had to do what it takes, and that (getting vaccinated) was one of the steps. I did it as soon as I was able to. I see the many comments on those for and against the vaccination every day on social media. But everyone has their opinions,” he said.
Walcott's plan, of two or three events each month leading up to the Olympics, is geared towards assessing where he’s at and improving his craft.
He says training has been going well and he has been recording some good distances over the past few months.
“I’m excited, and feel like I haven’t competed in several years. I hope I can carry my good efforts from training over into competition. I know the first few competitions for me are never really the best, but I hope this year to start at a much different level.
“My main objective this year is to throw far. I think once I continue and remain healthy, I would be able to accomplish that.
“I’m not going to put myself down and say I can’t do it because I haven’t been competing for a while. Sometimes the rest is good and it’s what your body needs. I’m going to go in with an open mind for the first competition and hopefully I can get a good performance.”
Walcott also acknowledged his longtime sponsors bmobile and the TT Olympic Committee for going all out to ensure he is well taken care of in the final phases of his Olympic preparations.
Walcott won TT’s second-ever Olympic gold medal with a distance of 84.58m at the London Games. Four years later, in Brail, he bagged bronze with 85.38m. His best distance and national record of 90.16m was achieved at the Lausanne leg of the Diamond League in 2015.
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BOOM! Walcott today threw his season’s best of 82.84m to earn the silver medal in the men’s javelins at the Paavo Nurmi Games 2021. Walcott surpassed his previous best of 82.75 by some nine centimeters. https://www.facebook.com/TeamTrinbago/photos/a.110018710344314/514143699931811/
Keep on pushing Keshorn!
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Boom !!!! Boom!!! Boom!!!!
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Keshorn just keep getting better better as the Olympics draw closer! He threw the best throw in his career yesterday in Finland. 89.12m
https://www.facebook.com/TeamTrinbago/photos/a.110018710344314/524713102208204/
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Keshorn Walcott throws season-best 89.12m to claim silver in Finland
JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH (T&T NEWSDAY).
Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic-bound Keshorn Walcott delivered a season-best throw of 89.12 metres to capture silver in the men’s javelin event at the Kuortane Games Athletics Meet in Kuortane, Finland on Saturday.
Walcott achieved the distance on his second throw. He fouled his third and opted out of his remaining three throws.
Topping the field was 2017 World Championships gold medallist German Johannes Veter, who produced a mammoth effort of 93.59 metres. India’s Neeraj Chopra was third with a distance of 86.79 metres.
Walcott wiped away his previous 2021 best throw of 82.84 metres, which was achieved in another runner-up performance at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland two weeks ago.
Since his return to competition, the 28-year old bagged bronze (82.75 metres) in Czech Republic on May 19 and then silver (77.78 metres) at the Wanda Diamond League in Gateshead, England four days later.
In a recent interview with Walcott, the Toco-born athlete said he had observed some technical mistakes with his recent performances on the European circuit. These distances however, were achieved without his coach Ismael Lopez Mastrapa at his side.
Two weeks ago, Mastrapa joined up with Walcott in Portugal and the pair used this time to work on these shortfalls. Heading into Saturday’s competition, Walcott did say he would have bettered his previous distances owing to Mastrapa’s guidance over the past 14 days.
The two-time Olympic medallist returns to action on Tuesday at the Spitzen Leichtathletik in Lucerne, Switzerland and climaxes his pre-Olympic competition on June 13 at the London leg of the Diamond League.
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#3 in the world last time I looked. Literally the ONLY hope for a TTO track and field olympic medal.
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#3 in the world last time I looked. Literally the ONLY hope for a TTO track and field olympic medal.
But remember! You said last month that T&T will get NO medals. So obviously Keshorn is out to prove you wrong! ;D
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Tyra Gittens. .
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I not changing what I said.
Keshorn still remains the only hope, but it's very slim.
Tyra had a whole college season but now she going to win medals against pros? Come on, men.
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Walcott remains T&T ONLY athlete with any serious medal chances. With weeks he moved from outside the Top 30 to now Top 12. Maybe inspired by Ato NO medal prediction from last month
https://www.facebook.com/TeamTrinbago/posts/528649355147912
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Keshorn Walcott ready!
https://www.facebook.com/TandTrocks/photos/a.1546414628704208/4492745880737720/
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Keshorn eh make it unfortunately. Not his day I guess.