“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.
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com