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.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt