media_artricles :: 2013

JEHUE AGAIN

Hurdler, Cleopatra Borel are TTOC’s top athletes

World champion 400 m hurdler Jehue Gordon picked up yet another accolade when he earned the Sportsman of the Year title at the 2013 Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee Awards at the National Arts and Performing Amphitheatre (NAPA) in Port of Spain Sunday evening.

Gordon said he was shocked to receive the award.

“I am pleasantly surprised to be highlighted as the Male Athlete of the Year 2013. I have been on this stand already, but for the Junior award. Sport in Trinidad and Tobago has become so competitive that it is never assured of who would be deserving of such an esteemed position in the sporting fraternity. I must say that I am humbled by this award because I know how much as athletes we sacrifice to compete on a competitive level.”

Gordon said his golden run was just one hurdle crossed as there were many more to overcome, and he is wary of becoming complacent and resting on his laurels.

“Now that I am the world number one the target is on my back, but that doesn’t faze me,” he said

Gordon accepted the award from President Anthony Carmona and TTOC president Brian Lewis.

One day earlier, Gordon captured the prestigious title of Sports Performance of the Year, one of four awards the top athlete took away when the Spirit of Sport Awards (SOSA) Ceremony took place at the Queen’s Hall in St Ann’s.

Then Gordon also received the keys to a Maracas/St Joseph duplex and a cheque for $800,000 for his golden run in Barcelona.

Top female shot putter Cleopatra Borel was named the TTOC Sportswoman of the Year for her successful defence of her CAC title. This was the third time Borel, who was one of three SOSA hosts, grabbed the title after winning it at the TTOC’s 2006 and 2010 editions.

SOSA winners continued to collect more titles at the TTOC event, including Shanntol Ince (Junior Sportswoman of the Year) and Dylan Carter (Junior Sportsman of the Year).

Ince and Carter also picked up two SOSA honours each, with Ince taking home two trophies for Athlete with a Disability and Emerging Athlete of the Year for her four gold medal sweep at the Paralympic Junior Pan American Championship in Argentina back in September, and top youth swimmer Carter receiving the Record-breaking Performance of the Year and the Junior Male Athlete of the Year.

Ace swimmer George Bovell captured the TTOC Sports Personality of the year award after collecting a cheque for $250,000 at the SOSAs on Saturday.

He was rewarded for his historic bronze medal in the men’s 50m frestyle at the FINA World Championships and his 13 medals during the eight-leg FINA World Swimming Cup.

The TTOC gave tokens of appreciation to three former executive members for their contribition to Olympism and sport, including former TTOC president and current Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Board president Douglas Camacho, former secretary general senator Elton Prescott and former longstanding president Alexander B Chapman.

Chapman handed the Alexander B Chapman trophy—of course named in his honour—to Eddie Hart, the former Tunapuna MP, for his outstanding contribution to Olympism and sport through his 47-year-old Eddie Hart League.

Master of Ceremonies Wendell Constantine also observed a few moments of silence for sportspersons that died in 2013. Among them were weightlifter Brandon Bailey, track and field athlete Emmanuel Mc Donald Bailey, table tennis player Gordon Delph, former basketball administrator Bertrand Doyle, murdered footballer Rawle Fletcher, Special Olympics administrator Norma James and tennis player Michael Valdez.

In his brief address, TTOC president Lewis called for stakeholders to unite to give young persons in the society a better example of how to live.

And Beijing Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson recounted his and other athletes’ examples of Olympic values in his feature address.

2013 TTOC AWARDS HONOUR ROLL:

Junior Sportswoman of the Year — Shanntol Ince

Junior Sportsman of the Year — Dylan Carter

Sports Personality of the Year — George Bovell

Sportswoman of the Year — Cleopatra Borel

Sportsman of the Year — Jehue Gordon

Olympic Solidarity Token of Appreciation — Douglas Camacho, Elton Prescott, Alexander Chapman

TTOC Alexander B Chapman Award — Edward Hart

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