PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Aug 13, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government Monday showered its first Olympics Gold medal winner in 36 years with a number of gifts including a TT$2.5 million ((US$390 000) house and 20,000 square feet of land.
T&T finished with a record four medals at the London Olympics that ended on Sunday, a performance headed by 19-year-old Keshorn Walcott who pulled off a stunning upset by winning the men’s javelin throw on Saturday.
He became 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, speaking at the Piarco International Airport, where thousands of nationals had gathered to welcome home the local Olympians, said that Walcott would also have his name on an aircraft of the state-owned Caribbean Airlines, a scholarship to attend the University of Trinidad and Tobago and one million dollars to invest.
In an emotional brief response, Walcott said, “I went out there and did my best”, while praising God, his coach, manager 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 that include Lalonde Gordon, who won bronze in the 400 metres and the men’s 4×100 relay team that was given the bronze medal after Canada had been disqualified, would be announced later.
Monday is a public holiday in the twin-island republic to celebrate the achievement of the country’s Olympians who won four medals at London 2012.
