An amateur female boxer who wishes to represent Dominica at the 2016 Olympic Games has arrived on the island.
Valerian Spicer was born in England to a Dominican mother and British father and according to the Dominica Amateur Boxing association, she will begin her preparations for the games here.
Spicer and her coach arrived in Dominica last Saturday. “Her training has commenced immediately,” PRO of the association, Aurelius Gordon, said.
Gordon said while Spicer is on the island, she, together with her coach, will be promoting amateur boxing at some of the secondary school and the Dominica State College.
“It is also hoped that there will be formal meetings with the Hon. Justina Charles, The Minister of Sports, and The Executive of The Dominica Olympic Committee,” he said.
He pointed out that at the moment, plans are being made for a match up between Spicer and the current holder of the Olympic female gold medal. “This will allow this world class athlete to show her metal on the world stage,” Gordon said.
Gordon noted that Spicer and her coach will be assisting with the training of the Senior Dominica National Amateur Boxing Team. “There is already an offer for our senior boxers to begin training in England in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Boxing Qualifications Tournament,” he stated. “The Boxing Association has recognized the need to raise the level of training and competition of our amateur boxers to a much higher level than that available in the OECS and The Caribbean.”
He said this is because amateur boxers from Dominica will have to successfully complete against athletes from counties such as Canada, the USA, Brazil, Argentina and Cuba. “Dominica’s Olympic Qualification zone of The Americas stretches from Canada, in the North, to Argentina in the South,” Gordon noted.
A press conference with Spicer will be held soon, the association PRO said.
Pure papishow!
She is not good enough to represent England and she wants to enter the Olympics so she claims Dominica as part of her heritage just so she can enter the olympics because she knows that we dont have women boxers here. Send mamzelle back England where she come from. I dont want her carrying my beloved flag for the next olympics!!!!!!!!
Anyway, in spite of my comments, whereas she is British born, to a Dominican mother, I believe she deserves all rights and privilege the same as those of us born in Dominica.
I wish the same rights for my children, and grandchildren who are born here and on the island of Antigua, and I believe one kid born in England too!
Hahahahahahahahahahahah:
If is the last thing I accomplish in this life is to have my children, and grandchildren registered as Dominicans, there is a law in Dominica which makes that possible!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
How about we represent ourselves instead of importing athletes to represent us, did she even qualify in the uk why not fight for them, she just wants a flag behind her so i guess my countries a last resort smh
I have only one question to ask:
If I am born in a country, such as England, Canada, or the United States, nations endowed with countless training facilities, and other athletes to compete with and support me.
Why would I want to train in a place like Dominica, where there is a shortage, or none existent training facilities, except for some make-shift substandard bit of junk?
Furthermore why would someone born in England wish to represent Dominica in the Olympics, if the believe they have the talent and ability to be selected to represent the country of their birth?
We saw this in recent years, where an American born of Dominica parent got to represent Dominica, and became a joke at the games in London, are we going to see history repeating itself?
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Thank you Valerian Spicer for giving Dominica the exposure that we need in that arena. We are proud of you and your achievements. I am sure that your mother beams with pride.
We should all rally around Valerian just as we did for others who were not born in Dominica yet keep the Nature Island in their hearts and mind. We remember the famous British boxer, Bruno, who visited his Grandmother after his bout with Mike Tyson. We remember the USA Goalie. We remember Shenel Edmonds as she walked the red carpet in Hollywood. We recognize all others whose navel strings are buried outside the Nature Island but whose hearts beat to the kaleidoscope of rhythms that is Dominica.
Valerian has taken the first step in the journey of a thousand miles to the olympics. We will raise our flag as we support you and other Dominicans represent us.
Well at least shes tying to help us Dominicans. Even if shes not a dominican shes willing to give us dominicans a future.
If she was good she would have represent England but am sure she is gabage/reject so she dont have a choice other than come to DA…trust me i no how the English operate.
She must be desperate I feel very sorry for her.I do hope people will be accepting of her.
It might not be the most popular thing to say but I think all that is a waiste of time. Firstly female boxing in Dominica might never take off and i personally would not want to see any Dominican women go into boxing, that is just not a woman thing and it’s way too dangerous. If the DABA is spending any money having that young lady here, i think they should revisit and cancel that all together, that would be a total waste of money.I aslo have questions, did she qualify for the last olympics? Is she going to get citzenship just to try to represent us in the next olympics. None of that make sense, i personally would tell the young lady, thanks for showing her support and wanting to help but no thanks, it just do not make sense no matter how you twist and turn it.
you are correct if you doh have noting good to say keep your trap shut and negativity to yourself
Have you ever heard of “freedom of speech?”
Anonymous….If you have a daughter, please i beg you please send her to box….it is so much of a good thing….That is pure rubbish but then again one mans trash is another mans treasure
She is not Dominican. Why can’t we train some youth in Dominica to represent us eh???
I’m confused now, wasn’t Valerian supposed to take part in the A.B.A. semi-finals yesterday in Harlow (U.K.) I hope she, or the DABA can give an explanation. Does it mean that she has given up competitive boxing in the country of her birth, Gt.Britain. I wish her well but I am concerned, especially since I follow the sport closely. Valerian is supposed to represent Dominica at the next Olympics when she will be 36 and there is no guarantee that she will even qualify.What are the DABA’s real motives?
I agree with you. Just another conversation about Dominica, like that of Karina LeBlanc.
Very positive, nice that this young lady is looking to help.
Help with what?
tell me what is so positive about that. that entire thing is just rubbish. let me see how many dominicans will let their DAUGHTERS get into boxing……pure rubbish