Luan Gabriel and Brendan Williams have been named top female and male athlete of the year respectively in the first ever Dominica Amateur Association national awards ceremony on the weekend.
It was held under the theme “Partnering and Embracing Opportunities Through Athletics.”
President of the DAAA, Cedric Harris, said he aims to implement goals which will lead to the future of the association and athletes. He urged them to “do what is right at all times and treat others the way they would want to be treated.”
Parliamentary representative for Roseau Central, Norris Prevost, challenged Dominican athletes to make an impact at the Olympics and a get “a gold medal.”
“Take a look at Jamaica’s formula and step up and go for the gold … athletics in Dominica needs to be given more top priority,” Prevost said.
He believes that more investment needs to be made in the training of coaches in order for Dominica to reach its full potential. “Sports and athletics have tremendous opportunities, I urge you all to take it seriously, be honest, truthful and operate with dignity and integrity,” he said.
Acting president of the Dominica Olympic Committee, Felix Wilson delivered the keynote address at the function and he called on athletes to “act as role models.” “You need to raise your profile in the sports, becoming standard bearers and hold dearly to the motto of the Olympic movement,” he said.
Wilson called on the DAAA to partner with other entities and persons for the development of the sport. “DAAA needs to partner with other elements and persons with special expertise need to be on various sporting organizations in Dominica so that the sport can move forward,” Wilson stated.
He also challenged athletes to “move to higher levels” so as to “enjoy benefits of partnerships and net working.”
“Partnership with community groups is key, you also need to scan the entire spectrum looking for talent,” he stated. He also called on the DAAA and its coaches to get certified and “raise the level”.
Over thirty athletes received awards, while seven individuals received special recognition awards for their contribution to sports.
Gabriel secured a gold medal in the female under seventeen 200 meters at the 2012 CARIFA games in Bermuda in April, ran in the sixth heat in the 200 meters semi finals at the 2012 London Olympics and also cupped the DAAA’s Top Female Sprinter award for 2012.
She described the past year as “tough but successful.”
If the goal of the DAAA is to promote Athletics here then they should name Luan Gabriel and Brandon Williams Athletics personalities of the year. But to name them “Sports personalities of the year” is questionable since sports covers a lot of things.
Although I am not a fan of Shane Shillingford because me and pride don’t agree. However, to me, no local sports man or woman made us feel proud like Shane did. In fact we felt so good that after he grabbed 10 wickets here in DA against the mighty Aussies, we rewarded him with some of the highest honors. He broke a record held by Lance Gibbs! Somehow, to me he is the sportsman of the year and it is sad that we have so quickly forgotton our local hero who truly made us proud.
The heading of this article may be an error by the writer because in the first paragraph of the story, it is said that Luan and Brendan were named top MALE and FEMALE ATHLETES, and NOT Sports Personalities as you mentioned.
Bless her,I was fortunate to meet her at the olympic village and was very kind to me.