This is the grand homecoming of our young hero from Toco, 19-year-old Keshorn Walcott, gold medal Olympian, accompanied by our proud 4 x 100 metre athlete, Ade Alleyne-Forte and Track Cycling finalist, Njisane Phillip - all of Trinidad and Tobago!
Other memebers of the team returning today are Roger daniel, Mikel Thomas, Machel Cedenio, Michelle Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas and the accompanying officials. We recognize your efforts and achievements; you have made us proud and we salute you.
Keshorn Walcott, as the whole world must know by now, was born and raised in the village of Toco and I have been told that he used to throw bamboo stalks on the beach of that scenic village. Who would have thought then that he would one day bring home an Olympic Gold medal.
Usually when anyone says they are taking a drive to Toco it would mean to simply enjoy the beauty of the beaches, the people, the sites and experiences of that serene place.
Toco now takes on a whole new meaning as it has become synonymous with the great achievement of the son of its soil by producing Trinidad and Tobago’s second Olympic gold medal. May we at this time acknowledge the man who proudly brought us the very first Olympic gold medal, Hasley Crawford!
When Keshorn Walcott first won the World Junior Championship in Barcelona just a month before it was a sign of things to come.
And when he secured the gold medal Keshorn Walcott became the youngest winner in Olympic history of the javelin event, the first man in the Western Hemisphere to win in 60 years and the first to win a medal for Trinidad and Tobago in a field event.
To secure this achievement he had to produce his own best and a national record to beat the final eight best javelin throwers in the world. All this from the nation’s 19 year old hero from Toco.
We screamed and cried openly as we recognized what an historic moment of national pride just occurred. It happened in our lifetime and it happened in our Jubilee Anniversary Year. How does that feel!
It has been some time since we have felt such a surge of nationalism as we do today, welcoming home the young men and women, the children of Independence, who have brought glory to us in our Golden year!
It has been more than three and a half decades since a Trinidad and Tobago athlete won gold at the Olympics, and to Keshorn Walcott, I thank you as Prime Minister, I thank you as a citizen and I thank you on behalf of all of your fellow citizens!
The inspiration you have become is truly the stuff that dreams are made of, and the pride we feel today cannot be adequately expressed. Your Olympic medal represents what is possible from us as a small nation with such huge potential.
It is a timely reminder of what we can achieve against all odds. Your gold medal achievement is an inspiration to so many young people in many endeavours. It is a lesson in self belief and an expression of what being a citizen of this great little nation truly means.
You have shown that great achievements are built on big dreams and demonstrated to the world that Trinidad and Tobago can not only compete against the best, but also win against the best!
And while today particularly marks the golden achievement of Keshorn Walcott may I say it also acknowledges the collective representation of all our athletes who took part and those who brought home four medals and others that qualified for a record twelve finals in the Olympics.
A separate ceremony has been planned to announce the ways in which our athletes will be honoured and celebrated. Details on this will be forthcoming as we acknowledge them all as heroes of Trinidad and Tobago.
It would be remiss of me also not to mention that the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Sport, Anil Roberts, have paid off.
Anil, you promised us when we fielded the largest contingent ever to enter the Olympic Games that it would produce the best returns in our nation’s history and you have delivered on that promise.
As a Minister you know though that all you get is the satisfaction of having done your nation proud and the acknowledgement of everyone in Trinidad and Tobago for a job well done. That is your badge of honour. Wear it well. And let it inspire you to do more.
We cannot forget the coaches and trainers behind our athletes as well without whom much of the results would not have been achieved. And while time does not permit me to mention everyone I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Keshorn’s gold medal producing coach Ismael Lopez.
Coach Lopez, you have done an amazing job and I honour your result by promising you here today that your appeal for facilities for field events will be realized as I have advised the Minister of Sport to bring a recommendation before the Cabinet for consideration.
I also wish to announce that due consideration will be made for the appropriate recognition for Coach Lopez’s accomplishments in guiding young Keshorn to such heights of achievement and national glory.
As you know, last evening I advised His Excellency the President that today should be declared a National Holiday, in honour of our Olympic achievements, and in recognition of the glory you have won in the name of your country.
Today it is my pleasure to announce to all citizens, in the presence of our returning heroes that Keshorn Walcott born in Toco, Trinidad and Tobago will be honoured by the people of this nation in the following ways.
For bringing us such pride and recognition to the nation of Trinidad and Tobago Keshorn Walcott will receive:
- 20,000 square feet, that is, four lots of land in Toco where a Housing Project to be called The Keshorn Walcott Housing Development will be established. This development will bring housing and employment to Toco
- A Caribbean Airlines aircraft will be commissioned to bear the proud name of Keshorn Walcott
- The Lighthouse a, historical site, will now be known as the Keshorn Walcott lighthouse standing as a beacon to guide us all towards what it takes to get to our dreams
- Our 19 year old Golden Olympic hero, Keshorn Walcott will also receive TT
- $1,000,000 million dollars to be invested as he so desires
- And Keshorn Walcott, youngest ever gold medal winner of the javelin throw in Olympic history will receive a home in Federation Park valued at TT $2,500,000 million
Keshorn has also been awarded a scholarship to UTT to further his studies in his chosen field while his coach Lopez will be placed in charge of an elite throws program at UTT where all future talent including Keshorn can be developed in field events.
Keshorn, each of these rewards honour you, there is nothing greater than the glory you have brought to this nation and no greater expression ever than the pride and gratitude every citizen feels. On behalf of the entire nation, thank you, thank you, thank you.
With your golden Olympic javelin achievement you have thrown us all into a state of overwhelming joy that hurls itself from Toco to Tobago. May God bless you and inspire you further.
May god bless our beloved nation of Trinidad and Tobago
Keshorn, each of these rewards honour you, there is nothing greater than the glory you have brought to this nation and no greater expression ever than the pride and gratitude every citizen feels. On behalf of the entire nation, thank you, thank you, thank you.
With your golden Olympic javelin achievement you have thrown us all into a state of overwhelming joy that hurls itself from Toco to Tobago. May God bless you and inspire you further.
May god bless our beloved nation of Trinidad and Tobago
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