Leslain Baird, who won bronze in the men’s javelin throw at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile, just a week ago, was financially rewarded by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) yesterday morning.
In fact, the GOA, in a real show of support for Guyana’s outstanding events, will also present rewards of the same nature to Jasmine Abrams, who won silver in the women’s 100m, and Emmanuel Archibald, who managed bronze in the men’s 100m.
Baird was the only medalist present at the morning’s ceremony, as the other two athletes are still overseas. However, he was accompanied by coaches Johnny Gravesande (athletics), Idi Lewis (table tennis), and Ramphal Ramjeet (taekwondo), along with badminton player Priyanna Ramdhani, weightlifter Krystol Chanderban, and boxers Keevin Allicock, Alesha Jackman, and Emmanuel Pompey at Olympic House.
The GOA rewarded Baird with GYD $400,000 for his feats with the javelin, while Archibald will receive the same amount at a later date. On the other hand, Abrams will receive $600,000 for her silver medal exploits, and coach Gravesande collected $50,000 for his part in the grand scheme of things.
Godfrey Munroe, President of the GOA, was on hand to present the incentives, a second such gesture by his administration since taking office.
Munroe, who congratulated the athletes on their medal-winning feats, was keen to encourage the athletes to strengthen their resolve and efforts in their respective disciplines, with the end goal being the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
