In the second such gesture from the recently-elected Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), athletes who medalled at the just-concluded 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, were on Saturday morning rewarded handsomely for their heroic efforts.
Guyana came away from the Games with three medals, all within the track and field discipline and all with a bit of history attached to the achievements.
Jasmine Abrams claimed silver in the women’s 100m event in a time of 11.52s, while Emanuel Archibald clinched bronze in the men’s version of the same event in 10.31s, marking the first time that Guyana has won a medal in the 100m sprint at the Pan Am Games and the first medals in athletics since 2003.
Pan Am Games medallist Leslain Baird (centre) received a hefty reward from the Guyana Olympic Association. He is surrounded by other athletes who competed at the Games and GOA Executives
Leslain Baird later became the first Guyanese athlete to medal in the javelin event in the Games’ history, when he threw 78.23m to secure the bronze medal.
The GOA, on Saturday, in hailing the athletes for their performances, presented Baird (the only one of the trio currently in Guyana] with $400,000 for his bronze medal. Archibald, who has returned to Jamaica for training, will also receive $400,000 for his bronze.
Abrams, for her silver medal achievement, will receive $600,000. Notably, Coach Johnny Gravesande, who steered the five-member track and field team at the Games, received $50,000.
As previously mentioned, this is the second time this year that the GOA has moved to monetarily reward athletes for their exceptional performances. Back in September, the GOA dished out over $1 million on the Youth Commonwealth Games record- breaking team of Tianna Springer, Malachi Austin, Javon Roberts, and Narissa Mcpherson.
Leslain Baird later became the first Guyanese athlete to medal in the javelin event in the Games’ history, when he threw 78.23m to secure the bronze medal.
