Joyful homecoming: Raekwon Noel returns with 3 CAC Gold

An atmosphere of pride and celebration overtook the arrival lunge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Sunday afternoon as members of Guyana’s CAC Games team return home with the inclusion of triple gold medallist and record breaker, Raekwon Noel.
Raekwon Noel has been Guyana’s most outstanding performer at the ongoing Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic thus far, grabbing three gold medals and 3 CAC Games records to accompany them.
Noel stopped the clock at 1 minute, 59.35s in the 200m Individual medley, 1 minute 56.82s in the 200m butterfly and 1 minute 47.08s in the 200m freestyle for his three medals, resetting the CAC Games record on each occasion.
On Sunday afternoon, Noel’s and his fellow swimmers’ efforts at the games were hailed as Minister within the Sport Ministry, Steven Jacobs, Assistant Directors of Sport Melissa Dow- Richardson and Franklin Wilson and Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) President Yolema Phillips, alongside family, friends and other well- wishers gathered at the airport to welcome the athletes and their coach home.
Delivering feature remarks, the Sport Minister vowed increased support for Noel’s endeavours.
“Your achievement there meant so much for us, one, it was three gold medals so, that meant on three occasions, the flag went up. Also, on three occasion we heard the anthem and that is significant. That is significant for us as a country. We know sport is the single most unifying tool but it also puts countries on the map and you did that for us, and we appreciate that and we thank you for that,” Jacobs told the gathering at the CJIA.
He went on to promise, “And I want to also say, we will continue to support you. And I say continue because we have been supporting you but when you’re going to break records and you’re going to show your discipline, your worth, your performance up there with the elites, we’re going to extend that support for you.”
Adding to the recognition that Noel will receive for his record- breaking feat, Jacobs announced, “What we have done from a policy level, is that we’re going to recognize all of our top athletes and top teams who have performed. We now a billboard in the avenue, just across from the Ministry, you will be up there, you will be up there repping because that is how we support our athletes.”
Continuing the message of support, a similar promise game from the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) through President Godfrey Munroe.
Munroe shared, “This year and this new iteration, what we’ve mapped out is a tiered system of how we’ll support athletes and this is not only extended to Raekwon or swimming alone, we want to make sure that we encompass a wide section, as Minister alluded to.”
“We’re working out a system to see where the gaps are, in terms of support that is required for each one of our Elite athletes. We provide support at the Pan Am level, at the Olympic level which is Olympic solidarity. I know you’ve got a contract but that contract will be improved Raekwon,” he went on to announce.
Meanwhile, Noel had an outpouring of gratitude for his many supporters present.
“I’m really happy to be a part of such a great country, especially at times like this and I’m really excited to see what Guyana has to offer in the sports industry. We have a lot of athletes with great potential and I’m excited to work with those athletes and to push forward sport in Guyana. Especially swimming because we know how much potential it has,” the CAC Gold medallist opined.
Noel further expressed, “I know how much people look up to me and I just want to say thank you guys for trusting me to be your role model and I appreciate everything you guys have been doing. I really do.”
Guyana’s medal count at the CAC Games is now 4, with Ceili Peterson’s bronze in Taekwondo adding to Noel’s triple gold strike.