“Through sweat, tears and blood”: Baird basks in achievement of Pan Am bronze medal

Overcome with emotions on Saturday night, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard Leslain Baird earned the country’s third Pan American Games 2023 medal in the javelin throw event.
In what was the last event of this year’s Games in Santiago, Chile seeing participation from a Guyanese athlete, Baird hit the 78.23-metre mark in his fourth attempt to propel himself from fifth place to the coveted bronze medal position.
The Guyana national javelin record holder was just centimetres shy of his own national record (78.65) and second place, which went to Brazil’s Pedro Henrique Nunes with a best throw of 78.45m.
USA’s Curtis Thompson secured the gold medal in the event, throwing 79.65m for the win.

Baird, after confirming the bronze in the sixth round of throws, was reduced to tears as he held the Golden Arrowhead. The achievement meant the world to the athlete who had suffered a career-derailing injury, a little over two years ago.
“Wow. I could not explain the emotions that I’m going through right now. I must give thanks to the Almighty for giving me health and strength and making me reach at this level here, to earn a medal. Thanks to my parents, my entire family, the entire GDF, Running Brave Club, all the clubs, not forgetting the Police Club, thank you for your support,” the bronze medallist shared.

Baird continued, “I’ve earned this medal through sweat and tears and blood. Two years ago, I didn’t see this possible due to the meniscus injury that I had, but I pushed through. Today, I stand.”
Quizzed about the strategy heading into the competition, Baird credited Coach Johnny Gravesande who has worked with the track and field team in Chile, for being instrumental in the approach.
Baird revealed, “I must give thanks to Coach Johnny. Coach Johnny said we goon try the first three throws, see where it put we and then the last three throws, we gon go old school and we’ll hit it.”
“We earned this,” Baird added, after acknowledging the input of his coaches from Cuba and Peru.
While Baird has many accolades under his belt, his first Pan American Games medal and the first for Guyana in the javelin event is one that is special to him, as it shows that he can compete on the international stage and hold his own.
The Pan American Games bronze medallist explained, “Yes, because this competition is more higher. We have Olympians, we have Diamond League people in this competition. So, to throw against those guys is a plus for me. If you notice, there was just centimetres separating the first, second and third, all of us was in the 78. So, I know that I am up there with them, just got to go back to the drawing board and perfect it next year.”
Baird’s bronze adds to a silver medal earned by Jasmine Abrams in the women’s 100m event and a bronze earned by Emanuel Archibald in the male version of the same event.