A sum of R64,000 was disbursed among Seychellois medallists of the recent African Weightlifting Championship in Nairobi, Kenya, during a reception held last Tuesday at the Coral Strand Hotel, Beau Vallon.

It was Ms Sylvettte Pool, Minister for Local Government, Sports and Culture (MLGSC), who had the honour of presenting the weightlifters with the attractive cash prizes in the presence of high level sports officials.

For each gold medal won in the senior category, a sum of R6,000 was awarded to the lifters, R4,000 for a silver and R2,000 for a bronze.

Medallists of the junior category got R3,000 for each gold medal, R2,000 (silver) and R1,000 (bronze).

Junior lifters Terrence Dixie and Charles Siméon together with senior female competitor Janet Thélermont were the three Seychellois who heaved gold medals at the annual event which attracted competitors from Egypt, Eritrea, Tanzania, Algeria, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and hosts Kenya.

In the women's -69-kg category, policewoman Janet Thélermont, 23, heaved the bar at 90kg in the snatch before getting 110kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 200kg.

Terrence Dixie, son of coach William Dixie, swept all three gold medals in the male junior -62-kg division with lifts of 95kg in the snatch and 110kg in the clean and jerk to bring his total to 205kg.

Charles Siméon also lifted the barbells well to clinch three gold medals in the junior category – snatch (100kg), clean and jerk (135kg) and total  (235kg).

Those same performances earned the 19-year-old, two silver (clean and jerk as well as total) and a bronze (snatch) in the senior category.

The other medallists in the senior category were Steven Baccus (three silver in the 94-kg category out of five participants – snatch 140kg, clean and jerk 170kg and total 310kg), Frank Accouche (two bronze in the +105-kg category out of five participants – clean and jerk 167.5kg and total 187.5kg), Robert Kilindo (1 bronze in the 85-kg category out of six participants – snatch 115kg for a personal best).

In his speech Mr Patrick Nanty, principal secretary in the MLGSC, said that it was the government’s policy to continuously support and invest towards the development of sports in Seychelles.

Said Mr Nanty: “The results of our weightlifters will surely give other sportsmen and women the hope and encouragement to perform better in high level competitions. Your excellent results prove that the government’s commitment towards sports development in Seychelles is going in the right direction.”

He added that the presence of Minister Pool at the ceremony was proof of the government’s gratitude towards local weightlifters whose performances had surpassed everyone’s expectation.

PS Nanty, who also had words of thanks for national team coach William Dixie and Seychelles Weightlifting Association (SWA) chairman Robert Rose, then called on all the weightlifters and other sportsmen and women to give their maximum in training so as to continue to improve and achieve better results.

“We would like you to continue with the hard work and once again I reiterate the Seychelles Government’s support in assisting the youths to reach their goals,” he concluded.

For his part, Mr Hugh Adam, managing director of the National Sports Council (NSC), said that local athletes were achieving some remarkable performances in high level competitions of late  and for that all Seychellois should be proud.

“We are all proud of you for your success and we are confident that you will continue to deliver good results in both national and international competitions,” noted Mr Adam.

Mr Adam who, on behalf of the NSC, presented the weightlifters with a new set of equipment which include weights and bars, told the weightlifters that soon renovation work would start on the Freedom Square gym.

SWA chairman Robert Rose, who headed the nine-strong Seychelles delegation to Kenya, had this to say:

“I would like to take this opportunity to once again congratulate the weightlifters for their excellent results. I would also like to thank the NSC and the MLGSC for making the trip to Kenya possible.”