BACCUS ... silver medallist

SEYCHELLES' final medal at the Eighth All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria, was won by male weightlifter Steven Baccus on Friday October 17, on the platform of the National Centre for Women's Development.

On the eve of the closing ceremony, Baccus achieved a silver medal in the snatch event of the 94-kg category to bring Seychelles' medals tally to an unprecedented 16 – 10 silver and six bronze.

The previous highest total of eight medals – two silver and six bronze – was registered during the seventh edition of the quadrennial Games in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1999.

The other Seychellois silver medallists in Abuja in the continent's biggest multi-sports event were female weightlifter Janet Thélermont (three in the snatch, clean and jerk as well as Olympic total of the 69-kg category), female swimmer Austin (three in the 1,500-metre freestyle, 800-metre freestyle and 400-metre individual medley), female javelin thrower Lindy Leveaux, male high jumper Jude Sidonie and male weightlifter Richard Scheer.

The country's six bronze medals were won by cyclist Hudson Mathieu in the individual time trial, swimmer Shrone Austin in the 400-metre freestyle, the mixed badminton team of Juliette Ah-Wan, Shirley Etienne, Georgie Cupidon and Nicholas Jumaye, the ladies' doubles pair of Ah-Wan and Etienne and Ah-Wan again in the ladies' singles, weightlifter Richard Scheer in the 85-kg category.

It is to note that Seychelles has never won a medal of the gold hue at the All-Africa Games in six participations.

The 10 silver medals won in Abuja is higher than the total of four Seychelles had claimed in three past editions of the All-Africa games.

The first local athlete to win a silver medal at these Games was former triple jumper Paul Nioze in 1991 in Egypt. Ex-boxer Rival Cadeau (now Payet) repeated the feat in 1995 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1999, female weightlifter Sophia Vandagne, who competed in the 58-kg category, became the first Seychellois lady to win a medal of the silver hue at the All-Africa Games. She also won two bronze medals.

That same year, swimmer Benjamin Lo-Pinto took a silver in the 100-metre backstroke. Like Vandagne, Lo-Pinto also won two bronze medals.

With 16 medals, Seychelles has this year finished in 22nd position on the medals table of the All-Africa Games.

Hosts Nigeria won a total of 231 medals – 85 gold, 90 silver and 56 bronze –  followed in second position by Egypt (218) and South Africa (174) in third place.

Madagascar finished as the best Indian Ocean country with six medals – three gold and three bronze – for 13th place overall, while Mauritius won just three bronze medals for 34th position.

 G. G.