THE Sportsman and Sportslady of the Year titles changed hands on Friday January 23, with weightlifter Steven Baccus and young swimmer Shrone Austin succeeding Laser Sailor Allan Julie and female lifter Janet Thélermont.

Both Baccus and Austin received the huge Sportsman and woman of the Year floating cups from the hands of guest of honour Vice-President James Michel during the glittering ceremony at the SMB Exhibition Hall, Roche Caïman.

Sportsman of the Year Baccus accepts his trophy from Minister Pool

Vice-President Michel presents Austin with the Sportslady of the Year trophy

The ceremony, which was graced by the presence of ministers Sylvette Pool, Joel Morgan, Danny Faure, Vincent Meriton, other high government officials, representatives of sponsors, fellow athletes, invited guests and ticket bearers, saw performances by

Girlann dancers, Harmonics, Soul and the popular Giselle with her song Entel.

Apart from the floating cup, Sportsman of the Year Baccus and Sportslady of the Year Austin each received a cup, which they are to keep, from Ms Sylvette Pool, Minister for Local Government, Sports and Culture (MLGSC); R15,000, a return ticket to any European destination sponsored by Air Seychelles, and a certificate.

Baccus, 26 and who was runner-up to Julie in 2002, said that he was happy to win the title, something he was not expecting.

"I am happy to be crowned the best male athlete today (Friday) but I was not expecting to win. My wish is to continue in the sport and do my very best," said Baccus, winner of three gold medals at the Sixth Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) and a silver medal in the snatch event of the 94-kg division of the Eighth All-Africa Games. 

As for Austin, who became the second athlete after chessler Amelie Payet in 1995 to win the Sportslady of the Year title at the age of 14, she thanked the government for investing in Seychellois athletes and helped them materialise their dreams. She added that she was "very happy to win the title for the first time."

Austin, it is to note, also matched Sportslady of the Year 2001 Helda Marie's feat of wining both the Young Female Athlete of the Year and Sportslady of the Year titles for one particular season.

Austin won 11 medals – four gold, three silver and four bronze – at the IOIG, three silvers and one bronze at the Eighth All-Africa Games and a gold medal at the Afro-Asian Games.

Runners-up to Baccus and Austin were cyclist Hudson Mathieu and female weightlifter Thélermont who received R8,000, a certificate, a cup and a 50% reduction on a return ticket to Johannesburg sponsored by Air Seychelles.

Three-time Sportsman of the Year Julie and France-based athlete Céline Laporte finished third. They each pocketed R6,000 and got a certificate, a cup and a 50% reduction on a return ticket to Singapore sponsored by Air Seychelles

Sportsman of the Year 1998 Kenny Roberts and Sportslady of the Year 2000 Juliette Ah-Wan finished in fourth position and won R4,000, a certificate, a cup and a weekend for two at the Plantation Club Hotel.

Footballer Nelson Sopha and female volleyballer Jerina Bonne came out fifth to each win R3,000, a cup and a certificate.

The Young Male and Female Athletes of the Year were also crowned during the ceremony and the titles went to swimmers Austin and Steven Mangroo who each went home with a purse of R1,500.

Female weightlifter Clementina Agricole and footballer Ronny Rose finished as runners-up for a cash prize of R1,000, while female and male badminton players Danielle Jupiter and Samuel Betsy were third. They each got R500.

A special award was also presented to weightlifting coach William Dixie.

Also on Friday Kreol'Or presented a gold medal to IOIG gold medallists chosen as winners by their federations and associations.

The 11 athletes who received the prizes were athlete Céline Laporte, boxer Alvin Gabriel, cyclist Hudson Mathieu, swimmers Shrone Austin and Kenny Roberts, weightlifters Steven Baccus and Janet Thélermont, badminton players Juliette Ah-Wan and Georgie Cupidon, volleyballer Jerina Bonne and Laser sailor Allan Julie.

Minister Pool also received a gold medal from Kreol'Or for her contribution in Seychelles sports.

Meanwhile, all athletes chosen as the best in their respective disciplines were presented with a cup, a certificate, a clock sponsored by Air Seychelles and R3,000.

C. J.