Minister with responsibility for Sport, Dr. George Norton, believes champion cyclist Beyonce Ross was capable of being a “star Olympian.”
Ross, the 15-year-old cyclist who dominated the National Schools Championship last October, winning three gold medals, passed away at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation this week after falling ill in February.
She was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March.
Dr. Norton said Ross’ passing is a tremendous blow to the cycling fraternity, as the young lady had enormous potential.
“She was capable of being a star Olympian. I don’t believe that there was any doubt that she was heading to the top, her progress would’ve been a beautiful thing to see,” a saddened Dr. Norton related.
The fourth form student underwent her first surgical intervention in April, and her family was in the process of raising funds to facilitate an overseas surgery to remove the tumor altogether.
However, things took a turn for the worst last Thursday, when the Lower Corentyne Secondary School student was hospitalised and listed as being brain dead.
Shortly before Ross became hospitalised, Minister Norton, along with Education Minister, Nicolette Henry, led a team of persons to visit the ailing cyclist. They presented the family with hampers containing dietary and hygienic supplies.
Minister Norton added, “I can’t imagine what her family must be going through, but we wish them strength to deal with the hurt, and we want to encourage that they remember their star cyclist for the jovial person she was, and celebrate that she has accomplished during the 15 years of her life.”
