‘You have made us proud’- Sport Minister to Commonwealth Youth Games athletes

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. on Saturday afternoon led a high-level delegation to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to welcome Guyana’s representatives to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad.

Ramson Jr. was accompanied by Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, Chairman of the National Sport Commission Kashif Muhammad and members of the commission, President of the Guyana Olympic Association Godfrey Munroe and executives of that body, head of the Athletics Association of Guyana Amanda Hermonstine and executives, along with parents of the athletes and well-wishers.

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Guyana was represented by eight athletes at the Games- five in Track and Field and three in Swimming.

The Track and Field athletes impressed with four medals- two gold, one silver and a bronze- as well as shattering the 4x400m Mixed Relay record at the Games.

“You have made us proud,” Ramson Jr. told the athletes during a welcome reception at the port of entry.

“Not just your parents, not just your family, not just your friends, not just your community…you’ve made the nation proud.”

The athletes were welcomed to the beats of tassa, the sweet sound of pan music and a cultural presentation from an indigenous dance group, while they were presented with bouquets.

Watch below the arrival of the athletes

 What they did 

Under the guidance of coach Julian Edmonds, the five athletes- Tianna Springer, Javon Roberts, Attoya Harvey, Malachi Austin and Narissa McPherson- copped a total of four medals (two gold, one silver and a bronze).

Springer created history by copping Guyana’s first-ever gold at the Games, winning the Women’s 400m in 53.55s, with McPherson winning bronze.

Springer, 15, is also a gold medallist at the CARIFTA Games and the South American Under-20 Championship, all in 2023.

Springer, Roberts, Austin and McPherson then shattered the 4x400m Mixed Relay record on their way to winning gold in a time of 3:22.07s. The erased the old mark of 3:25.08s.

Austin was the other medallist for Guyana, taking silver in the Men’s 400m, an event in which he was the fastest qualifier.

Guyana was also represented by Ariel Rodrigues, Elliott Gonsalves and Shareefah Lewis in Swimming.