Olympic gold-medalist and the Caribbean’s most successful javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott can now add Atlantic Sports Ambassador to his repertoire, as he joins the LNG producer’s esteemed sports advocate programme alongside fellow Olympians Richard Thompson and Andrew Lewis.
Coming to the international forefront at the London 2012 Olympics, Walcott became the first-ever Caribbean national, and at 19 years old the youngest male contender, ever to win Olympic gold in the javelin event, recording a throwing distance of 84.58m. Four years later in Brazil at the 2016 Olympic Games, Walcott took home the bronze medal for his 3rd place throw of 85.28m. The young javelin thrower was also named the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee’s (TTOC) Sportsman of the Year for 2016.
Nigel Darlow, CEO, Atlantic said that Walcott was the perfect addition to the Atlantic Sports Ambassador Programme, given the heights he has already attained as a young athlete and his proven rapport with children eager to pursue future careers in competitive sport.
“As a young Olympian, Keshorn Walcott has an amazing story to tell, one which will inspire the next generation of athletes who will take their place on the world stage,” Darlow said. “Atlantic is very happy to help create the opportunity for Keshorn to meet with the thousands of primary school children who participate in the sporting competitions that we facilitate in our home community Point Fortin and also at the national level.”
Established in 2012, the Atlantic Sports Ambassador Programme enlists prominent national athletes as advocates of Atlantic’s sporting programmes to inspire young athletes and expose them to opportunities to learn from the wisdom and expertise of elite athletes. In addition to Thompson and Lewis, Walcott joins cricketers Merissa Aguilliera, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard as Atlantic Sports Ambassadors.
Walcott said that he viewed the Atlantic Sports Ambassador Programme as an excellent opportunity to impress on young athletes the critical need to believe in themselves in order to advance in their chosen sporting disciplines.
“When I met with Atlantic, I immediately felt that our two-way partnership would be successful, as there were many commonalities between us,” Walcott said. “I want to give back in any way that I can – especially to the youth where I feel I can have the most impact – and Atlantic’s various sporting initiatives will certainly be an avenue for reaching many young persons.”
Atlantic supports several sporting programmes targeting Under-13 youths including the annual national primary schools competitions in in football, cricket and track and field; the Atlantic Primary School Multi-Sport Triathlon Series; and the Atlantic National Primary Schools Invitational Swimming Championships.