BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, January 18, 2015
BOXER Nicholas Walters and swimmer Alia Atkinson were the toast of the RJR Sport Foundation 2014 National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards, while Donald Quarrie was deservedly recognised with the Iconic Award at the glittering function at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Friday night.
Atkinson, 26, also copped the People’s Choice Performance of the Year Award following her outstanding world-record 100m breaststroke swim of 1 minute, 2.36 seconds at the FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships in Doha, in early December.
“This has been an exciting year for Jamaica and Jamaican swimming. We as a nation have done tremendous things. The largest 5K road race per capita, to having the fastest on land and now in water,” said Atkinson, to loud applause, after being announced the winner.
Atkinson, who has been swimming for Jamaica for the last 15 years, became the first black woman to win a gold medal at a swimming world championship, and joins Belinda Phillips (1974) and Frances Noble (1968) as the other swimmers to have won the Sportswoman of the Year Award.
The last time a non-track and field person won the award was in 1976 when cricketer Vivalyn Latty-Scott triumphed. Kaliese Spencer, the 400m hurdles Commonwealth champion, was the runner-up.
Meanwhile, Walters became the first boxer in 24 years to win the award after Michael ‘The Body Snatcher’ McCallum did so in 1990.
On the announcement of the ‘Axeman’s triumph, his father, Job, raced onto the stage and presented him with his now famous wooden axe, much to the amusement of the audience.
Walters, who successfully defended the WBA World Featherweight title and later won the WBA Super World Featherweight crown to remain undefeated in 25 professional fights, won ahead of shot putter O’Dayne Richards, the Commonwealth Games champion.
“There is not much to say because Alia has said it all. Not everybody is talented in football, hockey and public speaking. Public speaking does not go with my career. In my profession the mouth can get you in a lot of trouble,” said Walters.
“To get Jamaica sportsman of the Year is like to get sportsman of the world. With hard work, dedication and focus you can become a world champion and be where I am right now,” added Walters.
He then threw a jab at corporate Jamaica and the Government as he pleaded for monetary assistance.
“I going to leave a little message to the sponsors. The last couple of fights, when you look at my trunks, it’s all Jamaica, just the brand Jamaica. I would like to have some sponsors (names of companies or products) on the next side.”
Meanwhile, Don Quarrie, the 200m gold medallist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and five-time sportsman of the year in 1970, 71, 75, 76, 77, and now a top administrator, was given the Sagicor Iconic Award for his contribution to the development of the sport in Jamaica and across the globe.
“I was thrilled about it. I think it’s important that someone or a group of individuals can bestow this on me,” he told the Sunday Observer.
“I am mostly thrilled at the fact that so many athletes in all the sports were honoured here tonight. That’s something that I was very impressed with. I think it is something that will motivate youngsters all over knowing that they [can] achieve and be recognised no matter what sport they do,” he pointed out.
“I look forward to one day seeing athletes in events that we would never perceived them excelling in, be up there for sportsman and sportswoman of the year,” said Quarrie.
Female boxer Alicia Ashley was given the Chairman’s Award, a selection made by Gary Allen, chairman of the RJR Sports Foundation.
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It"s Alia, Nicholas!
