As was expected, Hansle Parchment and Elaine Thompson-Herah were awarded the 61st. RJR-Gleaner Foundation male and female athlete of the year. The award was the final local award for the 2021 athletic season.
Indeed, this award was the second for Thompson-Herah and the first for Hansle Parchment. Both athletes, in their respective acceptance speeches, expressed their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for being chosen for the prestigious award.
Heartfelt speeches
Thompson-Herah speech was extemporaneous and struck the right chords. The speech was sober and motivational, and sought to inspire young and upcoming athletes. She declared that she aims to become a better version of herself in 2022. That spoke volume of her intentions to become the undisputed greatest female sprinter of all times.
Hansle Parchment acceptance speech was scripted but was no less impactful. It was laced with gratitude and appreciation to all who assisted him along the way, even when he suffered injuries. Parchment used the opportunity to indicate his intentions to do well at the upcoming 2022 World Championship in Oregon, USA.
Most deserving
There couldn't have been better choices than Hansle Parchment and Elaine Thompson-Herah for 2021 Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year, given their gold medal exploits at the Tokyo Olympics. Hansle Parchment won the men's 110m Hurdles in 13.05, ahead of the American Grant Holloway and compatriot Ronald Levy. Parchment was also consistently in the top-three positions for the remainder of the 2021 season.
Thompson-Herah outstanding season
Elaine Thompson-Herah had the greatest track season in history, winning the Olympic 100m in an Olympic Record of 10.61 and the Olympic 200m in 21.53, the second fastest time in history. This was followed up by 10.54 performance in Eugene, Oregon, the second fastest time recorded in the 100m for females. And if that was not enough, Thompson-Herah went on to post 10.64 and 10.65 to win the 100m Diamond League final; running four sub 10.70 performances in a single season is unprecedented in female sprinting!
The runners-up in the male and female categories were Ronald Levy and the outstanding Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Henley Taylor
Freelance Sports Writer
Edited by Raymond Byfield
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