Aliann Pompey truly deserves the Medal of Service award

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,

Permit me to pen my satisfaction about Aliann Pompey’s recent National Medal of Service award. I am really happy for her, because when it comes to sports, Guyanese tend to place a lot more emphasis on cricket and football. Athletics is one of our oldest sports, but I do not think it is receiving the kind of interest and support it deserves.

I was present at the President’s/Jefford Track and Field Classic in Linden when, for the first time in her international career, Aliann ran in Guyana. I was blown away by the ease with which she won the 200m.

This woman is a remarkable athlete, and it would be good for her achievements to be publicized, so that other Guyanese can be aware of what she has done for herself and country. We should be proud of how she represented Guyana. Apart from her brilliance on the track, she is a humble and disciplined athlete. She is a suitable role model for young women and young athletes, and it is my view that her MS award was well deserved.

Aliann has been involved in athletics on the international scene for close to 15 years. She won the Commonwealth Games 400m Gold medal in 2002 and silver medal in 2010. She captured silver at the Central American and Caribbean Sports Association games (CACSA) last year in Puerto Rico, in 2010 as well. Also, she participated in three Olympic Games and nearly every staging of the IAAF World Championships. On the local scene, Aliann was the 2002 national sportswoman-of-the-year, and the runner-up to the sportswoman-of-the-year in 2010.

Editor, to participate in the Olympics four times is amazing; few athletes have achieved this feat. Aliann would again participate in the Olympics next year in London. I wish her all the best, and I hope all Guyanese would support her in her quest to secure gold in the 2012 Olympics.

Yours sincerely,

Fardeen Hakh

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