Jehue Gordon steals the spotlight at T&T's SOSA awards

Port of Spain, Dec 31 (IANS/CMC) Jehue Gordon, the 400m World champion, has captured Trinidad and Tobago's prestigious title of Sports Performance of the Year.

Gordon also won three other awards during the Spirit of Sports Awards (SOSA) Ceremony held here on Monday, reports CMC.

He grabbed the titles of Male Athlete of the Year, Consistent Performer of the Year and Breakthrough Performance of the Year.

"It is amazing to be here and to receive these gifts. You know it is hard for some of the athletes. I for one am hardly around my family six or seven months of the year," he said.

"Thinking about it is very emotional for me."

Gordon also received the keys to a duplex from the Housing Development Corporation and a cheque for $800,000 for his golden run in Barcelona earlier this year.

He beat a strong field in the race for the Sports Performance for the Year award, including ace swimmer George Bovell, Dylan Carter (silver in the men's 50m butterfly at the FINA World Youth Swimming Championships), cyclist Njisane Phillip (silver in the First UCI World Cup Series in Manchester) and Paralympic swimmer Shanntol Ince (four golds at the Paralympic Pan American Championships).

Bovell accepted his $250,000 cheque for his FINA World Swimming Championship Men's 50m freestyle bronze medal effort in Barcelona.

Ince was the next most heralded athlete on the night, taking home two trophies for Athlete with a Disability and Emerging Athlete of the Year for her four gold medal sweep at the Paralympic Junior Pan American Championship in Argentina back in September.

Top youth swimmer Carter also received one award for Record-breaking Performance of the Year to add to his Junior Male Athlete of the Year award.

--IANS/CMC

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