Saturday 18th, Toronto, Canada– Veteran swimmer, Olympic medallist, newly minted Pan Am bronze medallist and World Economic Forum Global Shaper George Bovell got to celebrate his birthday a little early yesterday. Not only did he win the bronze medal in the men’s 50m freestyle event, but also in so doing he became the first athlete to benefit from the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee’s medal bonus programme.
The medal bonus programme is an essential component of “TenGolds24,” the ten or more Olympic Gold medals by 2024 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund launched by the TTOC last year. As a bronze medallist Bovell will receive US$1000. It is fitting that he became the first athlete to benefit from the fund launched by TTOC President Brian Lewis last year. As a four time Olympian, Bovell is the Caribbean’s most successful swimmer, the holder of multiple world championship medals, a former world record holder and Sportsman of the year 2014. He embodies sporting excellence and the Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship.
Few athletes has worked as hard as he has and given so much inside and outside of the pool. Most recently Bovell has partnered with Atlantic and other local organizations, to host successful several swim clinics in Trinidad and Tobago. The clinics, which were designed to enhance the technical abilities of young athletes, while providing them with strategies for use daily in training, have been hugely successful.
Bovell has already qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympics, and thus has another opportunity to add precious metal to his extensive medal collection. He represents the best of us. Happy Birthday.