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Guest of honour President James Michel presented the brand new huge floating cups to the two best athletes of the year 2009, while First Lady Nathalie Michel gave them their R15,000 cheques.

“It’s not a surprise. I expected it and I look forward to retain the title for a third consecutive win,” said 30-year-old Leveau-Agricole who has equalled weightlifter Janet Thélermont’s (now Georges) three wins in 2008.

Leveau-Agricole retained the Jeux de la Francophonie javelin gold medal with a Games record distance of 57.48m in 2009.
The first Seychellois male badminton player to win a singles medal – a bronze – in the African Senior Championships, Malcouzane also grabbed the men’s doubles bronze and team event silver in Mauritius.

“I did not expect to win the Sportsman of the Year title, but I knew I stood a good chance of winning. I’m happy I’ve done it,” the 27-year-old told Sports Nation.

Leveau-Agricole and Malcouzane also received trophies from Community Development, Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Vincent Meriton, certificates from Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Beach Resort general manager Ken Choo, mobile phones from Cable & Wireless chief executive Charles Hammond and return tickets to any European destination from Tessy Albert of Air Seychelles.

Besides President James Michel, First Lady Nathalie Michel and Minister Meriton, the other distinguished guests at the ceremony included Vice-President Joseph Belmont, ministers, principal secretaries and representatives of sponsors.

Male badminton player Georgie Cupidon and female weightlifter Clementina Agricole were chosen as the runners-up and they got R8,000, return tickets to any destination from Qatar Airways, trophies and certificates.

Third place finishers Tony Lespoir (canoe) and Juliette Ah-Wan (badminton) received R6,000, a trophy, a certificate and return tickets to Kenya from Kenya Airways.

Female weightlifter Katsia Télémaque and male weightlifter Charles Siméon were ranked fourth to win R4,000, a trophy and a certificate. Bodybuilder Ziad Al Adou Mekdachi and badminton player Katherina Paulin finished fifth to pocket R3,000, a trophy and a certificate.

Badminton player Alisen Camille succeeded volleyballer Marielle Bonne as Young Female Athlete of the Year, while swimmer Shane Mangroo has taken over the young Male Athlete of the Year crown from two-time winner Joel Dubel.

They both received R5,000, a trophy and a certificate from Cable & Wireless chief executive Charles Hammond and the company’s director for Human Resources and Administration Thomas Dauban.

“I knew I could win and I’m happy I’ve done it,’ said Camille, women’s singles gold medallist at the All-Africa Junior Championships in Ethiopia.

“The title has come as a surprise. I now have to work hard to keep it for at least another year,” said Mangroo, who reached six finals at the eighth African Junior Swimming Championships in Mauritius.

Runners-up Lissa Labiche (athletics) and Kervin Ghislain (badminton) received R4,000, a trophy and a certificate, third place finishers Shannon Austin (swimming) and Marcus Maria (football) got R3,000, a trophy and a certificate, fourth place finishers Steffie Mathiot (karate) and Anil Nibourette (table tennis) pocketed R2,000, a trophy and a certificate, while fifth place finishers Anniessa Benstrong (table tennis) and Jannick Ernesta (athletics) went home with R1,000, a trophy and a certificate.

The four special awards went to football referee Eddie Maillet (official of the year), Norbert Dogley (volunteer of the year), Gerard Bibi (coach of the year) and the Seychelles Domino Federation (best federation of the year). They all received a trophy and a framed certificate from Vice-President Belmont and Youth, Sports and Culture principal secretary Denis Rose.

The best primary school award was won by Anse Aux Pins and Anse Royale was chosen as the best secondary school to each receive R20,000 and a framed certificate from First Lady Michel and JJ Spirit Foundation chairman Jean-Paul Adam.

G. G.