XIX Commonwealth Games – interview with Socga president Antonio Gopal-‘Athletes performed to the best of their abilities’ |19 October 2010

Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) president Antonio Gopal said this when he returned last Friday from Delhi, India, where Seychelles won only a silver medal at the XIX Commonwealth Games.

Weightlifter Janet Georges did Seychelles proud when she heaved a total of 216kg (100kg in snatch and 116kg in clean & jerk) to finish on the second highest step of the medals podium in the women’s 69kg weight category behind Canadian Christine Girard who set a new Games record of 235kg (105 in snatch and 130kg in clean & jerk).

“A silver medal is a very good result,” Mr Gopal told the media.

“Most of the local athletes performed according to their level and some improved their personal best times, and one Seychelles record was beaten in swimming. Clementina Agricole just missed out on a bronze medal by 1kg in the 58kg weight class at the Games, which were of a very high standard,” he added.

The local Olympic boss noted that some athletes failed to improve on their previous best results achieved some time back, meaning there is something wrong with their training.

He added that all sportsmen and women should double their efforts in training to up their level of performance in other international competitions, starting with next year’s eighth Indian Ocean Island Games on home soil.

“A lot of work has to be done to get our sportsmen and women to perform at a very high level. All stakeholders – Socga, the National Sports Council, the Sports ministry, all sports federations and associations – have a role to play to put in place the right conditions for the athletes to train hard and win medals to make the country proud,” he said.

“The athletes also need to be more serious in their training and in their social life. They should stay focused and work to achieve their targets,” added Mr Gopal, who described the recently ended Commonwealth Games as “spectacular and transparent”.

“The bad press before the start of the Games really made some people believe that Delhi would not be able to organise the Games, and some top athletes even pulled out fearing their safety. The Commonwealth Games have been very beautiful Games and were well organised.

“Conditions at the athletes’ village were very good with a variety of food and different cuisines, and a host of entertainment. Overall the image of the Games has been very positive with everyone enjoying themselves and making friends until the very last day of the multi-discipline event.”

Georges is the first Seychellois woman to win a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games – the second biggest behind the Olympic Games.

Her achievement came in Seychelles’ sixth appearance after making its debut in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1990, four years after withdrawing from the Edinburgh Games in 1986, joining other countries protesting against Britain’s refusal to impose sanctions on South Africa.

Seychelles won its first medal – a bronze through middleweight boxer Rival Cadeau (now Payet) – in Victoria, Canada, in 1994. He missed out on a possible silver or gold medal after arriving late for his semifinal fight against Irishman Jim Webb, who went on to win the gold medal.

Boxers Roland Raforme (heavyweight) and Gerry Legras (light welterweight) snatched a silver medal apiece after Canadian fighters dashed their gold medal dreams in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1998. Raforme lost 13-21 to Mark Simmons and Legras 8-16 to Mike Strange.

As in 1990 in Auckland, Seychelles did not win any medal in 2002 in Manchester, England, and not even one Seychelles record was improved in track & field athletics, swimming, weightlifting and cycling.

Four years later – in 2006 – in Melbourne Australia, weightlifter Georges became the first Seychellois woman to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games.

She won a bronze with a total lift of 205kg, and athlete Céline Laporte did not take long to emulate her with a bronze medal of her own after registering a best leap of 6.57m in the long jump for a Seychelles record.

G. G.