Sports Awards of the Year 2010-Weightlifters up in arms for more and bigger wins |02 February 2011

Their ultimate goal is the All-Africa Games gold medal, which they both described as “something money can’t buy”, and treys of gold medals at the 8th Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG).

“I was relaxed on the night of the crowning ceremony because I knew I would win the title for a fourth time,” 31-year-old Georges told Sports Nation after receiving the floating trophy from President James Michel.

“My results spoke volumes and were far better than the other contenders. I thank God for a blessed year 2010,” added Georges, whose other Sportswoman of the Year titles came at two-year intervals in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

Georges’ fourth Sportswoman of the Year title matched the record held by Lindy Leveau-Agricole, whose wins came in 1996, 2005, 2008 and 2009.

Georges has also finished runner-up three times – in 2003 behind Shrone Austin and 2005 and 2008 behind Leveau-Agricole. She was fifth overall in 2000, fourth in 2001 and 2007.

In 2010, Georges was a triple gold medallist in the 69kg category at the 17th African Senior Weightlifting Championship in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and won the country’s only medal – a silver – with a total lift of 216kg at the XIX Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

Seychelles’ highest gold medal winner in the African Senior Weightlifting Championship with 13 – three in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2002, three in Kampala, Uganda, in 2005, three in Casablanca, Morocco, in 2006, one in Tunis, Tunisia, in 2004 and three in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in 2010, Georges has set her targets high this year.

“I want to win three gold medals at the IOIG on home ground. I’m also looking forward to competing at the All-Africa Games, although I said last year that I would retire after the IOIG.

“I’ve won medals in almost all competitions I’ve taken part in, and the All-Africa Games gold medal is missing from my collection. With God’s guidance I hope to win Seychelles’ first weightlifting gold at the All-Africa Games,” added Georges.

Is it the Sportswoman of the Year title that has pushed Georges to postpone her retirement? 

“I don’t know. But I feel I can go on. There is a possibly that I continue for some more years, but I have to wait and see what happens,” she concluded.

Dixie clearly had the best results among the contenders for the Sportsman of the Year 2010 title and he lifted it with ease, just like when he heaves the loaded bars on the platform in competitions.

At the 17th African Senior Weightlifting Championship in Yaoundé, Cameroon, he was a double silver medallist in the clean & jerk (160kg) and snatch (126kg) in the 85kg class.

He was ranked eighth out of 20 lifters in the 85kg category at the XIX Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, with an Olympic total of 280kg (130 in snatch and 150 in clean & jerk).

“I never thought of winning the Sportsman of the Year title before. But after analysing the results of the other contenders, I told myself that I had a big chance of winning it,” said Dixie last Friday night.

“So, on the night of the crowning ceremony, I expected to win the title, but I waited until they called out my name to be sure of winning.

“I was very happy when I heard my name and I thank everyone who helped me in one way or another. The 2010 season was so far my best in weightlifting and I will cherish all the good memories,” added the 27-year-old.

Asked about his plans for this year, Dixie replied: “2011 is going to be a challenging year. Not only in sports, but in everything I do, including my job as a police officer. It won’t be easy, but I have to make time to train hard to achieve good results.”

He noted that although sports fans always want athletes to win, they must also understand the many sacrifices athletes make to train after working hours to become champions.

“It’s never easy to work full-time and follow high-level training. It takes a lot of discipline to balance the two,” said Dixie, who noted that the Sportsman of the Year title is his biggest achievement so far.

A recipient of the Young Male Athlete of the Year title in 2002, Dixie is coached by his father William Dixie – winner of the best coach award.

G. G.