Govt hails Bovell ‘man of bronze’

THE GOVERNMENT of Trinidad and Tobago yesterday praised George Bovell III for becoming the first man in the English-speaking Carib-bean to secure a medal in swimming at the Olympic Games. In a letter to Bovell, acting Prime Minister Joan Yuille-Williams congratulated him and said the entire nation was elated at his bronze medal win in yesterday’s men’s 200 metre individual medley final in a time of one minute, 58.80 seconds in Athens, Greece. “All of TT viewed today’s race with great anticipation since we were all confident in your capability for victory. Indeed, you are an inspiration to all of our young people who aspire to excellence through commitment, discipline, hard work and personal sacrifice.

The entire nation is proud of your exceptional performance today and we wish you continued success as you display to the world the tremendous talent of TT at the Summer Olympics 2004,” Yuille-Williams decla-red. Bovell was also hailed by the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago. In a letter to Bovell, the association’s secretary Shastri Roberts said that no doubt it had been a sometimes lonely trial, where he was forced to look within himself and that of his family for “the true grit and determination.” He commended, saluted and congratulated Bovell and the rest of his team in Athens for their “stellar efforts.” Roberts added  that Bovell had now been handed the torch to show others the way and pointed out that Geoffrey Ferreira was the beacon of swimmers three decades ago. Roberts also indicated that Bovell’s victory had planted the seed into the country’s 2008 Olympians.