Julien Alfred and Thea LaFond shine as Breakthrough Athletes at CANOC Awards
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- <p style="font-weight: 400;">St.
- LaFond, meanwhile, has made tremendous strides in the triple jump, firmly placing herself among the Caribbean’s elite.
- Their accolades were the highlight of the night, which honored the region’s best athletes and sports organizations.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The awards, however, almost didn’t happen.
- With Hurricane Oscar looming, a national shutdown in Turks and Caicos seemed inevitable.
St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred and Dominica’s Thea LaFond stole the spotlight at the inaugural Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) Awards, held at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages and Spa.
Both athletes were celebrated for their outstanding performances, earning them the prestigious Caribbean Breakthrough Award.
Alfred, a rising star in track and field, has dazzled on the international stage with her electrifying sprints, propelling her among the brightest young athletes in the world. LaFond, meanwhile, has made tremendous strides in the triple jump, firmly placing herself among the Caribbean’s elite. Their accolades were the highlight of the night, which honored the region’s best athletes and sports organizations.
The awards, however, almost didn’t happen. With Hurricane Oscar looming, a national shutdown in Turks and Caicos seemed inevitable. Yet, in true Caribbean fashion, the event went on against all odds, underscoring the resilience and determination of the region—traits embodied by Alfred and LaFond in their careers.
At symbol of unity and perseverance
As the storm threatened, the night’s program celebrated more than just athletic achievements—it became a symbol of unity and perseverance.
The Dominican Republic Women’s Volleyball Team was named Caribbean Sports Team of the Year – Female for their dominance on the global stage. In the men’s category, the Dominican Republic Football Team earned the title Caribbean Sports Team of the Year – Male after a historic year for the island's football program.
Barbadian journalist Anmar Goodridge-Boyce was recognized with the Caribbean Sports Media Award for his contributions to sports journalism across the region.
In the CANOC & IOC Sustainability Awards, the Plant-A-Tree Initiative from Turks and Caicos won the Community Engagement award, while the Barbados Olympic Association took home the Environmental Impact Reduction Award for their sustainability efforts.
Caribbean Distinguished Service Award
The late Judy Simmons of the Bermuda Olympic Committee was posthumously awarded the Caribbean Distinguished Service Award for her dedication to sports administration, while the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee was named Caribbean National Olympic Committee of the Year. Turks and Caicos’ Honourable Galmo Williams received the title of Caribbean Sponsor of the Year for his exceptional support of sports in the region.
In a fitting culmination of the night, Julien Alfred was also named Sports Personality of the Year – Female, cementing her place as one of the region’s top athletes. Cuban wrestling legend Mijaín López Nunez claimed Sports Personality of the Year – Male after winning his historic fifth Olympic gold in Paris, further solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest Greco-Roman wrestlers in history.
The final and most prestigious accolade of the night, the Caribbean Lifetime Achievement Quadrennial Award, was presented to Steve Stoute of Barbados for his lifelong dedication to sports development in the Caribbean.
The CANOC Awards have set a new benchmark for the celebration of Caribbean sports, proving that in the face of adversity, the region’s athletes, administrators, and supporters continue to embody resilience, excellence, and an unbreakable spirit.
