Paralympic atheltes Akeem Stewart and Nyoshia Cain and Kershorn Walcott, all medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic games in Brazil are the recepients of medal bonuses totalling US$28,000 from the Trinidad and Tobnago Olympic Committee (TTOC) for their outstanding performances.
During last Thursday’s TTOC Annual Awards held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain, Rio 2016 Paralympic medallists Akeem Stewart and Nyoshia Cain were presented with their medal bonus by President of the Republic His Excellency Anthony Carmona .
Stewart was a gold and silver medallist which earned him US$18,000, Cain was a bronze medallist colected US$5,000 and Walcott, who was a javelin bronze madellist pocketed US$5,000.
The promise of bonuses to the paralympians was made by TTOC president Brian Lewis when he launched in December 2014 the TTOC 10golds24 athlete welfare and preparation fund programme.
The former Harvard Club rugby player walked the T&T International Marathon in 2015 and 2016 to raise awareness and funds for the athlete welfare and preparation fund.
The fund is dedicated to supporting Olympic, Commonwealth and Para athletes .
One of the features of the fund is the performance incentive of medal bonuses.
Lewis included para athletes as beneficiaries in addition to Olympic athletes.
The medal bonus for Rio 2016 was US$10,000 for gold medal; US$8,000 for silver and US$5,000 for bronze.
Akeem Stewart set a world record (57.32m) to win the Men’s Javelin (F42/43/44) and a silver in the Discus (F43/44), throwing 61.72m.
Nyoshia Cain won bronze in the Women’s 100m (t43/44) in a personal best of 13.10.