– Red-carpet welcome to be extended by the National Sports Commission

LEADING up to the Olympic Games in Brazil in 2016, Troy Doris was considered by pundits around the world the one to challenge USA’s Christian Taylor for the gold, especially after resetting the country’s national record in the triple jump (17.18 metres). But the Guyanese, competing at the games for the first time, finished a commendable seventh-place (16.90 metres).

Fast-forward to 2018, Doris, 29, now stands atop of the Commonwealth as champion, becoming only the fourth Guyanese to win a gold medal at the prestigious games, hosted at Gold Coast, Australia.

Doris had just three of six legal jumps, the first, 16.67 metres, which would not have given him a medal, before a leap of 16.88 brought the ultimate hardware.

His third jump of 16.26 was inconsequential, as Dominica’s Yordanys Duranona Garcia’s first jump of 16.86, was to be the farthest he extended in the pit to claim a silver medal. Cameroon’s Marcel Mayack II earned the bronze medal with his personal best leap of 16.46 metres.

The Chicago native and former standout at the University of Iowa only started to represent Guyana in 2015 and since then, has left an imprint on track and field, carrying the Golden Arrowhead around the world, from the IAAF Diamond League to now, the Commonwealth Games.

Doris now joins Aliann Pompey (400m, 2002), Winfield Braithwaite (Boxing, 1978) and Philip Aaron Edwards (Athletics, 1930) as the athletes to win gold for Guyana at the Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, Director of Sport Christopher Jones, in congratulating Doris on his achievement, said, “His medal was expected. I’ve been following him closely, and for the last eight months, you can see his rigorous training regime in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. So this is the manifestation of hard work, discipline and dedication.”

Jones further added that “it speaks to what could be achieved if long-term athlete development and support is there and the NSC stands ready and willing to do what we could to ensure many more Troy Doris could be seen on the world stage. The necessary support is most important and critical and I hope that his medal will be a stimulus for younger athletes in Guyana.”

Meanwhile, with the National Sports Awards set for May 23, Jones told Chronicle Sport that the National Sports Commission (NSC) will be celebrating Doris, noting, “I will communicate with him and ensure that he’s here for the Sports Awards and will offer all travel and accommodation to allow him to be properly honoured, meet with the press and other local officials.”

In a report on the popular online news outlet, Demerara Waves, Minister of Social Cohesion Dr George Norton, who also holds the responsibility for Sport, was quoted as stating that he’s “delighted because I think that while our neighbouring Caribbean countries are doing well, it was time for us to strike gold”.