Source: www.guardiaan.co.tt
By Kern De Freitas
For swimmers Christian Homer and Cherelle Thompson, being named the First Citizens Sports Foundation's youth Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, respectively, is only further inspiration to perform well in 2011.
To Homer, it is an "honour" and "privilege" to earn the award, after winning Youth Olympic Games gold last year in Singapore.
"Winning the gold medal at the Youth Olympics and this award just pushes me to train harder and work towards my goal harder and just pushes me towards achieving greater things," Homer told the Express after receiving the accolade at the Foundation's 49th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday night at NAPA in Port of Spain.
He is now hoping to beef up his performances for 2011, with a view to qualifying later this year for the 2012 London Olympics.
"(My) realistic goals this year is to qualify for the 2011 Shanghai Championships and also the Pan American Games in Mexico. At those Games I'm hoping to qualify for the Olympics."
Homer also commended the other contenders for the awards for their performances, calling the cast a "really hard pool".
"There's a lot of really good athletes, especially in the junior division," Homer pointed out. "The top ten was really competitive. Getting this award just fuels me to go back to the pool and train harder and continue aspiring for greater things."
Thompson was "elated" at receiving her award, but shared it with those who contributed to her cause.
"I'm really thankful to God firstly for his favour, his blessings," Thompson said, "and to my parents because they have been there for me 100 per cent, getting me to and from training.
"My coaches and my family's support (was important). My achievement is not must significant of my hard work (alone), but (that of) all the people that have been supporting me and helping me get where I am today."
She counts her sixth placing in the CAC Games 50-metre freestyle final as her favourite moment of 2010 and is hoping for more of the same this year.
"(My goals are) just to train hard and represent the country. I have the Pan Am Games in Mexico and the CISC Games (and I am aiming to) just go out there and doing my best for Trinidad and Tobago."