15 women with exceptional impact on their sporting code recognised Inspiring the next generation of female athletes   |11 March 2022

The former female athletes in a souvenir photo with Minister Zialor and PS Jean-Louis

To commemorate this year’s World Women’s Day which is on March 8, fifteen (15) past female athletes who paved the way for others to follow in the modern era, thus setting the level at which sports is contested presently, have received special awards of recognition.

An initiative of the sports department within the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family in collaboration with the National Sports Council (NSC), the 15 past athletes have been chosen based on their performances, as well as their contributions towards the development and inspiration of the younger generation of female athletes in local sports.

The 15 past female athletes are Simone Asba – basketball, Brigitte Balette – football, Peggy Marie (born Jean) – volleyball, Nathalie Didon – middle distance running, Lina Lestrange – basketball, Betty Rath – tennis, Williana Dubois – basketball, Dorothy Isidore – sports for all, Anne-Marie Adrien – athletics, Johana Didon – badminton, Marie-Ange Bouchereau – volleyball, Elke Talma – swimming, Julie Fayon – tennis, Thelma Pierre-Louis – volleyball and Giovanna Rousseau – squash and sports management.

They received their token of appreciation from Minister for Youth, Sports and Family, Marie-Celine Zialor and principal secretary for youth and sports, Ralph Jean-Louis during a small ceremony held yesterday afternoon at the headquarters of the National Council for Children (NCC) at Bel Eau.

Based on their accumulated experiences and successes, Minister Zialor invited the past athletes to come back and give a helping hand in moulding and developing the country’s future generation of female athletes.

She described them as a generation of disciplined, committed and fully engaged athletes since they performed during a time where there were little or no incentives at all and still managed to give their all for their teams and country.

She also added that shining a spotlight on the achievements of the 15 past athletes will surely inspire girls around the country at grassroots level to get involved in sport.

The sports minister further noted that it is important for future generations to adopt the concept of discipline before skills when deciding to get engaged into sports.

Roland Duval