11th Indian Ocean Islands Games |20 September 2023
Moïse receiving his award from the SAF chairman Selby Dora (Photo: Roland Duval)
SAF hosts special ceremony to honour double gold medallist Iven Moïse
• Handisports athletes left out of celebration
For his remarkable exploit at the recent 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games in Madagascar where he won two gold medals, long-distance runner Iven Moïse has been honoured by the Seychelles Athletics Federation who rewarded him with a R10,000 monetary reward, which is also in recognition of this historic accomplishment and in raising the athletics standard in the area of middle and long distance running.
A lieutenant of the Special Forces within the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF), Moïse received his reward yesterday, during a ceremony held at the Olympic House at Roche Caïman, in the presence of Chief of the Defence Forces Brigadier Michael Rosette, Chief of Staff Colonel Jean Attala, secretary general of the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) Alain Alcindor, president of the Seychelles Athletics Federation (SAF) Selby Dora, SAF’s executive committee members, as well as all the athletes and coaches who represented the country in track and field at the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) in Madagascar, with the exception of the handisports athletes who were left out of the event.
Despite asking questions, Sports NATION could not get a valid answer as to why the handisports athletes, who contributed significantly to the country’s medals tally at the Games, were left out of the celebration.
It is worth noting that altogether, the handisports athletes contributed seven medals – two silver and five bronze – in track and field for Team Seychelles at the Games.
Richard Sophola and Rosie Coralie won a silver medal apiece, while Michael Andrew won two bronze medals, with three additional bronze medals coming from Jerry Thérésine, Alisha Gertrude and Samuel Morel.
Leaving them out of such a celebration is unacceptable, especially after the total failure of the athletics team, who other than Moïse’s two gold medals, harvested only a silver and bronze from Joshua Onezime and Norris Brioche in high jump.
Back to Moïse, the runner of the Patriot Athletics Club based at the SDF made Seychelles athletics’ history at the Games by competing in the 5,000m, 10,000m and the semi-marathon (21km).
In the process he defended his 5,000m gold medal won at the 10th IOIG 2019 in Mauritius, while in the 10,000km he set a new national record of 30 minutes 48.00 seconds (30:48.00), erasing the 26-year-old record of Simon Labiche, also a soldier. He finished fifth in the semi-marathon (21km) race.
After accepting his reward, Moïse had words of gratitude to his family for their continuous support, as well as his working establishment for releasing him, allowing him sufficient time for training, and also his teammates for their support during the races at the Games in Madagascar.
He said it was not easy, but with good preparation and adequate support, anything can be achieved, as long as you set goals.
This, he added, will make it easier to work towards achieving something.
On his part, Chief of Staff Attala noted that the SDF is proud of the achievements of its members at the Games, not only Moïse, but all those who came back with good results.
He added that the force is always pushing its members to be active in sports activities, while their training as soldiers also helps them to gain the required health and endurance to compete at high level, thus contributing to the country’s quest towards high achievements in the sports world.
Roland Duval
