media_artricles :: 2013

Stewart grabs Para gold in Colombia

Trinidad and Tobago athlete Akeem Stewart captured gold on Friday at the ongoing II Campeonato Paranacional de Atletismo in Medellin, Colombia.

Stewart threw the iron ball 17.49 metres in the shot Put event for F44 class, barely missing the Colombian national record. His nearest competitor threw 7.49 meters.

At the encouragement of the Trinidad and Tobago Paralympic Committee (TTPC), Stewart was given the opportunity to be classified as a Para-athlete and compete in Colombia.

He was classified in the F44 group for athletes with a disability to the lower extremities of the leg.

This accomplishment paves the way for Stewart to qualify and compete at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

At age 21, Stewart lives in Tobago, where he is coached by his father Wayne, who led his son to track and field at age five. Despite his fair share of setbacks for younger Stewart, he stuck to the sport of and is now making his mark on the local fraternity.

At present, Akeem holds T&T’s national record of 19.34 meters at the Alvin Daniels Games, held in March.

He has credited his ongoing success to a positive attitude, fear of failure and the keen support of his family, friends and well-wishers.

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