Sada Williams honoured at GAIA 

Sada Williams continues to be a rising star in the world of athletics, particularly in the 400-meter race. Her speed and skill on the track has captured the attention of the World and at the Grantley Adams International Airport on Wednesday the Government of Barbados, recognized her outstanding achievements and dedication to her sport.

On Wednesday morning, an event was held to celebrate Sada’s success as a billboard to recognize her accomplishments was unveiled in the arrival hall of the Airport and a cheque for $150 000 to help pay for her preparations towards the Olympic Games next year was presented to Sada. 

Sada captured the bronze medal for the second consecutive time at the IAAF World Athletic Championships (2022 and 2023) and is also a Commonwealth gold medalist (2022). She also made it to the Semi finals of the Tokyo Olympics with the fastest ever non-qualifying time for the finals. 

The Minister of Sport, Charles Griffith, expressed his gratitude to the team for organizing the event and extended special thanks to Coach Francis from the MVP track club in Jamaica for nurturing Sada’s talent and helping her reach incredible heights in her athletic career.

Minister Griffith acknowledged the importance of recognizing excellence in sports and expressed his appreciation for Sada’s consistent performance at the international level. He emphasized that the government, in its own small way, wanted to honor Sada’s efforts and dedication. The Minister also spoke about Sada’s goal of competing at the upcoming Olympics and standing on the podium, highlighting her determination and desire for more success.

The year was declared the year of youth, and the Minister of Sports, Youth, and Culture, Charles Griffith, said that every effort would be made to shine a strong and bright light on the accomplishments of young people like Sada. He congratulated Sada for her achievements so far and expressed the belief that she would become an inspiration for other young individuals. The Minister hoped that Sada’s success would motivate other youngsters to work hard and reach the same level of accomplishment.

Deputy Prime Minister, Honorable Santia Bradshaw, joined the celebration and expressed her pride and joy for Sada’s achievements. She thanked Sada for making her nation proud and applauded her for always displaying grace and humility. The Deputy Prime Minister addressed Sada’s roots in St. Michael South and welcomed her officially as one of its products. She also acknowledged Coach Francis, who had made a significant contribution to Sada’s development and had played a pivotal role in positioning Barbados as a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.

Deputy PM Bradshaw spoke about the importance of strategic partnerships between Barbados and Jamaica in sports and highlighted Sada’s success as a prime example of the need to accelerate discussions and asolid framework for such partnerships. She expressed her confidence in Sada’s potential for global stardom with Coach Francis’s guidance.

The government’s commitment to elevating sports as a pillar of national identity was expressed by the Deputy Prime Minister stating that events like this celebration were envisioned to recognize the invaluable contributions of athletes in unifying the people and providing a source of inspiration. Sada, with her achievements, had become a favorite of Barbadians, who followed her every competition with great enthusiasm.

In conclusion, Sada Williams was celebrated for her outstanding accomplishments and dedication to her sport. Her success had made her a role model for young people, and her achievements had brought pride to the nation of Barbados. With her eyes set on the upcoming Olympics, Sada continues to inspire athletes and all Barbadians to strive for excellence and reach for the stars.