Bronze just as good as gold – Keshorn Walcott’s mom

(Trinidad Guardian) Ungrateful. That was the word used by Keshorn Walcott’s mother yesterday, as she lashed out at social media critics of her son’s Olympic bronze medal effort at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday night.

“People are ungrateful. It’s a medal, it’s the only one. I would have been so much happier if he had gotten gold,” Beverly Walcott said during an interview at her L’anse Noire, Toco home.

Walcott became T&T’s last hope of securing a medal at the Games after the women’s and men’s 4×100 metres team failed to medal and the 4×400 metres relay team failed to advance to the final on Friday night.

Family members gathered yesterday to continue the celebrations, which began after Keshorn achieved Olympic glory for T&T with a throw of 85.38 metres. Germany’s Thomas Rohler won gold with a throw of 90.30 metres while Kenya’s Julius Yego took silver (88.24 metres)

“This medal may look darker than his gold medal but it is a medal which he won and was the only one for T&T. I am proud of my son as this is his second medal that he has won at the age of 23,” his proud mother said.

“When you go for something, take what you get and thank God. Keshie has done well and made us proud. I am very happy on his performance.”

Walcott’s aunt, Anna Stewart, said, “People in T&T always have high expectations and when it does not happen, they are disappointed. People should be more patriotic.”

She said Keshorn called the family after his throw and said he did his best and said, “‘For me, this time was bronze. What is for me, is for me.’

“We are all excited for the bronze medal but in Trinidad some people only passing on the boy,” Stewart said

Stewart said some people are putting negative connotation on his achievement, saying only bronze, instead of showing appreciation.

Keshorn’s cousin, Faith Tinto, also a promising athlete who is working on gaining a spot on team T&T at the next Olympics in the long jump, said Keshorn had inspired and motivated her and many of her classmates. She said Keshorn’s determination for his sport was tremendous and had also inspired many of the youths in Toco and environs.

After Keshorn stunned the world in the London 2012 games, getting a gold medal for his 84.5 metres throw, Tinto recalled she was travelling in a maxi taxi and heard someone saying that Keshorn’s throw was a fluke.

“Even the social media will bash him, saying he went to the Olympics and bring back bronze, but it’s a medal. I am proud of him. Everything is God’s will,” Tinto said.

Keshorn’s grandmother, Joycelyn Walcott, said she spoke to her grandson the night before the competition and wished him all the best.

“We laugh and I said to him ‘We waiting on gold,’ but my wish did not come true, but he still won a medal, which is considered gold for me.”