Antigua and Barbuda: PM Gaston Browne meets world champion Rai Benjamin

Antigua and Barbuda: Prime Minister Gaston Browne met with the Olympic and World 400 m hurdles silver medallist Rai Benjamin after the athlete paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister at his office on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

Rai Benjamin is loved and praised by the people of Antigua and Barbuda because he is the son of Antiguan ex-Windies all-rounder Winston Benjamin, who has represented the country at various international cricket tournaments. Winston Benjamin has played 21 Tests and 85 One Day Internationals for the team West Indies.

Prime Minister Browne expressed pleasure in meeting the world-class athlete and stated, “On Tuesday, PM Gaston Browne was paid a courtesy visit by Rai Benjamin – Olympic and World 400 m hurdles silver medalist. Rai is the son of Antiguan ex-Windies all-rounder Winston Benjamin.”

PM further outlined that Rai presented a presentation to outstanding athletes at Antigua Grammar School on Monday. “On Monday, Rai, who is a former student of the Antigua Grammar School (AGS), made a presentation to outstanding athletes at the school, an initiative he has stated may not be the last,” the post by the Prime Minister read.

Professional, Rai Benjamin is an American hurdler and sprinter who specialises in the 400 m hurdles. He is known as the second fastest man in the world in the 400 m hurdles, with his personal record of 46.17 seconds. He has bagged multiple medals at various international tournaments. He bagged a silver medal in 2021 in his first-ever Olympics Games. Prior to this, he won two medals at the World Championship 2019 – silver in the men’s 400 m hurdles and gold in the 4 × 400 m relay.