Vincentian Olympian Shafiqua Maloney to be honoured at homecoming ceremony on Oct 9

St Vincent and the Grenadines star athlete, Shafiqua Maloney is all set to receive warm welcome with an official homecoming ceremony following her exceptional participation at the Paris Olympics 2024. The ceremony has been scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 9^th October 2024.

Notably, Maloney made her visit back to the shores of St Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday, 18^th September, 2024. For her welcome, a press conference was organized by the government whose remarks were given by the Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

He was accompanied by the Minister of Housing, Youth and Sports, Orando Brewster, sponsors J. Robert Cato, CEO of ECGC, Latoya George, Divisional Manager of Coreas Distribution, and Shakeila Vera, General Manager of KFC SVG, President of Team Athletics SVG and General Secretary for the Olympic Committee, Keith Joseph.

Also, Tamara Barrow, who hosted the press conference, invited an impromptu recount of events surrounding Shafiqua’s Olympic debut by her mother, Jessica Maloney. She met her daughter after eight years and their emotional reunion made the welcoming ceremony even more special for Shafiqua Maloney.

While expressing her excitement on seeing her daughter after so long, the mother of Maloney stated “I haven’t seen her, so it’s been a great feeling seeing her. On her journey to Paris, I was actually at work very far away because I worked on a cruise ship, and it was in the Caribbean, so it was really far from Paris.”

“However, when the time for the games to start, I keep following up to check. I decide to get Internet no matter how much it cost me to look at how my daughter will be running.”

She stated that when she got to know that her daughter has reached the finals of Olympic 800m debut, she was on cloud nine, started jumping and screaming. The mother further continued to say that her daughter has gone through several challenges. She added that Shafiqua is very disciplines, powerful and well-mannered young lady who has always been passionate towards her dreams.

Several family members of Shafiqua Maloney, her manager, Dr. Renitta Peters-Morris and representatives of Argyle International Airport Inc and SVG Tourism Authority were also a part of the welcoming ceremony.

The welcoming ceremony on 18^th September was culminated by a motorcade from Argyle International Airport to the capital, Kingstown, was held, ending at her sponsor’s KFC Kingstown branch.

Notably, Shafiqua Maloney represented her nation in the Women’s 800m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics and registered history by becoming the first Vincentian athlete to compete in an Olympic finals event. With her participation, she also becomes the first English-speaking Caribbean national to compete in the Olympics Women’s 800m finals.

While emphasising her journey, Shafiqua Maloney stated that it was not easy but eventually she got some help and made it a difference to her mentally, and physically, and emotionally that there are people who cares about her.

She further added that she is definitely upset that she couldn’t able to win a gold medal but is optimistic as she had world championship ahead and is striving hard to bring laurels to her nation.

And, to celebrate her achievement, the authorities of the island nation are all set to honour their athlete by hosting an official homecoming ceremony. And, for the same, Shafiqua Maloney will arrive with other dignitaries on the inaugural JetBlue service between New York’s JFK and and SVG’s Argyle International Airport Inc.