The Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport buzzed with activity on Tuesday this week, when a large crowd gave a rousing welcome to Anguilla’s first female Olympian, Shara Proctor, on her arrival from the United States.
She arrived on an Anguilla Air Services flight via St. Maarten and was met by Governor Alistair Harrsion and Minister of Sports, Edison Baird, accompanied by Ministerial colleagues, Advisers and other officials.
“Today is an important event in the historical and contemporary development of athletics in our small, beautiful and potentially powerful island,” Minister Baird remarked in the VIP Lounge where Shara was officially welcomed and congratulated. “It marks the return of our national heroine, Ms. Shara Proctor, who excelled at the London Olympics 2012. She reached the finals in the Long Jump event.”
Mr. Baird made the point that although Shara represented the United Kingdom, because of Anguilla’s constitutional status, “in the heart of every Anguillian she also represented her island.”
He continued: “We are extremely proud of her achievement. This is all the more remarkable because of the small size of our island and the rudimentary standards of our sporting facilities, when compared with those of Russia, America and even Jamaica…Shara’s accomplishment on the world’s stage also makes it clear that one can pursue an education as well as an athletic career at the same time. In fact, a sound education coupled with potential athletic ability, can give rise to a scholarship in the United States and Britain where the training facilities are clearly superior to most countries. As Minister of Education, I encourage our athletes to not only pursue their athletic careers, but to buckle down to their educational endeavours.
“Shara Proctor is a role model not only for Anguillians, but for other athletes throughout the region. I want to make it clear that as Minister of Sports, we must see her accomplishments at the London Olympics 2012 as a platform from which she and other Anguillians can shoot for gold at the Olympics in 2016 in Brazil.” He pledged that when the economy turned around he would ensure that athletes and sporting facilities were priority in the disbursement of funds.
Governor Alistair Harrison joined in welcoming Shara. He congratulated her on behalf of the Executive Council, which had requested him to send her a message of good luck at the time she was completing in the London Olympics, and also on his own behalf. He explained that she had to compete for the United Kingdom as Anguilla did not have a national Olympics Committee. “We knew, however, that she was also actually competing for Anguilla, making us on this island extremely proud,” he added.”
Mrs. Wilma Proctor, Shara’s mother and early coach, said in part: “As Director of Sports, and as her mom, I congratulate Shara on her achievements this year. We were hoping that she would have made a medal stand, but that was not to be this year. However, her overall achievements being number 4 in the world at the end of the season is something to be proud of and to be congratulated for.” She was grateful to Shara for representing Anguilla and Great Britain. “I hope that her achievements will be looked at by youngsters in Anguilla as something to aspire to, and to work hard for. Once they recognise that if there is talent, will and dedication, it is possible to achieve these results,” she stated.
President of the Anguilla Amateur Athletic Federation, Mrs. Lorna Rogers, extended a very warm welcome to Shara. “We are aware that it had to be difficult for you to create this window in your schedule, so we are deeply appreciative of your decision to visit us at this time,” she said. “This year has been one of tremendous success for you as a professional athletic. All Anguilla was tuned in and glued to the various media houses, over the last several months, as we followed you in competition, cheering you on in your record-breaking performances on the international scene.”
Mrs. Rogers thanked Shara for returning to her homeland and allowing her compatriots to share in her success.
The welcome ceremony was ably chaired by former Anguillian cricketer, in England and Australia, Cardigan Connor.
Outside the VIP Lounge, Shara met reporters and the anxious crowd waiting to welcome and congratulate her. She told the media about her experience at the Olympics and, among other matters, she said she was looking forward to participating in the World Championships next year, ahead of the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
The 24-year-old professional track and field athlete, who is sponsored by Nike, graduated in 2010 from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Family Union and Community Development. In November she will be moving from Daytona Beach,Florida, to Loughborough University in England. She is expected to leave Anguilla on Friday (today) September 28 to return to the United States.
