Keshorn Walcott created history at the 2012 London Olympics when he won the javelin throw with 84.58 meters while still a teenager.
Thus, the Trinidadian became the first Caribbean male athlete, as well as the first of African origin, to win gold in a throwing event in the history of the Olympic Games.
Born the third child of Beverly Walcott and Andy King, Walcott grew up playing football and cricket, trying to keep up with his athletically gifted older brother, Elton. He grew up in the fishing village of Toco, north-east of Trinidad. He didn’t pick up the javelin until he was 15, but found immediate success. In April 2009, a week after his 16th birthday, he was the Caribbean Junior (Under-17) Champion.
He was the youngest at 19 years and 131 days to win the gold medal, and also the first athlete in any athletics event to win the World Junior Games and Olympic titles in an individual event in the same year.
On his return to Trinidad and Tobago after his Olympic exploits, Walcott had a lighthouse located in the northeastern region of Trinidad and a secondary school in Toco named after him.
At his second Olympics four years later in Rio, Walcott won bronze with a throw of 85.38m.
29-year-old Keshorn Walcott also won gold at the 2015 Pan American Games 2015 and a silver medal at the 2014 British Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014.
