Motunde Smith
Seychellois sprinter Joanne Loutoy and high jumper Lissa Labiche have been awarded the Rio 2016 Olympic Solidarity Scholarship by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Joanne Pricilla Loutoy, 22, who competed in the 60 metres event at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot earlier this year, holds the Seychelles sprints records over 60m, 100m and 150m.
Lissa Labiche, 21, was the African high jump champion in 2012 (1.86m) and a silver medallist from the 2012 World Junior Championships in Barcelona.
Labiche also competed in the women’s high jump event at the London 2012 Summer Olympics and holds the Seychelles record of 1.88m from Barcelona 2012.
The two track and field stars joined six other athletes from Seychelles, who were awarded the Olympic Scholarships, as the Indian Ocean island nation builds towards getting a first Olympic Games medal.
The other recipients are: London 2012 Olympic Flagbearer and judo player, Dominic Dugasse, African Boxing Cup gold medal winner, Andrique Allisop, weightlifter Clementina Agricole, as well as boxer Keddy Agnes, sailor Rodney Govinden and swimmer Adam Viktora.
The scholarships, provided in order to support the athletes’ preparation prior to their Rio 2016 selections, covers athletes from the six sports of athletics, boxing, judo, sailing, swimming and weightlifting.
