By Neto Baptiste
Former national bodybuilding champion, Ollyn Martin, named 2023 Coach of the Year at the recently held National Sports Awards, said hearing his name called to receive the prestigious honour was a surreal experienced that left him with mixed emotions.
Martin was announced Coach of the Year ahead of track & field’s Teddy Daley and swimming’s Nelson Molina during the awards held last Saturday night at the St John’s Pentecostal Church located on Lauchland Benjamin Drive.
“I was pretty much surprised at first and then I was happy because I don’t even think bodybuilding was ever selected for coach of the year. The thought came to my mind as well that its farfetched for a bodybuilding coach to win coach of the year because usually, the coach of the year usually has quite a few athletes that maybe, have done well locally, regionally and internationally whereas bodybuilding coaches only train like one, or two or three athletes,” he said.
Martin coached athletes to five gold, three silver and three bronze medals including one international third place finish during the judging period from January 1 to November 30 last year.
He however believes that a lot more was taken into consideration.
“I think what has a lot to do with it is that they asked the coaches about getting involved in society and helping which, I also do the biggest loser programme, so that was a big plus. Also, I have a sponsorship programme for my athletes where I try to raise funds to help them with supplementation, travel, food accommodation when they travel, so I do try my best to assist them in an all-round effort,” he said.
Figure fitness athlete, Ambassador Kimberly Percival, was named Sportswoman of the Year for a second straight year and fourth time overall while track athletes Kasiya Daley and La’Nica Locker were junior men’s and women’s athletes of the year.