Julien Alfred & Marileidy Paulino lead nominees for inaugural CANOC Sports Awards

Olympics 100m champion Julien Alfred and Olympic silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts are among a stellar list of athletes nominated for the first-ever set to take place on October 19 in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The prestigious ceremony is designed to honor the Caribbean’s top athletes, teams and leaders for their contribution to sporting excellence in the region.

Among the top names leading the nominations, Alfred, who hails from St. Lucia, is a double nominee, competing for both the Women’s Caribbean Sports Personality of the Year and the Caribbean Breakthrough Award.

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Speaking on the significance of the ceremony, Godfrey Been, president of the Turks and Caicos Islands Commonwealth Games Association, emphasized the unifying power of sports in the Caribbean.

“It is an honour for the Turks and Caicos Islands to host the inaugural CANOC Sports Awards. This event not only celebrates the remarkable achievements of our region’s athletes and sports leaders, but also strengthens the bond of unity that sports fosters across the Caribbean,” said Been as quoted by

“We are proud to play a pivotal role in recognising the excellence that transcends our sporting communities and showcases the Caribbean on the global sporting stage.”

In the women’s Caribbean Sports Personality of the Year category, Julien Alfred will face strong competition from Olympic triple jump silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts of Jamaica, as well as other outstanding athletes.

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These include Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the 100m hurdles Olympic champion from Puerto Rico; Dominican Republic’s 400m star Marileidy Paulino, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ track sensation Shafiuq Maloney.

Paulino, like Alfred, is a headline nominee, having recently dominated the 400m event on the international stage, securing medals at the Olympics and World Championships. With her performances capturing global attention, Paulino will be a key contender in the women’s category.

In the men’s category, Jamaica’s Roje Stona, the discus champion, leads the nominations for Caribbean Sports Personality of the Year.

He is joined by a star-studded list that includes five-time Olympic gold medallist wrestler Mijain Lopez Nunez of Cuba, British Virgin Islands hurdler Kyron McMaster, Grenadian decathlon star Lindon Victor, Trinidadian sprinter Jereem Richards, and Puerto Rican wrestler Sebastian Rivera.

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The event is expected to be a landmark occasion for Caribbean sports, not just celebrating individual accomplishments but also highlighting team excellence.

Categories like the Caribbean Team of the Year, Caribbean Sports Media Award, Caribbean Distinguished Service Award, and Caribbean National Olympic Committee of the Year will also be featured at the ceremony. These awards aim to honor those who have significantly contributed to the growth and visibility of sports across the region.

The Caribbean Breakthrough Award, which recognizes athletes who have earned their first medal at a continental or international competition, will see Julien Alfred competing against an impressive lineup.

This includes Olympic triple jump champion Thea LaFond of Dominica, British Virgin Islands’ rising sprint star Adaejah Hodge, and Dominican Republic’s boxing duo Junior Alcantara Reyes and Cristian Javier Pinales.

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In addition to the main awards, the ceremony will present a special Caribbean Lifetime Achievement Quadrennial Award to an individual who has rendered exceptional service to the region’s sporting community, further solidifying the CANOC Sports Awards as a defining moment for Caribbean athletics.