Tokyo Olympics relay gold medalist Briana Williams was among several persons honoured with Heritage Awards in Sunrise, Florida on Sunday. The 19-year-old Olympian was recognized for her youth leadership and her broader influence across the globe.
The Consulate General of Jamaica's Heritage Award was established to recognise outstanding and dedicated service by individuals and businesses to the Jamaican community.
Consul General Oliver Mair confirmed that the national junior 100m record holder was among 10 individuals and two organizations honoured as part of the Heritage Awards.
“She is a shining example of excellence not only to Jamaicans at home and abroad of what you can achieve with hard work, dedication, commitment backed by God-given talent,” Mair told Sportsmax.TV.
“We must also thank her mother, Sharon, for her guiding role and supporting Briana each step of her journey. I am very proud of our home-grown hero.”
Mair said members of Williams’ South Florida community of Miramar and beyond held watch parties during the Olympics in Japan where she ran the lead-off leg for Jamaica’s gold-medal-winning 4x100m relay team that set a national record of 41.02, the third-fastest time in history.
“Briana will always be our little baby so the reward for us was that she got her gold medal,” said Consul General Mair, who revealed that Williams also danced to the music of the Tenors, who provided entertainment for the evening.
When the group sang “Ride You Donkey”, Briana took to the dancefloor and had a good time, the Consul General said.
Williams said she was honoured to be recognized among the other awardees and that she enjoyed the occasion.
“Thanks always to the Consul General. He is fun to be around. I enjoyed myself and meeting the other nominees. It was a pleasure being there and it was great to be awarded. I will always try my best to make Jamaica proud,” Williams said.
“For me, every season I want to show what young people like myself can achieve through hard work. And at the end of it, it's always nice to be recognized, so I'm grateful for this award.”