Still on a high over what they claim was her enthralling performance in the Paris 2024 Olympics, Vincentians last Sunday showed their profound appreciation for Shafiqua Maloney by presenting US$7,423.00 directly to her during the Anniversary of Independence and 41st Gala Luncheon of the Brooklyn-based Vincentian-American Independent National Charities, Inc. (VINCI) at El Caribe Country Club on Strickland Avenue in Brooklyn.
Maloney, 25, finished fourth in the women’s 800m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
During Sunday’s gala ceremony, VINCI recognized Maloney as St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ first Olympic finalist.
VINCI President Wayne Ragguette said he was “happy to recognize” Maloney at the gala affair, which had former St. Vincent and the Grenadines Health and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Douglas Slater as Master of Ceremonies.
Ragguette also said he was “pleased” that Maloney was able to attend the event.
“We are very proud of you and wish you continued success on your journey,” Ragguette told her.
He then invited patrons, including groups already informed about the presentation, to come forward with their generous monetary gifts to Maloney.
And so, one by one, they approached the podium with their donations. One patron, Bruno Murphy, contributed $500.00.
With VINCI leading the way with $3,000.00, other contributing groups comprised the Brooklyn-based umbrella Vincentian organization in the United States, Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organizations, U.S.A., Inc. (COSAGO) — $1 000.00; St. Vincent and the Grenadines Nurses Association and Mas Productions Unlimited — $500.00 each; and Vincy Day U.S.A.—$250.00.
“Thanks to VINCI to be able to have me here and to be honored,” Maloney told the ceremony afterwards. “I feel the love and the support.”
Ragguette told Caribbean Life exclusively: “She did an outstanding job (at the Paris 2024 Olympics).
“We would be happy if she’d received a medal, but, as far as I’m concerned, no other Vincentian (woman) has come so far,” he said. “It’s almost as if she did (received) the medal.”
Ragguette also said that VINCI is still reaching out to other Vincentian groups in the Diaspora to make monetary gifts to Maloney, with a goal of reaching at least $10,000.00.
“Some people (groups) did not get the memo,” he said. “It was an error, from our end, that they didn’t get it.
“She was elated,” added Ragguette about Maloney receiving the monetary contributions on Sunday. “She was cheering it (appeal) on.”
Earlier, the Brooklyn-based Dynamite Calypso Tent, the lone Vincentian calypso tent in North America, recognized Maloney for the “incredible work” she put into the Olympics.
“While you may not have made it to the podium this time, your dedication, hard work, and determination did not go unnoticed,” said the tent in a statement. “Every training session, every early morning, and every sacrifice you made was a testament to your strength and resilience.
“Remember, true success is not solely defined by medals or accolades,” it added. “It’s about the journey, the growth, and the passion you bring to the sport. You pushed and expanded your limits, challenged yourself, showed courage in the face of competition, and raised the profile of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in track and field.
“This is an achievement to be proud of,” the Dynamite Calypso Tent continued. “We are proud of you. Keep your chin up and stay focused on your goals. Your Vincy heart and spirit are what truly define you as an athlete.”
According to Olympics.com, in about a year, Maloney has “risen from desperate lows to becoming the first Vincentian athlete to reach the final stage at an Olympic event at Paris 2024.”
Olympics.com noted that, on Monday, Aug. 5, at the Stade de France, “the middle-distance runner from St. Vincent and the Grenadines barely missed out on a podium finish in the women’s 800m final.
“The feat seems all the more impressive, given Maloney’s difficult past year leading up to the Olympics, from being homeless and hungry for months,” it said, stating that Maloney returned to the track this season after ‘bouncing around from home to home and living in dormitories’ to become the 12th fastest runner over the women’s outdoors.”
Olympics.com said Maloney was “gutted for missing out on a historic Olympic medal for the South Caribbean nation, but appreciative of a superb showing in what was only her third appearance at a major global championship.”
“Being homeless, it was definitely hard,“ Maloney told Olympics.com after finishing fourth behind Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson.
“Nobody wants to be in that situation, but I think it all happened to make me a stronger person,“ she added. “I grew a lot of mental strength, and I think it prepared me for the rounds at the Olympic Games, not to be nervous, be patient and trust in God.”
After taking up athletics in school, Olympics.com said, “the flag bearer for the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in Tokyo 2020 and in Paris moved to the U.S. for college.”
It said Maloney decided she wanted to be a runner like fellow Vincentian Kineke Alexander, the three-time Olympian, after watching her run the 400m on T.V.
But Olympics.com said that shortly after graduating from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville with a master’s degree in operations management, Maloney was “faced with the reality that it would take more than talent to make it.
“Despite having made the NCAA championships, her competitive sports journey became difficult without sponsors or a steady source of income, as she was unable to work on a student visa,“ Olympics.com said.
“But on the magical Parisian night, moments before pole vault star Armand Mondo Duplantis electrified the crowd of 80,000 at the Stade de France with his ninth world record, Maloney demonstrated in just one minute 57.66 seconds, the basic appeal of her sport and the Olympic Games,“ it added.
“As she savors the success of being the first Vincentian to compete in an Olympic final, she hopes it will reignite the spark of her dream of becoming a pro runner,“ Olympics.com continued.
