Memories of Clement David DeFreitas

Dec 09, 2012 Sports

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By Aubrey Bryce
Great memories make the best stories. Taking that thought a little further, especially in this particular case, there are certain memories so powerful that they seemingly reach out and compel you to tell its story. Such is the case of Clement David DeFreitas. Most of us knew him simply as David DeFreitas. To me, he was the indomitable one. But never mind me here is what the experts have said about him:

“Simply Terrific”. Sports Editor – The Chronicle
“Wonder Boy….DeFreitas – a world beater” Cedric Wilshire
“David DeFreitas – a new Caribbean Champion” J. A. “Pirate” Alexander
“British Guiana’s cycling Champion”
“Guyanese Star Cyclist – David DeFreitas is a likeable individual with a pleasing personality”. ‘Bruiser’ Thomas, Editor, Graphic Sports
These are only but a few of the accolades describing David’s accomplishments as a bike rider but more importantly, one can only imagine, the personal self-worth and esteem he obviously achieved as a result of it. Then, observing the response of the thousands that experienced the immense joy which he brought by winning in front of them, one got the impression that in as much as he was winning for himself, he was also winning for them. By doing so, he created a tremendous source of national pride even within the confines of the GCC ground at Bourda or the BGCC ground in Thomas Lands or for those gathered around the Band Stand on the Sea Wall at Eve Leary. His dominating victories seemingly galvanized a nation and brought a new and real meaning to our motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.
David DeFreitas was born January 27, 1945 to his mom, Enid. He was the third of seven. His other siblings being Michael, Ed, Brian, Aubrey, John and his only sister, Loretta. As a young boy growing up not too far from where he lived, I could not wait to get my hands on the day’ newspapers to see what they would be saying about him on that particular day.
See, I wanted to be like him so that they could write the same things that they were saying about him, about me. I would train on the same roads he trained on. I knew when and where. I pretty much stalked him. I positioned my training just so I could see him and maybe, he might see me. A hello, a wave or even a mere nod from him would give me wings and made me feel like I could fly. And I did – I soared. In my naivety, my thinking was that if I emulated exactly what he did, then maybe, I might be as good as he was. But he just wasn’t good, the man was great…excellent really.
David started racing as a junior in 1959.
Here is his resume:
? 1959 – Started a racing career as a junior cyclist
? 1959 – 1962 – Moved aggressively through the ranks from juniors to “A” Class in a matter of a very short 3 years.
? 1962 – Appointed to the National Team
? 1964 – Selected National Representative to the West Indies Championships – Barbados, West Indies
? 1965 – National Representative –
Central American and Caribbean Championships, San Juan, Puerto Rico Bronze Medal – 4000-m Pursuit
West Indies Track & Field Championships – Barbados, W.I.
Gold Medal – 4000-m Pursuit
Sportsman of the Year – an honour shared with the great West Indian cricket legend, Sir Basil Butcher
? 1966 – British Empire and Commonwealth Games – Jamaica, West Indies
? 1967 – Pan American Games, Winnipeg, Canada
In the beginning, performances were consistent, but not what cycling fans would see as spectacular. Successes were enough to earn him the required promotions that would eventually place him in the elite class of cycling in Guyana. On arrival there his training intensified, his skills developed and his performances blossomed. Winning in this class against the cream of the current crop of cyclists became commonplace but even more significantly, his ownership and outright domination of the longer races are legend.
From 1962 through 1968, David became a permanent fixture on Guyana’s national cycling team. Local and international, he cut a path of successful and valiant performances that would become the standard by which others, following in his footsteps, would be required to emulate. Not just for Guyanese cyclists but for cycling in all the Western Hemisphere.
Reports of his representation of our country against the best competition in the world, whether locally or internationally, was always in high praise of his physical abilities and mental toughness. When asked by a prominent sports writer of the day to share his secret of success as a bike rider, he simply said, “…a rider has to have the ability to go beyond the burn”. How profound, yet does not engender even the least bit of boastfulness. Success for David was not always in victory. David was an intelligent rider. He rode with panache, he was aggressive, he was determined and tenacious, but more importantly, cycling fans were always thrilled and entertained by his Herculean demonstration of stamina and power.
No more was this evident as in The August Olympiad held at the British Guiana Cricket Club Ground in August of 1965. On this auspicious occasion, in the final event of Day 1 of an highly competitive international cycling meet against the best competition from the West Indies, The United Kingdom, The United States and South America, David lapped the field, not once, but three times in the Blue Riband 20,000-m event. The rationale by the so-called pundits of the day was an obvious one – “a one-time thing”, a fluke, if you will.
But when, just a mere 21 hours later, that same athlete returns with the singular intention to win in the same fashion by lapping the field twice in a much longer 25,000-m event, it’s no fluke. Especially when all of the variables remain the same. In this instance, the same competitive field having full knowledge that there is a definite possibility of the inevitability of being lapped twice in as many days and can seemingly do absolutely nothing about it. When this occurs one can be very sure that it’s not a fluke but rather, a demonstration of an extra-ordinary talent.
These moments and many more like them were the very nature of David’s contribution to the nation.
Personally, these images and the lifetime of memories like them are what mine are all about. I am sorry to hear and experience the death of a man with whom I shared the same passion and whom I consider a compatriot and friend in the traditional sense of the words. Death is sad but his life to me, brought great joy. I choose to celebrate David’s victories, to enjoy his memories, to be grateful for them, to cherish them and to give thanks that they have enriched my life. Finally, when I remember them, I get that urge that I’d like to sit down and write a story about them.
Kaieteur Sport extends deepest sympathy to the relative and friends of the late Clement David DeFreitas.

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