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Pall of gloom envelops GAWA as stalwart Sydney ‘Skipper’ Paul passes on
Sydney Paul
Death is inevitable yet when it occurs it produces deep pain and remorse and currently the members of the Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association (GAWA) are undergoing such experiences following the death of one of its founding members, Sydney Paul fondly known as Skipper, Sandy, Sandow, and Lion.
He passed away at his home in East Lapenitence early Wednesday morning after a period of illness. He was 96 years old.
Kaieteur Sport spoke with former General Secretary (GAWA), Deion Nurse and he said that though he knew of Mr. Paul’s illness he was still devastated by the news. He said that he has enjoyed great relations with the deceased and those memories will forever be imprinted on his mind. Nurse said that Paul’s contribution to the sport has been immense and he will be greatly missed.
Indeed, Paul is a founding member of the GAWA in 1940 and was once a Vice President and National Coach for many years. A father of eleven, Paul was the first Guyanese to become an International Weightlifting Federation Class One Referee and had served as Coach and Manager of many teams to overseas competitions.
During Paul’s stewardship, Guyana produced lifters the likes of Martin Dias, Mike Swine, Stanley Braithwaite and Roy Mc Arthur among others. Further, under his stewardship Guyana (British Guiana) won its only world weightlifting championship medal, a silver by Kevil Daily in the middleweight class in the USA in 1947.
He also piloted Guyana to many medals at the Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and Central American and Caribbean Games. The sport suffered a prolonged drought between 1979 and 1989 and it was through the efforts of ‘Sandow’ and the late Cecil Ramsingh, that the sport was revived with the first championship being held in 1990 which introduced a new breed of lifters.
Such stalwarts included women lifters, Subrena Pestano, Shondel King, Althea Meyers-Joseph, Lauvern Pyle and Sharon Clarke. The males that benefited from Paul’s input are Sean Cozier, Colin Mc Koy, Deion Nurse, Wayne Cozier and Aubrey Smith among many others.
Mr. Paul’s love for the sport caused him to construct a gym at his home in East Lapenitence and it was there that dozens of weightlifting stalwarts honed their skills under his tutelage. His hard work was noted and he was the recipient of a national award, the Medal of Service (MS), for his diligence.
Mr. Paul is survived by his children, many grandchildren, great grands and great great grandchildren. Funeral arrangements for the late Sydney Paul will be announced at a later date.
Kaieteur Sport wishes to express deep condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. May his soul rest in Peace!
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