Trianon, Sunday 1 February 2026 – The Mauritius Olympic Committee (MOC) held the first edition of its Excellence Award on Saturday 31 January at Le Labourdonnais Hotel. The ceremony took place in the presence of the President of the Republic, Dharam Gokhool, along with representatives from the sporting and institutional sectors.

This initiative aimed to recognize sporting excellence for the year 2025 and to highlight the commitment of Mauritian athletes, as well as all stakeholders involved in national sport.

In the Best Elite Performer 2025 category, the men’s title was awarded to archer Adrien Charoux, while cyclist Kimberley Le Court de Billot-Pienaar was crowned in the women’s category. Both laureates received a gift voucher of Rs 30,000, a trophy, and a certificate.

The Rising Star Award was presented to Tristan Hardy (cycling) in the boys’ category and Elsa How Hong (badminton) in the girls’ category. Each received a gift voucher of Rs 15,000, a trophy, and a certificate.

Nominated athletes and their coaches were also rewarded with a gift voucher of Rs 5,000, along with a commemorative token and a certificate, in recognition of their dedication and contribution to the development of Mauritian sport.

During the ceremony, three former Mauritian champions received a Recognition Award in tribute to their outstanding careers:

  • Bruno Julie, bronze medallist at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
  • Terence Saramandif, gold medallist at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires
  • Richard Sunee, gold medallist at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur

The President of the Mauritius Olympic Committee, Mr. Richard Papie, emphasized the importance of recognizing athletes and strengthening cohesion within the sports movement:

“Through this event, the Mauritius Olympic Committee wishes to thank athletes for their commitment and exemplary conduct. Recognizing effort is a powerful lever to inspire the next generation and to strengthen trust between athletes, coaches, and sports leaders.”

He reiterated that the objective is to build an environment founded on respect and trust, conducive to performance and the sustainable development of athletes.

The President of the Republic, Dharam Gokhool, congratulated the athletes for proudly representing the Mauritian flag on the international stage, noting that Mauritian sport is at an important stage in its evolution. He called for collective reflection to better structure the future of the sector, highlighting the need for a strategic vision, the integration of sports science, and strong principles of good governance.

He concluded by emphasizing that athletes must be valued beyond their results alone, taking into consideration their well-being, dignity, and life after competition.