• Pockets Rwf7.5m DIEUDONNE Disi is over the moon after being named best athlete at the 2009 Francophone Games which climaxed on Monday in Beirut, Lebanon. Disi was awarded the ‘Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie’ medal by Lebanese first lady Wafaa Sleiman at a dinner organised to officially crown off the Games.
• Pockets Rwf7.5m
DIEUDONNE Disi is over the moon after being named best athlete at the 2009 Francophone Games which climaxed on Monday in Beirut, Lebanon.
Disi was awarded the ‘Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie’ medal by Lebanese first lady Wafaa Sleiman at a dinner organised to officially crown off the Games.
On top of the medal, Disi also pocketed €9000 (Rwf7.5m) and was also promised free air-tickets for the next two years.
Speaking to Times Sport yesterday, Disi said, "I was really surprised to be voted the best athlete at the Games but I’m happy for the achievement.”
"I never imagined myself winning this award but I guess it’s a reward for the effort I have put into my training and the endurance I have made over the years,” the 29-year-old added.
Disi retained the Games’ 10,000m gold after holding off a late charge from Morocco’s Anis Selmouni.
He clocked 29:38:68 beating the Moroccan by 55 micro-seconds.
Disi’s gold added to those won by Epiphanie Nyirabarame in the 42.195km women marathon and Claudette Mukasakindi in the women 10,000m.
Nyirabarame sailed home in a descent time of 2 hours, 44 minutes and 36 seconds.
Felix Ntirenganya also secured Rwanda’s first silver in the men’s marathon after clocking 2 hours, 24 minutes and 23 seconds while another silver medal came from creative dance as Rwanda finished second to Mauritius while France followed closely in third place.
Rwanda finished seventh on the medal standings. France topped the charts with 23 golds, 9 silver and 17 bronze medals.
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