Christa Bortignon: IAAF Gala was ‘once in a lifetime experience’
What a lucky duck Usain Bolt is. In Monte Carlo over the weekend he had the honor of meeting Charles Allie and Christa Bortignon, WMA Best Masters of the Year. They shared the stage and limelight at the annual IAAF Gala, where Bolt got his latest IAAF Athlete of the Year award. Christa responded to my quickie Q&A request, and told some of her experiences. She also shared the photos here, including one with fellow Canadian sprint great (and Olympic champion) Donovan Bailey. “For me the best part was receiving the trophy from the IAAF President Lamine Diack himself,” Christa says.
A goofy tall guy inserted himself into a shot of Christa and Charlie at Gala.
My Q&A via email with Christa:
Masterstrack.com: Where did you and spouse stay?
Christa: We stayed at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel, which was very nice, with our room facing the Mediterranean Sea, and it also had a casino.
Christa had a nice chat with fellow Canadian Donovan Bailey.
How were you treated by Gala organizers?
The Gala organizers treated us very well, providing meals and transportation. However, since they had scheduled 2 different events on Saturday.(the press conference at 3PM where most of the awards were handed out, including Bolt’s and SFP’s and the press was asked not to release the result until after the Gala when the Award would be officially announced). … At the Gala at 7PM masters were not included in the big photo shoot on the stage.
Did you chat with Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce? If so, what did you talk about?
There was no chance to speak with Bolt or SFP. They were rushed off the 3PM session, and only with Charles’ request did we get a chance to take a picture with him, SFP had already disappeared.
What were the best parts of the trip?
For me the best part was receiving the trophy from the IAAF President Lamine Diack himself.
Did you address the Gala? What did you say?
Since the masters were not part of the Gala, I did not get a chance to thank the WMA Committee who selected me for the award.
When did you get home, and what did you bring home with you?
Christa’s trophy from IAAF Gala.
I got back home on Monday around 2PM and I brought back a snow globe of the Prince’s castle for myself and a Monte Carlo racing jacket for my great-grandson.
Any other memories worth sharing?
There were several great athletes, such as Donovan Bailey, with whom I had a wonderful conversation. He was very impressed with master athletes performances. Donovan held the world record in the 100m and won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics in the same event. The gala was amazing with Prince Albert II being the Honorary host making a brief speech and asking SFP to dance.
I also had a chance to talk to Stan Perkins at length about a variety of subject regarding master athletics. Overall it was a great once in a lifetime experience.
Christa and Charles posed with other award-winners at IAAF ceremonies.
9 Responses
Wow what a grand experience and something your children
grands and great grands can brag to all their
friends about! Congrats!!
well deserved honor for both Christa and Charles
Great JOB HAMPTON Institute hard work pays off your brother
Congrats to Charles, you’re my hero.
Charles and Christa, you both had an incredible year and you are an inspiration to all who know you and know of you. Being honored at the Gala in Monte Carlo as special guest was more than appropiate. Sharing the center stage with Shelly-Ann-Fraser-Pryce (the world’s fastest woman )and a personal picture with Usain Bolt (the world’s fastest man)was great because now you all belong to the same club…..Athletes of the Year. Congratulations, I am so proud of you.
Charles Allie, Hampton Institute, 1971. Congratulations for this well deserved honor. Still going strong after all these years. Hope next year is even better.
Charles and Christa. I can’t think of two more deserving people to receive the Awards.
It is an honor to be on the same track with both of you.
Congratulations Charles and Christa on reaching this mile stone in your careers. It is well deserved.
Congratulations!
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