KINGSTON, Jamaica – West Indies cricketer Rovman Powell and sprinter Yohan Blake are among five Jamaican sportsmen who are set to receive national awards later this year.
Rovman PowellPowell, a former T20 captain, along with Blake, a former World Champion and Olympic medalist; former national footballer Ricardo Gardner; veteran jockey Shane Ellis and Special Olympian Jefferson Watson Davis, are among over 140 Jamaicans to be awarded Orders of the Societies of Honour or Badges of Honour, effective August 6, 2025.
However, the honors will be formally conferred on National Heroes’ Day, October 20.
Blake, 35, who became the youngest man to win the 100m at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, in 2011 at age 21, is being recognized for his contribution to athletics and philanthropy.
He is the second-fastest man in history behind Usain Bolt, with personal bests of 9.69 seconds in the 100m and 19.26 seconds in the 200m.
The 32-year-old Powell, who has played 99 T20Is and 51 ODIs for the West Indies since making his debut in 2016 will receive the Order of Distinction (Officer Class), along with Gardner, a member of Jamaica’s historic France 1998 FIFA World Cup team and a former national Under-20 head coach.
Davis, who represented Jamaica at the Special Olympics for two decades, will also be conferred with the Order of Distinction (Officer Class), while Ellis will receive the Badge of Honour for his long-standing contribution to horse racing.
