TrinidadandTobagoNews.com Reporters
January 04, 2009
Undefeated Trinidad and Tobago boxing champion, Giselle Salandy, died following a vehicular accident on the Beetham Highway, on the outskirts of Port of Spain, this morning, January 4th 2009. The 21 year old boxing sensation succumbed to her injuries at the Port of Spain General Hospital around 8.29 a.m. Reports state that Salandy was driving west into Port of Spain a little before 7 a.m. when she crashed into a concrete pillar upon reaching the National Petroleum (N.P.) overpass just before the Bhagwansingh turnoff. Miss Salandy and other occupant of the Toyota Yaris, national female footballer Tamar Watson were injured and both were rushed to hospital. Most recent reports indicate that Watson suffered two broken legs and is in a critical condition.
Salandy’s manager Boxu Potts reported that doctors at the medical facility tried everything possible to save her life but their attempts were futile.
Gary Hunt, the Minister of Sports described Salandy as an icon, a great contributor and a motivator. He also assured the public that the government of Trinidad and Tobago is prepared to pay for the boxer’s funeral.
Giselle Salandy receives the Chaconia Gold Medal in 2007
Born in Siparia on January 25, 1987 Salandy began boxing at the tender age of 11 under the tutelage of Kim Quashie and later Fitzroy Richards. Her exploits in the boxing ring brought great attention to the sport of boxing and earned her several awards including the Chaconia Gold Medal in 2007.
Giselle Salandy, T&T’s most successful female boxer, was the holder of eight international boxing titles including Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA), World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) titles, which she successfully defended in her last fight. This fight, which took place on Boxing Day against Dominican Republic’s Yahaira Hernandez, took her professional record to 17 wins and zero losses.
Condolences continue to pour in as the public and persons who knew her personally remember her for her contributions to Trinidad and Tobago.
Jizelle Salandy’s Send-Off
Hundreds of people turned up to the St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church in La Romaine to remember and bid farewell to the World Boxing Champion Jizelle Salandy. They came in buses, maxis and cars from all over Trinidad to pay their last respects…
I have had the privilege to see her fight for the first time on Boxing Day 2008. I was struck by this awesome young woman when i went into the ring after the fight to take her picture. How sad, never thought that would have been the last time saw her. Mere words cannot express my feelings right now.
R.I.P Giselle.You will always be remembered.
Ok People!!!! Enough Of the young lady already!!!!1 she’s prob….rolling in her box right now……Allow her to make the transition peacefully…..It’s just repetitive comments….geezus! enough already!
MY heart and prayers goes out to the Salandy family,my they remember our comforter and father Jehovah GOD at this time in there life may God give them strenght to gace the coming days ahead
Giselle R.I.P.OUR PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY
we will surely miss her. i cant really say anymore its jus painfull.
The day before Jizelle died, I saw her comming out of Mangoes resturant in POS. I was so happy cause it was the first time I had ever seen her in real life[like not on tv]. I can still see her in my i mind though the glass of the resturant tinking to myself, that one day I would see her fight[I respected my parents decision in not wanting me to go to a fight]. I hope there is a boxing ring in heaven.
Giselle was a very great boxer and a role model to many young people in T&T.An boxing academy should be estableshed in her honor by the government of T&T.
So young so beautiful and so talented, a true icon daughter of the soil, this is the first time I heard of you, and felt very proud of you. Rest is peace little angel, condolences to the Salandy family.
It is so sad to see that we have lost our boxing sensation at such a young age it is unbelievable just the thought of the tragedy sends chills done my bones.Gone to soon, may you REST IN PEACE. you will be sorely missed from my family to hers MAY THE LORD RICHLY BLESS YOU ALL with love
Gisselle was a true Icon.On behalf of her friends and surporters
in Toronto,May her soul Rest in Peace.As a friend of the family,
I extend my condolences to her family.
Still can’t come to terms with her passing. I feel like we were so close. People respect life and love it, give thanks for every momemt we can. Dont for God, keep him in all your endeavours. I now pray for Giselle’s soul.Dear God please forgive her if she had fallen short, keep her safe until we meet again.
This is such a national tragedy both for our youths with potential and for our sporting heritage!
We must revise the traffic laws especially those where young people acquire their drivers’ licenses.
let us follow the examples of australia and canada who had a similar problem and have taken steps to protect the young drivers from themselves
Great lost to T & T, rest in peace Gisselle.
Another Reason To Appreciate Lifeeeeeeeeeeeeee
It is with deep sympathy and a heavy heart I extend sincere prayer and condolences to the Family, Friends, Fans, People of Trinidad and Tobago, The Boxing Industry and The Sporting World, with the death of Jizelle Salandy. This sudden tragedy is a tremendous loss to us all.
To God be the Glory,
Like a comet raising across the evening sky…..gone to soon.
May your soul Rest In Peace Giselle.
God Bless the Family of Gizelle Salandy… Put your trust in God that her will bring you through this time of sorrow… My condolences to you… R.I.P. Gizelle you were truly an icon to young kids…
May she rest in peace.This is really sad,I extend condolences to her entire family at this time.She will be surely missed by the entire nation of T&T.R.I.P.Jizelle.
First i must say my deepest sympathy goes out the the Salandy family
she was the best, may she R.I.P ………. friends and family of JS
Please remember she is in a better place, and i know you must do your mourning, but she is with God the almighty and is sure watching over all of you.
let this be a lesson to all drivers of T & T please take your time when driving………
As young teenager growing up sick as hell I have always looked up to gizelle because she did what she wanted to do, and nothing was not keeping her back . I always wanted to be a professional foot ball player but due to sickness I could not , Gizelle may u rest in peace. You left to soon but the great he knows why , to the family my condolences
I look at Giselle on the newspaper and still can believe that is gone,She will never be forgotten,Thankyou for your contribution towards our Nation Giselle.Lov U
I still don’t believed this happened. I am waiting to wake up this seems like a nightmare she was in the prime of her career. I didn’t know her personally but it sure felt like I did the morning of her death she will be sadly missed gone but not forgotten our boxing angel.
i cannot believe it so young and talented. but god has all plans and the road map for our lives. she will be missed.
RIP YOU WERE TRULY A WINNER YOU WIIL BE MISSED MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALSO TO HER FRIED AND HER FAMILY GET WELL SOON MY PRAYS AER WITH YOU ALL.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO HAS LOSS ANOTHER HEROYOU ARE GONE BUT YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG MAYBE GOD HAS A NEW PLAN FOR YOU IN HEAVEN.
I wish to send out condolences to her boxing family and her own family. I was shocked when i heard of her death and wished that it was not true, but that is life and we have to deal with such sad news. May God be with her and her family. We miss U
what a precious life what a talented young person, may your soul rest in peace.
You would be miss rest in peace.
It is with a heavy heart that I attempt to express my gratitude for the way Ms Salandy fought to make her life meaningful. Considering what she’s accomplished in her short time on this earth was very remakable.
I wish all Trinis would look at her example of fighting for her piece of the Trini dream…too many of our people are content to look for everything from the government. People of T&T, it’s time you guys take responsibility for your communities, your young people and most definitely, our children…
Young men & women, please obey the traffic laws and drive to arrive home…be vigilent as you traverse the islands during these upcoming festive days..
In closing, let me extend sympathy and prayers to her family, the boxing community & the people of Trinidad & Tobago…Picahs.