Teneil Campbell's success has been as fast-paced as her cycling life.

On Sunday though, she slowed down just enough to celebrate being named the First Citizens' Sports Foundation's "Sportswoman of the Year". But just as quickly raced back to the time to when her mother Euphemia Huggins, a former national netballer, basketballer and field athlete, copped the prestigious award.

An achievement which got Huggins emotional on learning that her daughter was recognised with the honour for her hard work, representing T&T, as she had done several years ago.

"It was a happy moment, really happy moment," said a soft-spoken Huggins yesterday. "It brought tears to my eyes. Happy for her."

In 1989 at the then WITCO (West Indian Tobacco Company) Sports Awards, Huggins, who is native of Hardbargin in Williamsville, Princes Town, was nominated in two sporting disciplines, netball and track and field and eventually emerged with the national award.

Huggins was a member of athletic club Simplex and played netball for Trotters, Lakers and Police and was very successful either in defence or goal-shoot positions.

Campbell' emotions overflowed as well saying in a Facebook post: "It is indeed a thrilling feeling for my name to be on the same trophy as my mother 30 years later!

"An ecstatic feeling yet also heart wrenching. This year, the award ceremony was different. None of our athletes was able to dress with elegance and class to attend the function nor collect their respective award.

"Instead a virtual show was created to honour the achievements of T&T’s top athletes within their sporting discipline due to the world’s current pandemic which we are all facing. We must all remain healthy, mentally and physically strong in these unprecedented times. This too shall pass and then we can continue to tackle and chase our goals.

"Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve."

Fitting inspirational words from the premier international cyclist, who had a sensational season winning gold in the women's Under-23 Time Trial at the Pan American Road and Track Championships in Pachuca de Soto, Mexico in May and double silver (road race and time trial) at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru in August.

Performances which saw Campbell, who has already qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games, now postponed to 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, taking the 2019 T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) "Sportswoman of the Year" award.

"After winning the TTOC award she had said 'I really would like to win the First Citizens' award, to reach to where you have reached," said Huggins, who added that she chatted a 'little bit' with her very busy daughter.

The Italy-based UCI Women's Continental Team Valcar–Travel & Service cyclist continued in her post, directed at her supporters, saying: "Thank you for your continued support and concerns. I am still healthy, controlling what I can and acting accordingly.

"Sometimes training sessions can be mentally challenging as all activities are being done indoors. However, the grind has not stopped, I just added a bit of “bacon” for the time being."
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