Kyron McMaster, is set to receive an OBE, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, from King Charles III for his contributions to sports in the territory.
At just 21 years old, McMaster made history by winning the British Virgin Islands’ first ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 400m hurdles at the 2018 Gold Coast Games. This achievement came after the devastating 2017 hurricanes that destroyed training facilities and claimed the life of his coach and mentor Xavier “Dag” Samuels.
Since then, McMaster has gone on to win the Diamond League twice, secured another Commonwealth gold in 2022, and became the first British Virgin Islander to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships with silver in Budapest in 2023.
He also finished an impressive 4th in the 400m hurdles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics despite training disruptions from COVID-19.
When home in the British Virgin Islands, McMaster dedicates time to supporting youth, drawing on his own experiences growing up in Tortola. He champions grassroots sports and works with the Ministry of Sports to promote investment.
Governor John Rankin praised McMaster’s achievements, saying he has put the BVI on the global sporting map even during challenging times post-hurricane. He congratulated McMaster on the well-deserved OBE.