Masseurs are not the most recognised members of a sporting delegation, but the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport honoured five of its outstanding practitioners on Tuesday in a brief ceremony.

The five masseurs were part of the London 2012 Summer Olympic team. The men graduated from the Sports Massage Programme which has been offered at the college from as far back as 2004.

Everald Edwards, Shawn Kettle, Gavin James, Collin Turner and Patrick Watson were on hand to accept their awards. Although part of the overall squad, Edwards is the masseur for double world and Olympic champion, Usain Bolt, while Kettle is the significant figure behind the second fastest man in the world Yohan Blake.

The other honorees were Collin Turner, the most recent graduate from the massage programme; Gavin James, masseur at the Racers Track Club and Patrick Watson, one of the key persons behind the successes of former 100 metre record holder Asafa Powell.

General secretary from the JAAA, Garth Gayle, applauded the awardees for their contribution to the sport of track and field, but charged that he wants to see more females involved.

The Sports Massage Programme was first offered as a short programme at the certificate level back in 2004, but has been a formal diploma programme for the last two years.

Honoree Patrick Watson was among the first set of massage therapists to be trained at the college. The college has expanded the massage therapy programme and now offers along with the diploma part-time programme, short courses as well as a level II (intermediate) course.