Tonique wins GOLD in Athens
By DEVIN FRANCIS,Guardian Sports Editor
ATHENS, Greece — It took only 49.41 seconds for Tonique Williams-Darling to etch her name in the annals of Bahamian history.
Williams-Darling crossed the finish line first ahead of a tenacious Ana Guevara of Mexico to win The Bahamas' first-ever individual gold medal in the women's 400m at the Olympic Games here in Athens, Greece at precisely 11:05 pm.
Although challenged all the way to the finish line, Williams-Darling mustered the energy she needed to keep command of the lead and simply refused to let Guevara and the other competitors pass her down the stretch.
Williams-Darling made it look too easy and Guevara had to run a season's best time just to keep up.
Russia's Natalya Antyukh finished third in a time of 49.89.
Bahamian Christine Amertil, who also ran in the historic race, but was placed in a bad lane (No 8) finished seventh in a time of 50.37. Amertil, however, secured her place in history by becoming the first Bahamian - male or female - to qualify for the final of the 400m at the Olympics.
She did so on Sunday after finishing second to Guevara in the first semifinal heat.
Williams-Darling qualified shortly after in the second heat.
After the race, Tonique, draped in the Bahamian flag, made an emotional victory lap where she greeted her husband, quarter-miler Dennis Darling in a tearful reunion and her mother, who was at the event to watch her daughter run.
Dennis presented her with a brand new diamond studded wedding ring as they greeted each other during the victory lap and dozens of onlookers clamoured to catch a glimpse of the gift, while attempting to get a picture next to the first Bahamian individual gold medalist.
"I thank God for bestowing this great honour on me," Tonique said after the race. "For me to be the first individual gold medalist, I don't know why I was chosen.
"Mexico wanted a gold medal and I know The Bahamas wanted one too. I think our country is deserving of it and I just felt that I wanted to do something to make my country proud."
She and her husband prayed early this morning for guidance, and God certainly answered her prayers as she bolted across the finish line straight into the waiting arms of history.
"We pray every morning, every night, attend Bible study ... God has really been the centre of our lives and our marriage. Without Him none of this would have been possible," she said.
The win was no big surprise though. The entire Caribbean knew it was coming.
Several Jamaican sprinters came out to the stadium just to watch Tonique win.
And after the victory, Bahamians and Jamaicans celebrated together. After all, it was the first Caribbean gold won at the Games thus far.
When being awarded with her medal at the awards ceremony, Williams-Darling fought to hold back tears as the Bahamian national anthem played and the
country's flag waved proudly on the centre mast.
The champion, flowers in hand, wreath on her head and medal hanging from her neck said that she felt overwhelmed.
Minutes after her victory she spoke live on Issues of the Day and ZNS. "I'm just happy to come out with the win," she said. "Nobody deserves it more than we do ... we are a small country, but we have great people and great athletes."
After speaking to the Prime Minister Perry Christie, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Neville Wisdom reported that the entire Bahamas was in a state of celebration, Williams-Darling said it made her feel good. She attempted to call the Prime Minister, but was unable to get through.
"I really wanted this, I've always wanted this and it's been a long time in coming," she said. "It just came down to putting one hundred per cent into my last one hundred meters."
Williams Darling has gone undefeated so far this year. That coupled with a string of fantastic times was a tremendous confidence builder for the speedster heading into the Olympic Games.
"I have become mentally stronger this year," she said, "my coach Steve Riddick has been doing a fantastic job and I was just at the right place at the right time and there could not be any better time than 2004, here in Athens, the very first place that the Olympics were held ... the very first gold medal for The Bahamas and I am just humbled by this experience."
Tonique said that she was thankful to the "great ones" who have paved the way for she and other athletes and have encouraged them on over the years.
She spoke of Pauline Davis-Thompson, the Golden Girls, Frank Rutherford and said that she considers herself the least of all those who have been pioneers along the way.
"I'm not sure I am one of the most talented Bahamian athletes," she said, "but I've become the first gold medalist and that's an honour."
Her husband Dennis, simply overwhelmed by his wife's performance and the magnitude of the impact it will have on the country said that he was overjoyed.
"I don't know what to say," said Dennis seconds after hugging his wife, "it's unbelievable ... I have experienced all the sacrifice she went through and all the hard training. All I can say is: God is good!"
Minister Wisdom was also happy to speak of Williams-Darling's performance after embracing her and congratulating her on a spectacular performance.
"Man, this is fantastic. This is a wonderful first for The Bahamas," he said. "I am so proud of the way Tonique conducted herself, how she carried herself through all of this. I know that the whole country must be proud of her and I will be speaking to her later on this evening to tell her some of the wonderful things the country has in store for her.
"She is a true champion and a wonderful ambassador for the country," he said.
Minister Wisdom was on hand to watch the event along with most of The Bahamian contingent at the Games.
Even before Williams-Darling crossed the finish line, the Bahamian group, led by the Minister and Bahamas Olympic Association president Arlington Butler were making their way down to the ground level to greet their champion.
Draped in the Bahamian flag, an emotional Williams-Darling hugged everyone who wished to share the moment.
The normally stone-faced Bahamian relay coach Rupert Gardiner couldn't help but to cry. "This is just so touching," he said.
BOA chief Arlington Butler stood there proudly in the background after giving Tonique a congratulatory hug. Obviously touched by the moment, he said that all Bahamians should be truly proud.
"This was the first time a Bahamian has ever ran a time like this," he said. "She showed courage, because the Mexican challenged her and she gave everything she had and we are pleased, we know the country must be pleased and we hope that she goes on to win the other two races in the Grand Prix — they could cap off a fantastic year."
Williams-Darling qualified for the final Sunday in a time of 50.00. She said that she was pleased with her performance in the semi final heat and that her strategy was to conserve as much energy as possible for Tuesday's final. Her plan seemed to work like a charm.
Running out of lane 1, she got off to an excellent start, paced herself well around the 200m mark and then exploded on the 100m stretch home. Guevara, who came into the Olympic with the Games with the best personal time and best qualifying time (48.89) had not run head-to-head against Williams-Darling all year.
Williams-Darling said earlier this week that she did not want to put any expectations on her possible finals appearance, but on Tuesday, she admitted that she did have high expectations for herself and knew that The Bahamas had high expectations of her as well.
"I wanted to live up to my expectations and the country's expectations," she said. "To do any less would have been a dishonour."
Tonique wins GOLD in Athens
By DEVIN FRANCIS,Guardian Sports Editor
ATHENS, Greece — It took only 49.41 seconds for Tonique Williams-Darling to etch her name in the annals of Bahamian history.
Williams-Darling crossed the finish line first ahead of a tenacious Ana Guevara of Mexico to win The Bahamas' first-ever individual gold medal in the women's 400m at the Olympic Games here in Athens, Greece at precisely 11:05 pm.
Although challenged all the way to the finish line, Williams-Darling mustered the energy she needed to keep command of the lead and simply refused to let Guevara and the other competitors pass her down the stretch.
Williams-Darling made it look too easy and Guevara had to run a season's best time just to keep up.
Russia's Natalya Antyukh finished third in a time of 49.89.
Bahamian Christine Amertil, who also ran in the historic race, but was placed in a bad lane (No 8) finished seventh in a time of 50.37. Amertil, however, secured her place in history by becoming the first Bahamian - male or female - to qualify for the final of the 400m at the Olympics.
She did so on Sunday after finishing second to Guevara in the first semifinal heat.
Williams-Darling qualified shortly after in the second heat.
After the race, Tonique, draped in the Bahamian flag, made an emotional victory lap where she greeted her husband, quarter-miler Dennis Darling in a tearful reunion and her mother, who was at the event to watch her daughter run.
Dennis presented her with a brand new diamond studded wedding ring as they greeted each other during the victory lap and dozens of onlookers clamoured to catch a glimpse of the gift, while attempting to get a picture next to the first Bahamian individual gold medalist.
"I thank God for bestowing this great honour on me," Tonique said after the race. "For me to be the first individual gold medalist, I don't know why I was chosen.
"Mexico wanted a gold medal and I know The Bahamas wanted one too. I think our country is deserving of it and I just felt that I wanted to do something to make my country proud."
She and her husband prayed early this morning for guidance, and God certainly answered her prayers as she bolted across the finish line straight into the waiting arms of history.
"We pray every morning, every night, attend Bible study ... God has really been the centre of our lives and our marriage. Without Him none of this would have been possible," she said.
The win was no big surprise though. The entire Caribbean knew it was coming.
Several Jamaican sprinters came out to the stadium just to watch Tonique win.
And after the victory, Bahamians and Jamaicans celebrated together. After all, it was the first Caribbean gold won at the Games thus far.
When being awarded with her medal at the awards ceremony, Williams-Darling fought to hold back tears as the Bahamian national anthem played and the
country's flag waved proudly on the centre mast.
The champion, flowers in hand, wreath on her head and medal hanging from her neck said that she felt overwhelmed.
Minutes after her victory she spoke live on Issues of the Day and ZNS. "I'm just happy to come out with the win," she said. "Nobody deserves it more than we do ... we are a small country, but we have great people and great athletes."
After speaking to the Prime Minister Perry Christie, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Neville Wisdom reported that the entire Bahamas was in a state of celebration, Williams-Darling said it made her feel good. She attempted to call the Prime Minister, but was unable to get through.
"I really wanted this, I've always wanted this and it's been a long time in coming," she said. "It just came down to putting one hundred per cent into my last one hundred meters."
Williams Darling has gone undefeated so far this year. That coupled with a string of fantastic times was a tremendous confidence builder for the speedster heading into the Olympic Games.
"I have become mentally stronger this year," she said, "my coach Steve Riddick has been doing a fantastic job and I was just at the right place at the right time and there could not be any better time than 2004, here in Athens, the very first place that the Olympics were held ... the very first gold medal for The Bahamas and I am just humbled by this experience."
Tonique said that she was thankful to the "great ones" who have paved the way for she and other athletes and have encouraged them on over the years.
She spoke of Pauline Davis-Thompson, the Golden Girls, Frank Rutherford and said that she considers herself the least of all those who have been pioneers along the way.
"I'm not sure I am one of the most talented Bahamian athletes," she said, "but I've become the first gold medalist and that's an honour."
Her husband Dennis, simply overwhelmed by his wife's performance and the magnitude of the impact it will have on the country said that he was overjoyed.
"I don't know what to say," said Dennis seconds after hugging his wife, "it's unbelievable ... I have experienced all the sacrifice she went through and all the hard training. All I can say is: God is good!"
Minister Wisdom was also happy to speak of Williams-Darling's performance after embracing her and congratulating her on a spectacular performance.
"Man, this is fantastic. This is a wonderful first for The Bahamas," he said. "I am so proud of the way Tonique conducted herself, how she carried herself through all of this. I know that the whole country must be proud of her and I will be speaking to her later on this evening to tell her some of the wonderful things the country has in store for her.
"She is a true champion and a wonderful ambassador for the country," he said.
Minister Wisdom was on hand to watch the event along with most of The Bahamian contingent at the Games.
Even before Williams-Darling crossed the finish line, the Bahamian group, led by the Minister and Bahamas Olympic Association president Arlington Butler were making their way down to the ground level to greet their champion.
Draped in the Bahamian flag, an emotional Williams-Darling hugged everyone who wished to share the moment.
The normally stone-faced Bahamian relay coach Rupert Gardiner couldn't help but to cry. "This is just so touching," he said.
BOA chief Arlington Butler stood there proudly in the background after giving Tonique a congratulatory hug. Obviously touched by the moment, he said that all Bahamians should be truly proud.
"This was the first time a Bahamian has ever ran a time like this," he said. "She showed courage, because the Mexican challenged her and she gave everything she had and we are pleased, we know the country must be pleased and we hope that she goes on to win the other two races in the Grand Prix — they could cap off a fantastic year."
Williams-Darling qualified for the final Sunday in a time of 50.00. She said that she was pleased with her performance in the semi final heat and that her strategy was to conserve as much energy as possible for Tuesday's final. Her plan seemed to work like a charm.
Running out of lane 1, she got off to an excellent start, paced herself well around the 200m mark and then exploded on the 100m stretch home. Guevara, who came into the Olympic with the Games with the best personal time and best qualifying time (48.89) had not run head-to-head against Williams-Darling all year.
Williams-Darling said earlier this week that she did not want to put any expectations on her possible finals appearance, but on Tuesday, she admitted that she did have high expectations for herself and knew that The Bahamas had high expectations of her as well.
"I wanted to live up to my expectations and the country's expectations," she said. "To do any less would have been a dishonour."