CAC medalist says medal is for Bahamians

By SHAVAUGHN MOSS

NG Sports Reporter

When Patricia Ferguson captured the country's first medal at this year's XIX Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador, she was emotionless. It wasn't until later when she returned to the village, surrounded by fellow Bahamians that she became overwhelmed with her accomplishment.

Ferguson was the first person to win the country's first medal at this year's Games, and is the first Bahamian female to capture a medal in Karate Do. She also enjoys the distinction of being only the second Bahamian martial artist to win a medal at that level. Anton Minnis won bronze in 1998 in Venezuela.

"When I won the bronze there was no feeling, because I have been in the sport over 20 years and have a lot of first place medals, so it didn't hit me until we got back to the village, and then it dawned on me that I was setting a pace," said the humble Ferguson yesterday in an interview at The Nassau Guardian.

In her humility she said the medal was a tribute to Bahamians, and thanked God for giving it to her for her country.

"We need to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead us in whatever we do, because that's what I did. I opened myself to allow the Holy Spirit to work through me and we have a medal."

Ferguson won the bronze medal in Commute. But she went into the Games handicapped with a knee injury that plagued her for the last two months. At the Games she wasn't able to do all the things she had planned to do. If she had been able to, she said she was certain the silver medal would have been hers.

She further said in hindsight, her focus going into the Games was not where it should have been. An encouraging person, Ferguson took her role as coach into the Games when she should have been focused more as a competitor.

"But I can guarantee you next time, the focus will definitely be on the medals, specifically the gold," she said.

Ferguson described the level displayed as exceptional, and Olympic quality, which has motivated her to train for a chance at making the 2004 Athens Olympics team.

But to properly prepare herself Ferguson would need lots of exposure and travel to competitions. And be able to train with martial artists from other countries as well as coaches to improve her standard.

She further said she has also discovered that martial artists should do cross training to facilitate their sport.

"In karate you're using the hands and the feet, and I have been doing some track and field cross training for explosive movements. But I have found I also need to probably enroll in some kind of boxing programme for hand speed, and also do a bit more Tae Kwondo to improve my leg speed to get to where I need to be," she said.

Thirty-five year old Ferguson, a fourth degree black-belt, prior to this year had previous national team competitions in the 1998 CAC Venezuela Games. She also competed in the Pan American Games in the late 80's.

As she prepares for a hopeful Olympic berth, Ferguson said that martial artists could definitely use more sponsorship. In her 20-year competitive career, she said she has had only two sponsorships, the last a partial one from Atlantis where she is employed.

"We martial artists don't mind working for it (sponsorship), because karate practitioners are disciplined people, we just want support in any which way available."