16 THE FREEPORT NEWS Tuesday, April 17, 2018 SPORTS 2002,1982 considered best Bahamas’ showings

he 2002 and 1982 Shonel Ferguson and strongman Bahamas Common- discus thrower Bradley Cooper. wealth Games teams Steve Wray- ; and should always be Steve Hanna –; won acknowledgedT for their tremen- silver medals. Greg Rolle, in the dous achievements. 400 meters hurdles, like Larri- Indeed, Team Bahamas during SPORTS more, won a bronze medal for those years in Brisbane, Aus- his country. tralia (1982); and Manchester, It was a wonderful demonstra- England (2002) produced our tion of Bahamian sports prow- largest Commonwealth Game ess. fi nished 10th medal hauls and are entitled to overall. their rightful positions in Baha- SCOPE Twenty years later Debbie Fer- mian sports history. guson was on fi re. She was awe- Sadly, in this country, the re- BY FRED STURRUP some in leading The Bahamas. cording of history has not been Ferguson captured the 100 and done effectively. Accordingly, Commonwealth Games to make jump), and three-bronze (box- 200 meters and anchored generations of Bahamians have the point. It was thrilling to ers Valentino Knowles and Carl the 4 X 100 relay (with Tamicka passed from the youth to adult watch the video clips of the val- Hield and quarter miler Ramon Clarke, Chandra Sturrup and Sa- stage and even on into eternity, iant Bahamians who produced Miller) country performance. vatheda Fynes) to victory. without having full knowledge a gold and three silver medals. We must never forget those stal- Laverne Eve won the jave- of the important nation-build- There were: Shaunae Miller warts either. lin gold; Avard Moncur placed ing contributions, by individuals Uibo—200 meters gold; Jamal Now, a question! third in the 400 meters; Leevan and organizations. Wilson—high jump silver; Jef- How many know the name Sands, got another bronze for In the case of the Common- fery Gibson—400 meters hur- Steve Larrimore? The Bahamas in the triple jump; wealth Games, as well as other dles silver; and Alonzo Russell, What was his specialty disci- the men’s 1600 meters relay aspects of Bahamian life, our Stephen Newbold; Ojay Fergu- pline? team won bronze; as did Fynes history has gotten distorted. Just son and Teray Smith—1600 me- What were his claims to fame? in the 100 meters. Four gold and a bit of research, extra conversa- ters relay silver. Well, in 1982, he was a boxing four bronze medals were cap- tions with those who have been They were sensational and bronze medalist at the Central tured by Team Bahamas as the a part of, or who have observed ought to be saluted and never American and Caribbean Games country fi nished 15th overall. the incredible accomplishments forgotten. They lifted up a na- and also the Commonwealth It was a spectacular showing. of fellow Bahamians, could tion and should forever be re- Games in Brisbane. Larrimore Thus, the Commonwealth make a world of a difference in membered for their collective is in fact one of the more suc- Games high-level prominence the correctness of history. performance in heightening The cessful Bahamians in Common- that rightfully belongs to the Quite frankly the central ad- Bahamas Sports Brand. wealth sport history. He went on Team Bahamas in 1982 and ministrations ought to do what Then, there was the 2010 Team to win the Commonwealth super 2002 should always be recog- has been promised often. The Bahamas at the Commonwealth lightweight boxing title. nized. powers that be should sponsor Games in India. Our representa- In 1982, in Brisbane, Team documentaries by those who are tives produced fi ve medals, with Bahamas won one of a record •To respond to this column, best able to give the true picture high Jumper Donald Thomas six medals. That year we won kindly contact Fred Sturrup at of Bahamian history. leading the one-gold, one-sil- two gold medals, milestones [email protected] or on For instance, let’s focus on the ver (Trevor Barry in the high accomplished by long jumper WhatsApp at 727-6363.

SHONEL FERGUSON

DEBBIE FRGUSON LAVERN EVE

“They were sensational and ought to be saluted and never forgotten. They lifted up a nation and should forever be remembered for their collective performance in heightening The Bahamas Sports Brand.” BRADLEY COOPER