The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

CONGRATULATIONS poured in from different sectors of society yesterday, as Bahamians continued to marvel at Shaunae Miller’s gold medal performance Monday night at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Among those offering congratulations were Prime Minister Perry Christie, who called the young Olympian’s performance “magnificent”, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney.

Ms Miller, 22, stunned the entire sporting world with her dive across the finish line to capture her first Olympic medal shortly after 10pm Monday.

Speaking to The Tribune on Tuesday, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson said he would soon be flying back to the Bahamas from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he saw Ms Miller capture her first Olympic medal.

The Carmichael MP, still overjoyed by performance, commended Ms Miller for her achievement; calling it the crowning jewel of years of hard work by every member of Team Bahamas’ 32 member squad.

“This moment, this historic achievement will certainly be memorialised in the best way possible,” said Mr Johnson. “She did not just do herself proud, she did the team, the country, the region; the world proud. Shaunae has proven to the world that (the Bahamas) is again on the map athletically.”

Dr Johnson said while the “specifics” of a proposed celebration still have to be sorted out, his ministry, along with the Office of the Prime Minister, is preparing a “huge” event in honour of the success of Shaunae Miller, Team Bahamas and a host of other outstanding athletes.

“Next week you can expect a big moment once that team touches down home. Not jut for Shaunae, for the entire team. This is a moment for our country, a moment that we have to hold in high esteem because over the last decade we have worked to state the claim that the Bahamas is an athletic force. With this and all the other achievements by our athletes, we have done it.

“242 pride runs here and there, but wherever and when it runs, it runs deep. So we have to celebrate this achievement.”

Yesterday, Dr Minnis said Ms Miller is to be commended for “her years of hard work, training and commitment to excellence.”

“Her performance transcends all national divides and offers great cause for a collective celebration,” he added.

The Killarney MP called Ms Miller the country’s latest “Golden Queen”.

Meanwhile, Mr McCartney said Ms Miller’s victory stands as proof of the “indomitable Bahamian spirit.”

“Her victory on such a huge platform was a reminder to the world that although we may be small in size we are mighty and courageous. As she hoisted our beautiful flag into the air, she also lifted the spirits of the entire nation,” said the former Bamboo Town MP.

Also weighing in, PLP leadership hopeful and former Attorney General Alfred Sears commended the athlete on her performance.

Mr Sears said Ms Miller’s determination shone through during her race, noting that she refused to be dominated while remaining focused on her destination.

“Shaunae was tough and beautiful in the moment. An Olympic gold medal is the result,” he said.

Mr Sears added: “It is fitting to recognise that her gold medal performance was not the result of wishful thinking, or spur of the moment decision-making. Shaunae is one of the nation’s premiere 200-metre runners, and her decision not to contest that event in order to focus on the 400 metres was not a unanimously popular one. Shaunae, however, decided that she would sacrifice the possibility of two medals to focus on the one that meant the most to her, for whatever her own reasons may be.

“For all these reasons and more, we congratulate Shaunae Miller on her gold medal performance in the 400 metres at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her achievement inspired a nation, and no doubt, a world.”

The College of the Bahamas also released a statement on Ms Miller’s awe-inspiring performance.

“Shaunae carried with her the heart and hopes of the Bahamian people. We salute her determination, perseverance and sacrifice that catalysed this outstanding achievement including setting a new personal record of 49.44 seconds. Not only is this an historic accomplishment, but an inspiration to Bahamians from all walks of life who have ever nurtured a dream and worked towards its realisation.

“Shaunae’s win signifies that size is irrelevant when excellence is embraced as a standard and there is a refusal to rest on one’s laurels.”

During Monday’s race, Ms Miller stormed out of the blocks in lane seven, taking a commanding early lead as she fended off her challengers. But on the backstretch, she was challenged by American Natasha Hastings in lane four, who pulled up beside her. But she shook that off going through the final curve.

Off the bend, Ms Miller was again in total control of the race. This time, American favourite Allyson Felix tried to take over. She managed to close the gap at the end, but Ms Miller had one surprise for her - diving across the finish line to snatch the gold.

“I saw Allyson the last 20 metres of the race and then my mind just blanked after that,” Ms Miller told reporters shortly after the race. “The only thing I was thinking about was the gold medal. I was on the ground and I heard my mother screeching, so I knew I must have gotten the gold.”

It was with that dive Shaunae Miller added her name to Bahamian sporting history.