The Tribune

IT was now or never for Team Bahamas in the London 2012 Olympics as our men headed into the 4 x 400m Relay Final today.

The country had yet to win a medal in this Olympics, but the men’s team were favourites around the world to win silver or gold today.

The final was scheduled for 4.20pm Bahamas time, with the US team set to be The Bahamas’ chief rivals.

Yesterday proved to be a day of heartbreak as Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands went down with a right knee injury in the Men’s Triple Jump final.

The agonising injury was painfully replayed over and over again on the two big television screens in the Olympic Stadium.

At the same time Team Bahamas’ Women’s 4 x 100m Relay team was preparing to enter the track for their heats.

They tried not to let Leevan’s woes distract them too much from their goal of trying to qualify for the final.

The team of Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson, Chandra Sturrup, Christine Amertil and Anthonique Strachan ran a season’s best of 43.07 seconds, but a fumble on the third exchange may have been the difference which stopped them getting into the final.

Last night athletes were rallying around, with Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Tweeting: “I’m hurting for Leevan! Bahamas stand together and pray for him!

“To all the people that are mad that The Bahamas doesn’t have a medal yet, I better see you in Rio with a gold in your hand,if it’s that easy!”

The Tribune recognises the hard work and dedication that ALL our athletes have put into the London Olympics.

Get your free Olympics souvenir special, full of great pictures from the 2012 games, in next Wednesday’s Tribune.

Plus, find out how well our relay team did with reports and pictures from London in tomorrow’s Big T.