The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

Golden Girl Debbie Ferguson says there is more to her than what meets the eye.

Trying her best to live as an example, she said having a title of being “golden” did not change her in any form, shape or manner.

Seeing herself as a Bahamian first and an Olympian second, she said her hopes are to encourage people to believe in the unbelievable and achieve the impossible.

“I don’t like people who settle for mediocrity, just doing enough to get by. That is not what life is about,” she told Tribune Woman.

Ms Ferguson said she wants to live as an example, not by just talking about what she can do, but showing it as well. “Having that title of being a golden girl is about what is on the inside, asking yourself are you golden on the inside?” she said.

“People don’t realize it, but I am very down to earth and I’m not really into the lights, camera, action. Any chance that I get to help someone, I do. At the end of the day, we are all one people and for me it is not about politics, it is about being Bahamian. Whatever we can do to help our Bahamian people, that is what I am here for and that is what I want to do because for a young girl growing up, there were so many people who helped me as a little girl,” said Ms Ferguson.

The 36 year old, who frequently visits schools to encourage students, said she wants to inspire young Bahamians to be the next Chandra Sturrup, Pauline Davis and Chris Brown. She said she wants do what needs to be done when the cameras are not around. “These are things that I strongly believe in. I won’t change for anybody because at the end of the day I know who I am and I know what I stand for,” said Ms Ferguson.

Speaking of the next generation, Ms Ferguson said she also wants to have one or two children of her own one day. “I want to feel what it is to be a mother and hopefully be able to teach my kids the ideals that I have in my head,” she said

Medical school was once on the radar of Ms Ferguson, but the pull of track and field proved too strong. She has given up that dream, but not all hopes of finding another passion to complement her love for the track.

“I am not going to medical school, but I know there is something out there that I can do. I don’t know what it is as yet, but as I said I want to give first preference to my country,” said Ms Ferguson.

She described her medal winning performances in Sydney and Manchester as highlights of her career. The 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia was the place where the Bahamas went from last place in the women’s 100m to first place, winning gold in the 4x100m relay. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, Ms Ferguson won the 100m, 200m sprints, along with the 4x100m relay, all in record winning times.

“Even when I am running track, I like to share with people lessons that you learn. Stuff that I have learned from track, I apply to my everyday life,” she said.

Age is just a number for the Golden Girl, who has no plans to retire any time soon. The 36 year old professional athlete, said she will continue her athletic career, despite the naysayers who are looking at her age.

“Like Chandra (Sturrup) always says, it’s one of those things where I’m definitely not going to end my season on this note,” she said when speaking about her experience at the 2012 London Olympics.

“Considering that I feel there’s something still left, I’m going to try and leave on a better note than this. Next year, there’s the World Championships, even though it’s in Russia and everybody’s been holding their heads. But my main goal right now is to get healthy and to get this bone bruise properly healed so I can start training again,” said Ms Ferguson.

“I think for me at this point, I just want to keep everything low keyed and come back and surprise some people at next year’s World Championships. I want to heal first and then try to get back into training as soon as possible,” she said.