The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHAT happened to the team celebrations for the 2016 Olympic Games?

Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands, the newly appointed athletes’ representative, said the entire team was shocked to hear that there was a celebration for Shaunae Miller for her gold medal performance in the women’s 400 metres in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the rest of Team Bahamas was not included.

Sands, who competed in the preliminaries of the men’s triple jump in his comeback from an injury he sustained at the previous Olympics in London, England in 2012, said they were all looking to join in the celebrations, not just for Miller but for the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay team that won the bronze medal.

“We felt a little slighted about it because she made history and that was our second gold medal after Tonique (Williams),” Sands said.

“We were hoping that there would be a big celebration with the whole team. I had a conversation with Shaunae before she left and she even stated that she wanted the whole team to be there.

“So when I heard about the celebrations this weekend, we felt bad because we were not even given a chance to state whether or not we could attend. We wanted to celebrate with her and the 4 x 4 boys like we have done in the past.

“We normally get a month so that everybody can finish their competition and then they set a date based around the time that we are all free. So when I heard about the celebrations, I was shocked.”

There are some plans afoot to celebrate the achievement of the team in a few weeks. There’s even a celebration for Miller at St Augustine’s College, her alma mater, where there are two signs erected at the front and back entrance of the school, acknowledging the Big Red Machine accomplishment. The sign congratulates Miller for her achievement as the Olympic champion.

A full day of activities is being planned for Thursday, September 15 on SAC’s campus in Fox Hill for Miller, who still has to complete the Golden League series on September 9 in Brussels.

Miller is currently sitting in second place and has a chance to duplicate the feat that Williams achieved when she won the Olympic gold and shared the Golden League jackpot in 2004.

Since the Olympics, both quarter-miler Steven Gardiner, who was also a part of the relay team, and high jumper Donald Thomas, who was sixth in the final, have continued on to compete in Europe.

All of the other athletes have returned to their various destinations, including school in the United States, or are here at home.

“A lot of us want to come home and celebrate with Shaunae and the men’s 4 x 4 team,” Sands said.

“We have been contacted by a private company and even the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture about a celebrations for the team. We are still working out the details. But it’s not going to be the same after they have already had a celebration for Shaunae.”

Whatever happens, Sands said they will be prepared to celebrate.

It is hoped that the celebrations, according to Sands, will not just include the track team but also the swim team of Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Joanna Evans and Dustin Tynes, as well as Emily Morley, who made history as the first rower to represent the Bahamas at the games. Sands said they are all waiting to see what will transpire.