Bahamas News

At 31, she has accomplished a lot within the grouping of the fabulous Golden Girls and also on her very own merit in both the 100 metres and 200 metres. Respected more for her prowess over the half lap, she has also been quite outstanding in the century. Her anchor leg on the 2000 relay gold medal team will forever be etched in our memories.

Ever since her bronze medal achievement at the Athens Olympics in 2004 she has struggled however.
There have been layoffs due to injuries and surgeries, the difficult journeys along the rehabilitation trail, and this year an annoying bout with chicken pox.

At the World Championships in Osaka, normally a given for her, Ferguson failed to make the finals in any of the short sprints. Nevertheless, she continued to battle though, with the World Athletics final as her target.
The resilient one showed some signs of a late return to form when she ran 23.07 in the race prior to the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany this past Saturday and Sunday.

The Athletics Final’s women’s 200 metres list was as talented as the World Championships. Americans Lauryn Williams, LaShauntea Moore and Stephanie Durst were there. So were France’s Muriel Hurtis-Houairi, Belgium’s veteran Kim Gevaert, Great Britain’s Joice Naduaka and Jamaica’s Sheri-Ann Brooks.

Given the problems she has had during the latter part of the season, Ferguson was not considered a favourite.
But, she has always been a rock of confidence and pulled out a 22.74 performance, her highlight effort for the year given the glamour of the Athletics Final. (Only a 22.49 clocking way back in February has been better).

On Saturday, the mainrace was between Ferguson and the French lady. She settled for second, but Ferguson’s feat gave her a solid mental approach for the 2008 season.

It was another high water mark in a glorious career for ’she’ of the wonderful demeanor.
Her bubbling personality has endeared her to many around the world, track and field folks and others. Debbie is most deserving of that exciting climax to 2007. She has filled Bahamians with pride many times.

Apart from her significant role as a Golden Girl, and the courageous run to bronze in Athens, there was her great display in Manchester, England during the year 2002 at the Commonwealth Games.

There she wrote a spectacular page in Commonwealth history by doubling up in the 100 and 200 metres and being a part of the last taste of relay glory for the Golden Girls.

She surely has persevered.

We salute this Golden Girl and wish her the best for 2008 and beyond.