Tonique Williams Darling

[Phill Smith]

The gold Medal Performance by Tonique Williams Darling is historic, Putting it in perspective, the Bahamas has gone 'Full Circle' in Track and Field, Frank Rutherford's bronze in the triple jump in 92 in Spain, the first ever Track and Field medal, Pauline Davis Thompson silver medal in 2000 in Australia and now Tonique's gold in 2004.

These Medals are also the only three individual Track and Field.

[Delroy]

Thank you Mr. Smith.
Welcome aboard
Here are some photos courtesy of the Associated Press:

[Delroy]

March on Bahamaland.

[Delroy]

For all the international visitors I see online today here is a short profile of Tonique Williams:


- Bahamian 400 metres superstar Tonique Williams was born on January 17, 1976.
- She attended St. Johns College (high school) in Nassau Bahamas.
- She then moved on to attend the University of South Carolina.

Last year she married quarter miler Dennis Darling who is the older brother of football player Devard Darling, who was recently picked by the Baltimore Ravens.

Tonique Williams-Darling did not just suddenly appear on the horizon. She has been around for quite some time. As the new Olympic champion is quick to point out, she is 28 and has been running track for much of her life. She served notice of her unique talent from as far back as 1998 when she clocked 38.67 in the 300 metres at a meet in Blacksburgh, Virginia.


The next year, Williams-Darling won the CAC (Central American and Caribbean) silver in the 400 metres. In 2000, she ran a swift 38.37 at an outdoor meet in Sydney, Australia. So, all along, she has been moving up the line.


Over the last 12 months, she has impacted the sport to such a degree, it is difficult to understand the surprise of those who watched her capture the first four legs of the Golden League 400 metres. In 2003, she placed fifth in the final at the World Championships in Paris. A month later, she was second in the year’s Grand Prix finale.


Picking up where she left off in 2003, she went to Budapest, Hungary in March of this year and captured the bronze medal at the World Indoors. Certainly then, the world ought to have known that the Bahamas had arrived in a big way in the person of one Tonique Williams-Darling.


To close observers, the first Golden League victory only cemented the thought that she was on her way to becoming firmly established as the best female over 400 metres in the world. However, it wasn’t until she had collared the Mexican great Guevara in Rome to snap a 28-meet win streak that the world began to pay full attention to this 5-2, compact and beautiful sprint stylist who looks larger than life when she captivates the track, her competitors and all who watch from the stands.


Mexico was on the phone to the Bahamas Olympic Association’s office right away. Officials there wanted to know about this individual who had clearly beaten their track goddess. In Williams-Darling’s fourth Golden League race, they clashed again.


Even her coach Steve Riddick sounds in awe when he tells the story of the race.


“Ana was ready and she went out there. She knew every Mexican was focused on her. She ran very well for the first 300 metres and at that point tried to take control of the race. I saw her arms pumping furiously…but I knew right then it was over. While Ana’s was pumping hard, Tonique was moving effortlessly and fluidly. She just glanced at Ana and simply walked away. The crowd went wild. And you know, she later told me that she did hear the noise but her concentration was just in running through to the finish… incredible.”


That’s from a track icon, obviously with some reason to be biased, but genuinely impressed.


And on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 Tonique Willims-Darling left room for no questions about her place at the top of the world in he 400 metres.


Amertil, with her seventh place finish, put a second Bahamian right smack in the big picture and based on her present progression, the future is very bright. She has appeared to have sneaked up into the world’s elite for the event, much moreso than her compatriot.


But the truth be told, she is the reigning silver medallist from the World Championships of 2003 in Birmingham, England. Going into the Olympics, she had run under 51 seconds for the event on five occasions in 2004.


Her first two races here in Athens, were both personal bests of to extend her streak of under 51 seconds to seven before the big final.


The streak is now eight.

Fred Sturrup - The Bahama Journal

[Excalibur]

Way to go Girl ....

We Proud.

[GodSign]

congrats to tonique from native stew!

keep up the great work bahamas!

[Teniel]

Congrats to Tonique, u did us (The Bahamas) proud. Also congrats to Debbie who came third in the 200m finals that I viewed this afternoon. She ran a good race from lane 8.

[sweet_mangraskin]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
TONIQUE & DEBBIE - we love you!!!!
You are the BEST!!

Continue to strive for execellence! All the best for the future.

[CG]

I can't imagine how great it must feel to be the best of the best! And that is just what you are Tonique. Well done!
Debbie too!

[Delroy]

If anyone hasn't yet, I would suggest you all read this article in the Washington Post by Mike Wise: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Aug26.html

The title of the article is: "Forget U.S. Team; Bahamas Rules"
He made some really good points that we all should be proud of.

[AmericanPhemmefatale]

If anyone hasn't yet, I would suggest you all read this article in the Washington Post by Mike Wise: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Aug26.html

The title of the article is: "Forget U.S. Team; Bahamas Rules"
He made some really good points that we all should be proud of.

Very good and funny article.

[Delroy]

Very good and funny article.

Thanks

It seems that they only allow persons visiting from Google to see the article without registering. You can click here http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...+Bahamas+Rules

The article should be at the top of the results.

Cheers.

[PeaznRice]

Congrats To Tonique Williams Darling along with Christine Amertil. All of our athletes did extremely well..I feel as if just qualifying for the finals was WINNING!! All of them should be commended and what we didn't win this time we'll definitely pick up next time so go team BAHAMAS!!!!!!!!!!

[JazAbleUSA]

8.29.’04


Congratulations to your athlete.

It would have been great if one of the American athletes had placed.

The Olympics is a good venue to learn geography. So many countries won medals that I had NOT heard of before. Cool. One does NOT grasp… depending on where one is from… the gravity of what one medal (Gold) can do for a tiny country as yours. Wow!



NOTE to your Webmaster - your font and size function keys do NOT work! In addition, why are you restrictive about one starting new threads??? That, I do NOT get??? Most boards, if NOT all Internet boards, allow one to start new threads. What makes you the exception other than you own the URL??? Just do not get that one dudes???

Anyway, the focus here is to congratulate you people on winning the Women’s 400 meter Sprint.


Peace and Love


Jaz in Waikiki, Hawaii

[Lady P]

I was extremely proud to see my Bahamians representing us well at the Olympics in Athens. I only wished that I could have heard them play the Bahamian National Anthem when Tonique was being crowned the 400 meter queen. Our continuous prayers are with all of the athletes as you do what God Blessed you to do!!

Let's get some more sponsors so that The Bahamas can be represented in other sports, during the olympics!!