Olympic 400m Champ Not Defending Crown

The Bahamas will be missing their 'Golden Girl' when the Summer Olympic Games open on August 8th in Beijing, China. Tonique Williams-Darling is still the reigning Olympic and World Champion in the women's 400m, but a few personal issues slowed her booming career within the last two years.

Competing in the women's individual 400m instead, for the nation of 700 Islands and cays, will be Christine Amertil, Sasha Rolle and Shekeitha Hanfield. Holding down the 25th spot, Amertil is the only one of the Bahamian trio currently listed in IAAF the world rankings.

Much speculation and rumors had surrounded Williams-Darling's two-year absence from competition. Her last performance was at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in early 2006 where she won a silver medal.

There were suspicions that Williams-Darling was dodging being tested for performance enhancing drugs. Her former coach Steve Riddick is now serving prison time in the United States for his involvement with doping. What added to suspicions about Williams-Darling was the fact that she and disgraced American sprinter Marion Jones both trained under Riddick. However, The 2004 Athens Olympic gold medalist, and 2005 Helsinki World Champion strongly maintains that she had never taken any kind of drugs, and assures that she never will. Her fans can also feel relieved that she has not tested positive for drugs either.

There were mixed feelings on the home front among Bahamian Olympic athletes after learning that Williams-Darling will not be competing in the Summer Games. The Bahamian Golden Girl didn't even compete in the Bahamian Olympic trials at the end of last month.

"Well I would have liked her in the race to use her as a push for me, but to be honest I don't know the last time I competed against Tonique," said compatriot and fellow quarter-miler Rolle, while being interviewed by the Bahamian press. "I got used to running without her, but if she was there it would have been better for, not only me, but everyone else entered in the race as well," Rolle added. Sources indicated that Williams-Darling was spotted at the Barbados Olympic Trials at the beginning of this month. However, it was not confirmed whether or not she competed in any event.

Williams-Darling admitted the truth in one rumor though, her being pregnant at this time. She confirmed that fact through one of the Bahamian print medias last week. She also pointed out that she was nursing a hamstring injury, which she says gave her problems for the entire 2007 season. After taking all of last year off, Williams-Darling informed that her hamstring is no longer an issue. However, she has other pressing issues, like aligning herself with another coach. The Bahamas' first ever track & field gold medalist said that she had every intention of defending her Olympic title in China this summer. But, given the difficulties she experienced on and off the track, Williams-Darling decided to take a back seat this year as well.

Nevertheless, Williams-Darling gave assurance that she has found peace within herself and her family, and is ready to win back the hearts of her many fans, particularly Bahamians. "For a long time, I wasn't in a happy place but I'm in a happy place now," she told The Bahamas media. "I had some medical issues this year and Dennis (Darling) and I were expecting our first child. That interrupted my training and we needed time together as a family." The 32-year-old quarter-miler said that she would prepare for one last season on the track. She didn't say whether she plans on officially retiring after 2009 or not, but has vowed to return next year when she will attempt to re-capture her title as the women's 400m champion at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

Williams-Darling winning gold at 2004 Olympics

Williams-Darling's 2005 World Championship Gold

Print Article

Email Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds