Bahamian Olympian sprint hurdler Denisha Cartwright may have missed out on a place in the final at the 2025 World Indoor Championships in Nanjing a week ago, but she walked away with her head held high and a clear vision for what comes next: making a serious statement outdoors.

Cartwright, competing in her first full season as a professional, looked sharp in the opening round of the women’s 60m hurdles, clocking a lifetime best 7.78 seconds, a time that would easily have earned her a spot in the final. However, a mishap at the first hurdle in the semifinals cost her a place in that final. Still, her takeaway from the experience is one of growth, not regret.

“It was a great learning experience,” Cartwright told Sportsmax.TV. “I came in with high expectations, but even though I didn’t make the final, I held my head high. I PR’d in the heat, and that showed I’m right there. It’s just about refining the small details to be sharper next time.”

The mishap—clipping the first hurdle—was a result of Cartwright’s rapidly improving strength and speed, which she admits she’s still learning to control.

“I’ve been feeling so much stronger and faster this year. In the semis, I was probably a bit too aggressive going into the first hurdle, and it threw off my rhythm,” she said. “But it’s a simple fix. When I get it right, it’s going to be different.”

Under the guidance of Coach Chris Parnell, Cartwright has been locked into an intense off-season program focused on discipline and self-accountability. That meant cleaning up her diet, cutting out sugar, committing to stretching and yoga, and lifting heavier in the weight room.

“Track has taught me that if you really want something, you have to go above and beyond,” she said. “It’s not just about waiting on your coach—you have to want it for yourself.”

As the attention shifts to the outdoor season, Cartwright is brimming with confidence. With 100 metres and 10 hurdles to conquer, she sees an opportunity to assert herself among the world’s elite.

“I’ve made a lot of improvement with my technique and strength, so I know I have more in the tank for outdoors. My goal is to come out sharper, faster, and just more dominant overall.”

She’ll open her outdoor campaign at Grand Slam Track in Florida, where she’ll compete in both the 100m hurdles and the flat 100m on April 5–6. She also expects to line up on the Diamond League circuit, with potential stops including the season opener in China.

Cartwright is part of a golden era for women’s sprint hurdles. From Olympic and World champions in the U.S. to record-setting stars in Jamaica and Europe, the event is one of the most stacked in global athletics. And in the Caribbean, she shares the spotlight with none other than Devynne Charlton, her Bahamian teammate and the world indoor record holder and two-time world indoor champion.

“The field is really deep, but I try to stay focused on what I can control,” Cartwright said. “This is my first year professionally, and I’m still learning. Seeing how competitive it is only makes me want to stay in practice, execute each day, and use my strengths. It’s about knowing what you’re capable of.”

Being compared to Charlton is both an honour and a motivation.

“Devynne set the bar high for Bahamian hurdlers,” she said. “She’s been a huge inspiration—especially because we’re both on the shorter side. I looked up to her and said, ‘If she can do it, I can do it too.’ To even be mentioned alongside her shows I’m on the right path, but I know I have my own journey to write.”

As for chasing times like Charlton’s world record 7.65 seconds? That’s not where Cartwright’s mind is—at least not for now.

“Coach always tells me: don’t focus on the time. Focus on the execution, and the time will come,” she explained. “That’s what happened in the heats. I just wanted to execute—and then I looked at the clock and realized, okay, that was kind of fast!”

With a breakthrough performance already under her belt and a growing sense of purpose, Denisha Cartwright heads into the outdoor season as one to watch—not just from the Bahamas, but from the entire region. And while Nanjing may not have ended with a medal, it may well have sparked the beginning of something special.

“I didn’t get the outcome I wanted at Worlds,” she said, “but that doesn’t define me. What’s next is going to be different.”