President of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), Drumeco Archer, sees a bright future ahead for Bahamas’ track and field program with stalwarts Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner on the backend of their respective remarkable careers.

The Bahamas finished the 2024 Paris Olympics with no medals. The last time that happened was at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

Their best hope for a medal, Gardiner, who was the defending Olympic Champion, pulled up injured in his semi-final of the Men’s 400m while Miller-Uibo, Olympic Champion in 2016 and 2021, failed to advance from the heats in the Women’s equivalent.

World Indoor Champion and record holder in the 60m hurdles, Devynne Charlton, finished sixth in the final of the 100m hurdles, the same place she finished three years earlier in Tokyo.

Despite these lean results, Archer, speaking on the latest episode of Out D’ Blocks on the SportsMax TV YouTube Channel, says he is optimistic about the future of the country’s track and field program.

“I am very optimistic about where we are in our program. Yes, I think that when you give a woman a rose, you just can’t stop and that is really the expectation of the world and, no doubt, our local community,” Archer said.

“With an illustrious 10-year span for both Shaunae (Miller-Uibo) and Steven Gardiner, obviously there’s an expectation but I think what we’ve done over the years is have the vision of trying to continue to produce new growth to the program and so I think we have a legion of new rising stars that will replace the likes of Shaunae and Steven,” Archer added.

In addition to her two Olympic titles, Miller-Uibo, 30, also won the World title in 2022 and took silver at both the 2015 and 2017 World Championships.

Gardiner, 29, also won gold at the World Championships in 2019.

Archer noted that he believes that these two stalwarts of Bahamian sprinting still have some more great performances in their future.

 “Let me just say that this is really not the end for them. There’s a lot more in the gas tank. Let me preface by saying I don’t speak for them but I’m optimistic that you just don’t end your career like that so I’m expecting them to return to the big stage and deliver as the world expects them to,” he said.

Bahamian Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture Mario Bowleg has congratulated Bahamian athletes on their performance at the recently concluded Paris Olympic Games.

For the first time in 36 years, the nation failed to win a medal at the Olympics but, nevertheless, Bowleg has offered his congratulations to those who represented the country at the global athletics showcase, noting how difficult it is to even qualify to participate.

“The Bahamas has a proud and storied history at the Olympics, and this year, our athletes continued to build on that rich tradition,” he said in a statement.

“While winning medals is often seen as the pinnacle of success, it’s crucial to recognize that qualifying for the Olympics is an extraordinary achievement in itself. Only a small percentage of athletes worldwide earn the chance to compete on this prestigious stage. Reaching this level is a testament to the unparalleled dedication, sacrifice, and commitment of our Bahamian athletes,” he added.

He continued, “becoming an Olympian is a monumental achievement in itself, regardless of whether one wins a medal. It reflects years of grit, sweat, hard work, and relentless training. Olympians are those who have earned the right to compete on the world’s most prestigious stage, displaying exceptional athletic prowess and representing the pinnacle of sportsmanship.”

Bowleg specially congratulated Devynne Charlton who finished sixth in the Women's 100m hurdles final. The World Indoor champion and record holder was the only Bahamian to advance to a final.

“She showed grit, determination, and true Bahamian spirit on that track. Keep shining and inspiring us all. Your journey is far from over.”

He also praised Charisma Taylor for reaching the semi-finals in the 100m hurdles and Denisha Cartwright, whom he said has a promising future.

The minister lauded swimmers Lamar Taylor and Rhanishka Gibbs for representing the nation in the aquatics events.

He also praised returning Olympic champions Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo, and made special mention of Ken Mullings, the first Bahamian decathlete, and Wayna McCoy, the first Bahamian to reach the 200m semi-final.

Also recognized by Bowleg was Mancer Roberts Sr, technical director of Bahamas Aquatics, as the first Bahamian to serve as one of 26 officials in the swimming competition.

He also noted that Bahamas Aquatics President Algernon Cargill presented medals to the 4x200m freestyle male relay winners, and former athlete Mike Sands presented medals to the men’s 400m and women’s triple jump finalists.

 Steven Gardiner, 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion has responded sharply to comments made by fellow Bahamian and 2000 Olympic gold medalist Pauline Davis, following his withdrawal from the men's 400m event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Gardiner, who was a favorite for the event, had to pull out due to an ankle injury, leaving his lane vacant in the preliminary round—a development that left fans and fellow athletes stunned.

Gardiner, who has been plagued by injuries over the past few years—including missing the 2022 World Championships and suffering another injury in the semi-finals of the 2023 World Championships in Budapest—cited another injury as the reason for his withdrawal from the Paris Olympics.

 However, Davis publicly criticized athletes, including Gardiner, for what she perceived as a lack of transparency regarding their physical conditions leading up to the Games. Her remarks did not sit well with Gardiner, who took to social media to express his frustration.

 "To Pauline Davis, please don't ever speak on me ever because you've never been an influential person to many of us athletes," Gardiner began in his post, clearly stung by the criticism.

 He went on to suggest that Davis's comments were not only unwarranted but also harmful. "You would love to see us suffer, and it shows," he added, directly addressing her public rebuke.

Gardiner continued, emphasizing that Davis was not present during his warm-up and therefore had no basis for her criticism. "You weren't in attendance during my warm-up, but you were the first to broadcast your loud and wrong remarks to spread lies and propaganda, which is pure evilness," he wrote.

Despite his anger, Gardiner concluded his message with a more conciliatory tone, saying, "But you'll be just alright. I'll pray for you just like others."

In a stunning turn of events and devastating news for the Bahamas, 2020 Tokyo Olympics 400m champion Steven Gardiner will not start in the 400m for the Bahamas at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games where some of the Caribbean’s best athletes have suffered injuries.

Gardiner missed the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon with a foot injury and suffered a injury in the semi-finals of the 2023 World Championships in Budapest last year. He was considered the best shot at a medal for the Bahamas at these Olympic Games as Shaunae Miller-Uibo, the islands’ other 400m star, is not in the best of health this season having withdrawn from the Bahamas national championships last month.

News of Gardiner’s withdrawal comes on the heels of withdrawals of Jamaican star sprinters Shericka Jackson from both the 100m and 200m and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from the semi-finals of the 100m dash on Saturday.

Reigning 400m Olympic champion Steven Gardiner and World Indoor 60m hurdles champion Devynne Charlton will be flag bearers for The Bahamas at the much-anticipated Paris Olympic Games opening ceremonies on Friday.

Gardiner and Charlton are among the 20 athletes that will represent The Bahamas at the global multi-sport showpiece, which is currently under way and is scheduled to end on August 11.

Track and field and swimming are the two disciplines that the Bahamian contingent will contest at the Games.

Quartermiler Shaunae Miller-Uibo, high jumper Donald Thomas, who is making his fifth Olympic appearance, NCAA and national record holder in the javelin Rhema Otabor, decathlete Ken Mullings, and Charisma Taylor, who contests the triple jump and the 100m hurdles, are also on the team.

Rhaniska Gibbs and Lamar Taylor will represent the Bahamas in the pool.

Meanwhile, quartermiler Lacarthea Cooper finished third in the women’s 400m at the BAAA’s Nationals in 53.38 seconds behind second place finisher Quincy Penn in 53.35 seconds, but did not make the team.

However, Shania Adderley finished fifth in 54.50 seconds and was named to the Olympic team for her contributions as a member of the 4x400m mixed relay team at the World Relays.

2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Julien Alfred secured a win in the 200m at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial, a World Athletics Continental Tour-Gold meet in Szekesfehervar, Hungary on Tuesday.

The St. Lucian 2023 Bowerman Award winner ran a solid first 100m in lane seven, a lane outside two-time World 200m champion Shericka Jackson.

What seemed to be a titanic clash between the two to see who would come out on top ended drastically as, with about 30m left in the race, Jackson pulled up with what appeared to be a cramp, paving the way for an easy win for Alfred in 22.16.

Great Britain’s Daryll Neita ran a season’s best 22.36 in second while Jamaican Lanae-Tava Thomas ran 22.54 in third.

In the Men’s one lap event Gardiner ran his usual evenly paced race to take top spot in a time of 44.50.

Jamaican National Championships runner-up Sean Bailey ran a season’s best 44.64 in second while South African Lythe Pillay ran 45.24 for third.

 In the field, Jamaica's Ackelia Smith produced 6.83m for second in the Women's long jump behind Colombia's Natalia Linares who jumped 6.87m. American Quanesha Burks was third with 6.76m.

Bahamian Steven Gardiner is among three individual men’s Olympic sprint champions set to compete at the Golden Spike, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in Ostrava on Tuesday.

Italy’s Marcell Jacobs and Canada’s Andre De Grasse, the Olympic gold medallists over 100m and 200m respectively, will clash over the shorter distance, then De Grasse will double up by contesting his specialist event.

Gardiner, meanwhile, will take on world indoor champion Alexander Doom over one lap of the track.

The Bahamian, who has a season’s best of 44.45, could be pushed by the Belgian, who won in Marrakesh last week with a lifetime best of 44.51.

Not including the few races where he has pulled up injured, Gardiner has been undefeated over 400m since the 2017 World Championships.

Elsewhere, Jacobs has had just two individual outings this year, the latest being a 10.07 season’s best to win in Rome last weekend.

That makes the Italian the fastest of the Ostrava field this year on season’s bests, though he’s also one of four men in the line-up with a sub-10-second PB.

De Grasse, meanwhile, has a best this year of 10.11 and recently finished second at the Diamond League meeting in Marrakesh.

Britain’s Reece Prescod, who set his PB of 9.93 in Ostrava when winning in the Czech city two years ago, will be one to watch, as will Jamaica’s Ryiem Forde.

Later in the evening, De Grasse will take on Jamaica’s Andrew Hudson and Britain's Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake in the 200m.

In the men’s javelin, home favourite Jakub Vadlejch will take on European champion Julian Weber and two-time world champion Anderson Peters.

Four-time global medallist Vadlejch recently won in Doha with 88.38m, which puts him just one centimeter ahead of Weber on this year’s world list. Peters is close behind with a best of 86.62m.

Bahamian 400m Olympic Champion Steven Gardiner, and Jamaica’s World Championships long jump finalist Carey McLeod, stood out among the Caribbean performances as they topped their respective events at the Wanda Diamond League in Doha, Qatar on Friday.

McLeod, who was fourth at the Xiamen meet, displayed mark improvement on this occasion to top the event with a wind-aided leap of 8.52m. He recovered from a failed attempt at the start to cut the sand at 8.14m, before achieving the winning leap on his fourth attempt in a positive 5.2 metres per second wind reading.

The 26-year-old topped a stacked field which included Greece’s Olympic and World champion Miltiadis Tentoglou, who had to settle for second on this occasion with a season’s best leap of 8.36m. Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer (8.30m), was third, while Jamaica’s 2019 World champion Tajay Gayle (8.01m) was fifth, and Bahamian LaQuan Nairn (7.59m) eighth.

For Gardiner, it was a case of picking up where he left off, as he continued his rich early season form in the 400m with another classy display. He went out hard from lane five and quickly covered rivals on the outside at the 250m mark, before pulling away in the latter stages to win in 44.76s.

Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga, closed fast for second in a season’s best 45.07s, while Botswana’s Leungo Scotch (45.29s) was third.

Also in the field, Grenada’s two-time World champion Anderson Peters placed third in an intriguing men’s javelin throw, which saw India’s World and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra beaten into second.

Czech Republic’s Olympic silver medallist and last year’s Diamond League winner Jakub Vadlejch (88.38m) outlasted his Indian rival, who fell just short with a throw of 88.36m, while Peters’ best mark of 86.62m came on his final attempt. All three men hit season’s best marks.

Meanwhile, in arguably the performance of the night, Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos romped the men’s 400m hurdles event in a breathtaking World Lead and Meet Record 46.86s. He bettered his previous Meet Record of 47.24s set in 2022, while reaffirming his status as one of only five men to break the 47-second barrier in the event.

Elsewhere on the track, Jamaican Natoya Goule-Toppin attempted a late rally in the women’s 800m, but she had to settle for sixth in a season’s best 1:59.74.

The event was won by Kenya’s world champion and 2022 Diamond League winner Mary Moraa, who kicked off 2024 campaign with a season’s best 1:57.91, just lowering the 1:57.96 she clocked a few weeks ago at the Kip Keino Classic on home soil.

Britain’s world indoor silver medallist Jemma Reekie (1:58.42) was second, while Benin’s Noelie Yarigo, the indoor bronze medallist, placed third in a season’s best 1:58.70.

In the men’s 200m, Jamaican Oshane Hudson clocked a season’s best 20.53s, which was only good enough for seventh, as American Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek threw down the gauntlet where his Olympic title ambitions are concerned.

Bednarek clocked a personal best and World Leading 19.67s to win the half-lap event in a positive 1.7 metres per second wind reading, and also smashed Noah Lyles’ previous Meet Record of 19.83, set in 2018. His compatriots Courtney Lindsey (20.01s), the previous world leader, and Kyree King (20.21s) were the runners-up.

The women’s 100m was won by Britain’s Daryll Neita, who followed up her 200m in Suzhou with another strong performance on her seasonal bow in the event. She closed fast to win in a season’s best 10.98s, ahead of the American pair of Tamari Davis (10.99s) and Celera Barnes (11.02s) in a blanket finish.

Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison was seventh in a season’s best 11.37s.

Louisiana State University sophomore Brianna Lyston, Minnesota junior Devin Augustine and Olympic and World 400m champion Steven Gardiner were among the Caribbean winners at Saturday’s LSU Alumni Gold meet in Baton Rouge.

Lyston produced one of the day’s most impressive performances, winning the college 100m in 10.84, a time that would’ve been a new personal best if not for a 2.2 m/s tail wind.

Minnesota’s Odell Frye (11.19) and Victory Godah (11.28) were second and third.

This was Lyston’s second time already this season going sub-11 seconds. At the Battle of the Bayou on March 30, she turned heads with an also wind-aided 10.87 (2.6m/s).

The former St. Jago High and Hydel High standout also, earlier this season, became the SEC and NCAA Indoor 60m champion with times of 7.08 and 7.03, respectively.

Lyston then returned to win the 200m in 22.35 (2.8m/s) ahead of Southern Miss’s Jada McDougle (23.061) and LSU’s Aniyah Bigam (23.064).

Trinidadian Minnesota junior Devin Augustine was also impressive in winning the sprint double.

He first won the 100m in 10.02 (2.2 m/s) ahead of LSU’s Da’Marcus Fleming (10.03) and 2024 Carifta Games U-20 100m silver medallist Jaiden Reid (10.12).

Augustine then ran 20.98 into a -3.0 m/s wind to win the 200m ahead of teammate Charles Godfred (21.41) and Meridan Community College’s Keon Buck (21.46).

Elsewhere on Saturday, Bahamian 400m legend Steven Gardiner produced 44.45 to comfortably win his 400m season opener ahead of American Vernon Norwood (44.94) and British World Championship silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith (45.00).

Olympic champions Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo were the standout names as the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) has officially confirmed its 27-member team for the World Athletics Relays set for May 4 and 5 at the refurbished Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

The Bahamas is expected to compete in the Men’s and Women’s 4x100m Relays, the Men’s 4x400m Relay and the Mixed 4x400m Relay.

Newly crowned World Indoor 60m champion and record holder Devynne Charlton was named in a Women’s 4x100m Relay pool which also included Camille Rutherford, Printassia Johnson, Jamiah Nabbie, Shayann Demeritte, Nia Richards, Charisma Taylor and Pedrya Seymour.

The Men’s 4x100m Relay pool consists of Samson Colebrooke, Samalie Farrington, Ian Kerr, Carlos Brown, Deedro Clarke, Blake Bartlett, Jeremiah Adderley and Warren Fraser.

The Men’s 4x400m Relay team includes Gardiner, Alonzo Russell, Wendell Miller, Zion Shepard, Deedro Clarke, Zion Miller, Lhevinne Joseph and Shakeem Hall-Smith. Finally,

The Mixed 4x400m Relay team for The Bahamas will consist of Miller-Ubio, Anthonique Strachan, Lacarthea Cooper, Robynn Rolle-Curry, Steven Gardiner, Alonzo Russell, Wendell Miller and Zion Shepherd.

The Bahamas hosted the World Athletics Relays in 2014, 2015 and 2017.

Reigning Olympic 400m champion Steven Gardiner continues to demonstrate strength, resilience and dazzling form in his push towards the 2024 Paris Games, as he opened his outdoor season with a tidy 31.99s-clocking to win the men’s 300m at the Hurricane Invitational in Miami on Friday.

The Bahamian won ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Asa Guevara, who finished in 32.78s and Barbadian Jonathan Jones (33.02s).

Though some ways off his 31.52s personal best in the event, Gardiner, has signalled that he is much stronger and better on return from last year’s injury, and is no doubt looking forward to repeating his 400m at this summer’s Olympic Games.

Last month, the 28-year-old clocked a world-leading 31.78s to win the men’s 300m at the Carolina Invitational indoor meet at the University of South Carolina. That time was the second fastest ever indoors, trialing his own 31.56s done at the same venue in 2022.

Gardiner, who is also the 2019 World Championships 400m gold medallist, was on his way to another undefeated season last year, but pulled up with an injury in the semifinals at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

While heartbroken by the injury at the time, Gardiner promised not to give up and his recent performances reaffirms his determination to defend his 400m title in Paris with a clean bill of health.

Reigning Olympic 400m champion Steven Gardiner made a successful return to the track at the South Carolina Invitational at the University of South Carolina on Friday.

The Bahamian produced a world-leading 31.78 to win the men’s 300m ahead of American Matthew Boling (32.58) and British World Championship silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith (33.82).

The 28-year-old's time was also the second fastest ever indoors, only trailing his 31.56 done at the same venue in 2022.

Gardiner, who also took gold at the World Championships in Doha in 2019, was on his way to another undefeated season in the 400m before pulling up with an injury in the semi-finals at the World Championships in Budapest last August.

In the women’s equivalent in South Carolina, Jamaican Charokee Young ran 37.38 for second behind American Quanera Hayes who won in an excellent 36.36. Tierra Robinson-Jones was third in 38.44.

Two-time Jamaican national 200m champion Andrew Hudson ran 6.74 to take top spot in the men’s 60m ahead of Miles Stephens (6.89) and Doniven Jackson (6.92).

In the field, Guyanese Limestone College senior Lloyd McCurdy jumped 14.50m to win the men’s triple jump ahead of Wingate’s Dequan Thompson (14.44m) and Limestone’s Trevon Jenkins (14.18m).

In recognition of his exceptional contributions to Bahamian sports history, Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Steven Gardiner was on Monday bestowed with The Golden Jubilee Independence Award of Supreme Honor by the Government of The Bahamas. The accolade celebrates Gardiner's remarkable achievements on the track, solidifying his legacy as a trailblazer for the nation.

The Special Golden Jubilee of Independence Award recognizes citizens for their outstanding contributions to The Bahamas in various spheres of human endeavor encompassing both the pre-Independence and post-Independence periods of Bahamian history.

Gardiner's triumph in the 400m event at the Tokyo Olympics not only secured his status as the 2021 Olympic champion but also etched his name in Bahamian sports history as the first Bahamian man to clinch Olympic gold in any sport. The 28-year-old sprinter, also the 2019 World Champion, has had a stellar career, boasting Olympic bronze and World Championship silver medals.

Known for his blazing speed, Gardiner holds the Bahamas national records for the 400m and 200m, clocking impressive times of 43.48 and 19.75, respectively. Indoors, he has demonstrated his prowess with a national best performance of 31.56 over 300m, setting an area best and world-best performance.

Despite setbacks caused by injuries that sidelined him during the 2022 and 2023 World Championships in Oregon and Budapest, Gardiner remains hopeful for a triumphant return at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Expressing his gratitude for the prestigious award, Gardiner acknowledged the consistent support from God, family, friends, and supporters. In an Instagram post, he shared his anticipation for the upcoming track season and the opportunities to showcase his talent, stating, "I look forward to this upcoming track season and the opportunities to showcase my talent and make my country proud."

Gardiner's achievements add to The Bahamas' proud legacy in track and field, a legacy that includes notable figures like contemporary athletes Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Tonique Williams.

Olympic 400m champion Steven Gardiner is back to full health and is determined to defend his title in Paris, France next year.

In one of the more heartbreaking moments of the 2023 World Athletics Championships, the Bahamian star, who won the 400m title in Doha in 2019 and on the rebound from an injury that kept him out of the championships in Oregon in 2022, suffered an injury in his semi-final heat, tragically ending his campaign in Budapest.

Running out lane six in the last of three semi-finals, Gardiner was in complete control when he suddenly collapsed and fell to the track. He later revealed he had suffered a grade-one sprain of the tendon extending into the knee of the right posterior thigh.

His injury opened the door for Jamaica’s Antonio Watson, who advanced to the final with the fastest time of 44.13, to win Jamaica’s first gold medal in the event in 40 years.

However, in an interview with Bahamian media platform Eyewitness News, the soft-spoken Gardiner expressed confidence about his coming campaign to win a second Olympic gold medal.

“I’m back 100 per cent. Between my doctors in Germany and my coach in the US, we all are on one accord to take it slowly at the beginning of the season and then we’ll be ready for Paris 2024,” he said.

Gardiner revealed that there is only one objective for the coming season.

“The gold medal is the main goal. You know, to bring the medal home to Bahamas once more and also to defend the title that I conquered in 2021, so I just want to do it all again.”

There were mixed fortunes for the Caribbean men in the 400m semi-finals on day four of the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Tuesday.

Antonio Watson was first up and set the track ablaze with a massive personal best 44.13 to take semi-final one over the likes of South African world record holder Wayde Van Niekerk and American Vernon Norwood.

Norwood ran a personal best of his own with 44.26 for second while Van Niekerk ran 44.65 in third and Jereem Richards ran 44.76 in fourth.

Van Niekerk made it through to the final as one of the fastest losers while Richards was just beaten out Norway’s Havard Bentdal Ingvaldsen who ran 44.70 in heat two.

Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson Smith won the second semi-final in a personal best, British and European record 44.26 ahead of 2011 World Champion Kirani James who ran 44.58.

Unfortunately, reigning Olympic Champion Steven Gardiner looked set to book his spot in the final before pulling up injured while leading with about 100m to go in the third semi-final.

The race was eventually won by American Quincy Hall in 44.43 while Jamaica’s Sean Bailey also made it through to the final with 44.94.