Bahamas Golden Girls in Sydney medal ceremony Photo: Philipe Major Photo courtesy of Felipe Major

Nassau, Bahamas - Before he died last Monday, Oscar Francis told his family to thank several persons who he felt recognized his contributions to sports in The Bahamas.

Many people involved in sports, just as people involved in numerous other areas of society, have missed recognition either by their peers or the national or international community.

Few people reach the level of Apple’s Steve Jobs or Penn State’s Joe Paterno.

Francis would have achieved additional recognition in death.

He did appreciate the recognition given to him while he was alive, though.

International Sports

Most of the top athletes in international sports receive acclaim in their prime. Just take a look at golf’s Tiger Woods or boxing’s Muhamad Ali.

Once the competition is finished, only the very best athletes, coaches or officials are remembered.

As the time goes by it is difficult to remember what they did.

Most people remember what Jessie Owens did at the 1936 Olympic Games before Adolf Hitler, but who remembers who won the men’s 400m or Triple Jump?

Regional and Local Sports  

In 2003 the Central American and Caribbean Athletic Confederation decided to launch a Hall of Fame program for extraordinary regional athletes and other contributors to the sport of athletics.

The athletes have to have participated in either the CAC Games or Central American and Caribbean Senior Track and Field Championships and have won a medal in either the Olympic Games or the IAAF World Championships.

The contributor would have made a significant contribution to the regional athletics.  

Most of the giants in the region have been recognized like Jamaica’s Herb McKenley, Trinidad and Tobago’s Hasley Crawford, who had a BWIA jet named after him, and the Bahamas’ Frank Rutherford, Troy Kemp, Pauline Davis-Thompson, Dr. Bernard Nottage, Livingstone Bostwick, and Keith Parker.

In March Bahamians Golden Girl Eldece Clarke, and Doyle Burrows will be inducted into the CAC Hall of Fame in Nassau.

In the USA every year former Track and Field athletes are recognized by induction to the Track and Field body’s Hall of Fame.

The Bahamas

For current athletes most are given the type of recognition they deserve when they perform.

Still many Bahamians do not understand or appreciate the achievements while they happen.

Last year a phenomenal thing happened for Bahamian Track and Field. In the city of Lille, France, The Bahamas placed fourth in the IAAF World Youth Championships behind the USA, Kenya, and Jamaica, all powerhouses in world athletics.

Stephen Seymour won the Gold in the 200m, Shaunae Miller the Gold in the 400m, Latario Collie-Minns the Gold in the Triple Jump, and his twin Lathone, the Bronze in the Triple Jump. It was just four years ago when Grand Bahama’s Nivea Smith won The Bahamas’s first medal, a Bronze in this competition.

Thomas Robinson in Michigan uniform

Ministry of Sports Hall of Fame

The government of The Bahamas started its Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 in the administration of former minister of Sports Peter Bethel.

BAAA Bahamian Track and Field Hall of Fame

The BAAA had three induction ceremonies to it’s Bahamian Track and Field Hall of Fame. That was in 1993, 1995, and 1997.

In the first class High Jumper Charlie Major, sprinter Thomas Augustus Robinson, Hurdler Danny Smith, Long Jumper Shonel Ferguson, coaches Charley Wright and Henry Crawford were inducted. 

Numerous athletes and contributors have passed since then.

Many Bahamian Track and Field athletes of the past feel they have not been recognized for their contributions.

The BAAA has named the top athlete of the Year Award in honour of Charley Major, the 1920’s high jumper who ruled the roost in the United States.

The Coach of the Year has been named after legendary coach Henry Crawford. The Official of the Year is named after Roderick Simms.

At the Annual Awards Luncheon Ceremonies numerous of the awards have been named after current and former contributors, expanding from the Charley Major, Henry Crawford, and Roderick Simms awards.

Every now and then an athlete is selected to be honoured at the Year End Award, or at some other occasion like the All Bahamian Scholar Athlete Awards. 

This Hall of Fame will be reintroduced this year. It will be difficult to catch up however.

Every now and then federations decide to honour their contributors but this is also not on a regular basis.

We realize though, that opportunities need to be created to spotlight those persons who have made significant contributions to Bahamian Track and Field.

An opportunity was created by The Friends of Thomas Augustus Robinson in 2009 to honour sprint great Thomas Augustus Robinson. The numbers attending were from every section of Bahamian society. It was there that Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham confirmed that the new national stadium would be named after Robinson.