Welcome home!

Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) came to life yesterday afternoon as Junkanoo music could be heard welcoming members of the Bahamian team that participated at the recently concluded 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics in Japan.

Gold medalist in the men’s 400 meters (m) Steven “Speedy Stevie” Gardiner headlined the early afternoon flight that also included Samson Colebrooke, Izaak Bastian and Megan Moss along with team officials. Later that afternoon, gold medalist in the women’s 400m Shaunae Miller-Uibo arrived along with her husband, Estonian Olympian Maicel Uibo.

Gardiner and Miller-Uibo were presented with a plaque that will be displayed on the Wall of Champions at LPIA, that will join other legends.

“It feels great to finally be on the wall,” Miller-Uibo said. “It’s a great feeling to have Steven with me. It’s an awesome feeling.”

“Thank you so much for the welcome. It is unbelievable for me I should say,” said Gardiner of the welcome. “In my first Olympic Games, I did not make the final but this one here, I set it up so right and I took it step by step. I took the rounds bit by bit instead of saying I am running it to get to the final. I did it where each round was a final.”

Gardiner was happy to have his father, grandmother and other family members who came from Abaco for the festivities.

Miller-Uibo thanked The Bahamas for supporting her and gave thanks to God for her ability to go out there and run.

“Thank you all,” Miller-Uibo said. “Thanks to all the Bahamian people for all the support throughout the years. I knew this one was going to be special and I just want to thank you guys for the support and hope we can celebrate this one together. I just want to give God thanks and praise for allowing me to go out there and always perform my best and to be able to represent myself, family and country well. Thank you guys for everything, it really meant a whole lot to me.”

Bastian, who was the first Bahamian to compete at the games and one of the youngest athletes on the team, swam the 100m and 200m breaststroke races. He was grateful for the welcome reception they received at the airport.

“It was really nice to be a part of the ceremony, especially with how special the occasion was with Stevie bringing home a gold medal,” Bastian said.

Gardiner and Miller-Uibo, who are good friends and run for Adidas, made history at the games for The Bahamas, as it was the first time The Bahamas won two individual gold medals. It was even more special as The Bahamas swept the both the men’s and women’s quarter-mile race. Gardiner said they wanted to do it in 2019 at the World Athletics Championships, but it feels good to do it at the Olympics.

“It feels so good to have The Bahamas dominate the men’s and women’s 400m on the world stage. No one can take that away from us. We wanted to do it in 2019 at world champs but, unfortunately, Shaunae did not come through for that, but she redeemed herself and defended her Olympic title.”

The athletes were greeted by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Iram Lewis, Director of Sports Timothy Munnings and Member of Parliament for North Abaco Darren Henfield, along with other government officials.

The athletes also paid courtesy calls on Governor General Sir Cornelius A. Smith and Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis.

To capture the gold in the men’s 400m, Gardiner went through two rounds and clocked a quick 43.85 seconds in the final. In the semifinal, he had a wardrobe mishap where he was forced to run with a t-shirt. He jokingly put the blame on Miller-Uibo for the mishap, before she gave her side of the story later in the afternoon, denying her involvement in the wardrobe mishap. It showed how close they are as friends.

Miller-Uibo said that this win was very special for her after battling injuries during the season and at the Olympic Games. She successfully defended her title by breaking her national and area record with a time of 48.36 seconds.

“For me it was just about going out there and competing well. It was about progressing as I go forward like I posted earlier, that was the most important thing, especially with this championship, where we have been going through so much injuries. To be able to pull it is a blessing,” Miller-Uibo said.

Moss ran the women’s 4 x 400m relay but they did not finish the race. Nevertheless the 19-year-old was happy to compete.

“Being chosen to be on the Olympic team is an honor all in itself. The experience definitely wasn’t the usual at all. We wish it was under better circumstances, but all in all, we are definitely honored and proud of ourselves no matter what.

“It was definitely an amazing experience unlike any other. It’s crazy growing up as a little girl doing track and field, I watched all of these athletes compete and to wake up and have breakfast with some of my idols is amazing and unbelievable. It is definitely a big motivator so I can continue pushing to do well and get there.”

Miller-Uibo’s season is finished and Gardiner is still in training for his final meet of the season in two weeks in Switzerland. Moss, who attends the University of Kentucky and Bastian, who attends Florida State University, will rest for now before preparing for their collegiate season. Bastian will also prepare for the FINA (International Swimming Federation) Short Course Championships in December, while Moss hopes to make the team for the World Athletics World Championships, set for July 2022.

Other athletes who were on the team but were not able to make it were Alonzo Russell, Donald Thomas, Joanna Evans, Jamal Wilson, Pedrya Seymour, Devynne Charlton, Tynia Gaither, Anthonique Strachan, Brianne Bethel and Doneisha Anderson.

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