The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE the injuries and some unrelated track issues that sidelined his glaring career, quarter-miler Stephen ‘Dirty’ Newbold admits that God is not finished with him yet.

The 29-year-old 2011 World Under-18 Championship’s 200m gold medalist, who went on to compete on the Bahamas men’s 4 x 400m relay team that won the bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil said that’s the reason why he’s still competing today.

“It’s been hard. I wouldn’t lie, but through God, everything is possible. I’m just taking it one step at a time,” Newbold told The Tribune over the weekend as he competed in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ final CARIFTA trials.

Too old to compete in the games in which he represented the Bahamas a few times, Newbold was entered in the open segment where he won both the 200m and 400m in times of 21.76 and 48.95 respectively.

It was another comeback for Newbold, who had suffered a near life ending incident in 2022 when he was stabbed four times, injuring various vital parts of his body.

“It really took me out of it. I was almost paralyzed, but I just want to thank God for allowing me to keep going,” he insisted. “I’m just trying to continue to inspire and motivate the younger kids competing.”

At the same time, Newbold is hoping that he can get back to the form that enabled him to him run his personal best times of 20.73 in 2013 and 45.80 in 2016.

For good measure, he ran his lifetime best of 10.84 on February 3 at the Thomas A Robinson Track, which showed that he have the speed, now he just have to develop his strength over the longer races.

If he can do it, he noted that it would feather in his cap if he can earn another trip to Paris, France for the world’s biggest sporting spectacular at the Olympic Games in August.

“I know it’s a long shot, but I really would like to qualify for the open 400m for the Olympics in Paris,” said Newbold, who will have to run at least a 45. “I won World Youth in Paris back in 2011, so I would love to go back and see if anything is still in the pot.”

With a little more time and with his continued faith in God, Newbold said he’s confident that all things are possible and he’s not giving up because God has not given up on him.

At this point in his season, training with Alliance Athletics under coach Wendell ‘Cubby’ Collie, Newbold said he’s now competing with a lot of the 18-year-old athletes who were babies when he was tip top shape about ten years ago.

“I get to see them every day in practice and now I’m running with them,” he said. “I am glad that I can correct them, help them, advise them and motivate them. That’s all I love. I just have to thank God for that.”

With the World Relays returning to the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in May, Newbold said he would definitely like to have his name placed in the pool for the men’s 4 x 400m relay as they go after a chance to qualify for the Olympics.

“I’d like see us return back to prominence in the men’s 4 x 4 relay,” he insisted. “Every year, the world expected Team Bahamas to come and compete for a medal.

“I just wish we can get back to prowess and I would like to be able to be apart of the team that get us back there.”

While most of his peers have left the scene, Newbold said he’s not feeling “old” and he’s glad that “God has given me the ability to continue to compete,” he stated.

“So as long as I feel as that lane is open, I will continue to keep on pushing.”

For one who was given a second chance, not only on life, but to compete again, Newbold said he pray every night to God to allow him to be do what he loves doing, competing and helping those around him.

“With him giving me another chance, I think he’s telling me that I can make a difference, but it was a real confident booster for me to win the double in this meet.

“In the 400m, I could have gone a lot faster, but you have to test that race with your big toe before you jump right into it. That was one of those races. In the 200, I just wanted to see where I was, so I’m happy with the outcome.”

To the 76-member team selected to represent the Bahamas at the 51st CARIFT Games in Grenada over the Easter holiday weekend, Newbold wished everyone a successful trip.

He thanked God, his parents, Cherly Seymour and Stephen Newbold Sr, his coach, Doctors Kent Bazard, Keir Miller and Cyprian Strachan, along with his family, for the role they all played in the success of his career so far.

Having gone through so much that he care not to elaborate on, he said he feel like he’s starting all over again.

“God is not finished with me yet,” he summed up.