The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

TOKYO, Japan — She came here to participate in the Media Academy for World Athletics, but Bahamian Olympic and world 400 metres champion Tonique Williams couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get back on the track.

The 49-year-old Williams, who has since retired after winning the women’s 400m title at the Olympics in Athens, Greece, in 2004 and the world title in  2005 in Helsinki, Finland, represented The Bahamas as one of 133 journalists who participated in the 800m on Thursday.

Competing in the last of the 13 heats in the Japan National Stadium, Williams finished 11th out of the 17 competitors in her race in a time of two minutes and 45 seconds.

After completing the exhausting two-lap race, Williams said when the group of 20 aspiring journalists in the academy heard about the race, she decided to enter.

“It’s something that the media always look forward to, so I just wanted to do it and take in every experience here in Tokyo for the media,” she said.

Coming from her world-class status as a quarter-miler, Williams said she didn’t envision that the media personnel were as fit as they were competing in the event. “I think the winning time was 1:54 and that person came through the first 400m in 57 seconds,” Williams pointed out. “We’re not athletes. We are the media, but some people take this very seriously.

“For me personally, it was exactly what I thought it would be. I figured not doing well is the same as not doing well. No matter what, you end up on the ground extremely tired.”

It was back in college at the University of South Carolina where Williams last competed in the 800m, either running it on a relay team or just to get in condition for the 400m.

“But it was an event I would never focus on, but I would actually do it again,” said the St John’s College graduate, who excelled in the 400m.

“If I come back to World Athletics as a media personnel, I’m coming back to win because there’s no way finishing 11th in my heat is something that I am comfortable with.”

With her competitive juices flowing again, Williams said she’s going to dedicate herself to the next year training for next year’s World Championships and possibly competing in the Masters World Championships with world record holder Timothy Munnings.

“I still enjoy working out and I still enjoy running,” Williams stressed. “So to tell you the truth, if I do, the 800m is an event I would do because I definitely don’t think I would train for the 400m again, so who knows.”

With an off morning session at the championships, World Athletics provides an opportunity for journalists to show off their skills on the track, just as they do off in their profession.

It’s open to any and every member of the media, whether it’s print or electronic and even photographers. All one has to do is sign up, show up, receive their race bib and run.

Your’s truly, a former 800m specialist in school, competed in the 13th championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011, but without any training prior to the event, I didn’t fare as well as expected and have opted not to do it again unless properly prepared.

Williams, retired after the 2006-2007 season, got the opportunity to run on the global international scene again after she was selected as one of four individuals to serve as TV commentators by World Athletics.

They joined Wilfred Bungei and Martin Keino, both of Kenya and Rosie Tinbergen of Great Britain in the TV commentator programme, which will involve aspiring broadcasters being mentored by seasoned commentators, gaining hands-on experience and insight into live athletics production during the championships.

They will be a part of World Athletics’ Media Academy Class of 2025, which will cater to 12 journalists, 11 photographers and five content creators.

“World athletes have laid out the red carpet for us in terms of the experience that the media goes through, whether you’re a photographer, videographer, TV commentator or a journalist.

“We’re being mentored by one of the best, Rob Walker and we have the best seats in the house,” said Willliams, who gets to work in the media tribune where they are just above the finish line.

Having worked from day one on Saturday, September 11, Williams said the highlight for her would have been last night when she was given the opportunity to commentate for the men and women 400m final.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve had the opportunity to meet Ato Bolden, former sprinter from Trinidad and Colin Jackson, former hurdler from Great Britain, who are both well into their broadcasting role after competing in track.

“So just being able to watch the other professionals go to work, this is exactly what you want when you are into this arena.”

After getting her introduction to broadcasting with the World Relays in the Bahamas, Williams has worked with the Broadcasting of the Bahamas team for the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships in Grand Bahama.

Through her experience, she could definitely see herself making the transition to the all important side of the sport, which is to provide the necessary commentary of the athletes participating. 

“I want to continue to be a part of the sport and to tell the stories of the athletes, so maybe this is just another way for me to do that,” she summed up.

When she’s not pursuing her media aspirations, Williams serves as the public relations officer for the National Insurance Board.