Remember When: Saunders Won 34 Years Ago
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Today marks 34 years since Clarence “Nicky” Saunders became the first Bermudian athlete to claim a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games after winning the men’s high jump in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1990.
Saunders, who eight years earlier earned bronze at the Brisbane Games in Australia, set a Games record with a leap of 2.36 metres [7.74ft].
It is a record that still stands and may never be broken.
The Commonwealth Games faces an uncertain future after the Gold Coast in Australia dropped its bid to host the 2026 Games because of rising costs.
Organisers of the multi-sport event may have to postpone or cancel the next Games.
Held every four years, the Games are for athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations.
Bermudian Flora Duffy has won two gold medals after winning the women’s triathlon at the Gold Coast Games in 2018 and the Birmingham Games in 2022.
That is indeed a remarkable achievement by a Bermudian and to have it etched in history to never be broken is even more notable.
However, we STILL fail to acknowledge the great efforts of Sonia Smith whose Carifta Games record in the javelin which still stands 45 years later.
On April 20, 1979 in Jamaica, Sonya Smith threw the javelin 177ft, 11½in, which has since been translated to 53.98 metres in the modern day use of metrics. The throw still remains spectacular in any translation, especially for a 15-year-old competing in the under-20 division, which was the only age group at Carifta at that time.
Sonia finished with 11 medals at Carifta, five gold in the javelin, four silver in shot put and two bronze medals, one in discus and one in shot put.
This record in Carifta will never be broken, because of the dynamics of the javelin,” Smith said “Both are 600 grammes but the dynamics of the javelin has changed.
WELL DONE NICKY AND SONIA……..YOU MAKE YOUR MARK IN ATHLETICS HISTORY