07272016 sports by tribune242

SPORTS SECTION E

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

60TH CAGC

Amateur Golf , Page 2

‘Golden Girl’ Debbie turns coach for Rio Olympics By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

fter making her debut at the Olympic Games as a member of the women’s 4 x 100 metre relay team in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996, sprinter Debbie FergusonMcKenzie is back for her sixth straight appearance at the four-yearly global competition. But this time, she will be travelling with Team Bahamas a female coach when the games are held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 5-21. “I just have to smile because in 1996, a long time from here, being my first Olympics, I had mixed emotions,” Ferguson-McKenzie told The Tribune. “You are prepared for competition, but you are also star struck just being a part of the whole environment, the atmosphere, the aroma and the athletes you see. “When you are a newcomer, I tell people you prepare physically, but when you are put into the environment mentally and physically, you have to be prepared, so that is what I try to tell kids now. At the time, I wanted to represent my country to the best of my ability and the University of Georgia, my alma mater, which was just down the street.” The 1999 University of Georgia graduate said it’s an honour for her to be back at the Olympics, but a lot of people don’t know the significance of doing it as an athlete-turned coach. It’s definitely a milestone for the Bahamas and one that maybe in an historic category worldwide. In Atlanta, at the age of 20, Ferguson-McKenzie had made the team and was hoping to run on the women’s 4 x 100m relay, but had to watch from the sidelines as Sevatheda Fynes, Chandra Sturrup, Eldece Clarke and Pauline Davis-Thompson went on to win the silver medal. This year, at the age of 40, Ferguson-McKenzie was hoping to make the team as a member of the resurgence of the women’s 400m relay, but that was thwarted as the Bahamas didn’t post one of the top 16 times in the world in order to qualify for Rio. Now as an assistant coach at the University of Hou-

ston, Ferguson-McKenzie was still afforded the opportunity to travel to the games, but this time in the capacity of an assistant coach - responsible for the women - in Rio. “My goal is hopefully to be able, as a member of the coaching staff, to share some of the knowledge that I have gained with the athletes,” said Ferguson-McKenzie, who has had one of the most glittering careers as a Bahamian athlete. “In 2000 in Sydney, Australia, I went there as the No.2 ranked 200m competitor and due to circumstances, I ended up getting fifth, but eventually moved up to fourth,” said Ferguson-McKenzie of a drug scandal involving one of the athletes. “So there are certain things you have to be prepared for mentally. “I’m really excited about that and I’m hoping to share that knowledge and be able to serve Team Bahamas, despite all of the negative aspects that we are hearing. I think in 2004 in Athens, Greece, we heard how it wasn’t going to be a great games, but it turned out to be a great one and we just had to perform.” The owner of a bronze medal in the 200m in Athens and a member of the gold medal women’s 4 x 100m team in Sydney after she got a silver in her debut in Atlanta, Ferguson-McKenzie said she knows that the Bahamas has become accustomed to winning medals at the games. “I think we have a team with youngsters, who are in my opinion, the most talented,” said Ferguson-McKenzie of the 32-member team selected to represent the Bahamas in Rio. “There are a few who I thought by now would have been running mid-22s or lower (in the women’s 200m). I just haven’t seen that yet. “But as far as numbers of concern, I think it’s all about what they bring to the plate. It’s not over until it’s over, so I’m hoping that this will be one of the most successful teams that we have ever had to represent the country.” Although the Bahamas will be represented in the sprints with double national champion Ty’Nia Gaither entered in both the 100 and 200m, Anthonique Strachan

and Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson in the 200m and Shaunae Miller in the 400m, Ferguson-McKenzie said she’s a little disappointed that the 4 x 100m relay team will not be competing. “It concerns me because we all know the history of our country where we had teams compete in either the men’s 4 x 400m and the women’s 4 x 100m, but now we are going to have the women’s 4 x 400m compete,” Ferguson-McKenzie said. “But I think it’s now disappointing for the women’s 4 x 1 because we have the talent to run the team and not having one there. “I am hoping that the kids will understand the importance of representing your country. When you step out on the line, that is what, in my opinion, used to give me strength. It was not for Debbie, it was for our country. That gave me so much power, strength and passion and I hope that they get a chance to realise that earlier rather than later.” For some members of the team, which went on to be coined the “Golden Girls” as a result of their back-toback triumph at the IAAF

World Championships in 1999 in Seville, Spain and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Ferguson-0McKenzie said the relay was their only “claim to fame.” “It was a starting point for us, so I’m hoping that they will put more emphasis on it and with the World Relays coming back here at home next year, they will concentrate more on putting the best teams possible to run in the 4 x 100m relay.” Ferguson-McKenzie, who went on to become the face of Team Bahamas after the retirement of Pauline DavisThompson, said this is the Olympics, the cream of the crop when it comes to sports globally, and so she’s expecting the unexpected from the Bahamian athletes. “I just want them to be focused, but at the same time have some fun,” she said. “I want them to compete as best as they could without the pressure. They just have to believe in themselves, execute and go out there and have some fun. “As a staff, we will be there to ensure that everything is organised and balanced and everybody is in it 200 per cent mentally. We

will be there as a staff supporting them 200 per cent. So I just want them to go out there and represent the Bahamas to the best of their abilities.” The Olympics comes without its share of controversy as the International Olympic Committee has put a ban on the Russian Olympic Committee for the use of widespread doping. Ferguson-McKenzie, who has been a long-time advocate for athletes to remain “drug free,” said she sympathises with the athletes who are affected. “It’s unfortunate, but just as they are having a difficult time trying to figure out exactly which athletes are guilty and who are not,” said Ferguson-McKenzie, a former ambassador for the sport. “I feel sorry for the Russians because if it’s a systematic thing growing up where you are taking vitamins and it’s not vitamins. “At the end of the day, it’s cheating, so at the end of the day, whatever needs to be done to clean up the sport, it has to be done. That being the case, good for us because our women’s 4 x 400m relay team got in be-

cause the Russians are out after running their heart out at the Blue Marlin Track Meet.” Having learned her lesson a long time ago, FergusonMcKenzie said she was told that the “good that you do will follow you and the bad that you do will also follow you. So I’m happy for the women’s 4 x 4 and I hope that they will all work together and not worry about all of the negativity. “They’re now going to the games, so they just have to go there and perform. When you take short cuts, nothing good comes out of it. It’s like when you tell a lie, nothing good ever becomes out of it. The truth always comes out. The old folks always say the ice in the glass will always show, so it’s always important that we try to continue to do the right thing. Don’t do the wrong thing because you will get caught or you end up dying.” Encouraging the Bahamian athletes to stay drug free, Ferguson-McKenzie said if they follow her motto: “Dream big, work harder,” they can avoid the temptation of falling into the trap of taking the performance enhancing drugs. To the Bahamian people who won’t get to see her compete this year, Ferguson-McKenzie offered her gratitude for their support over the years. “Let’s get rallied up. If you see the Bahamian athletes on the street, rally behind them and give them your support,” she said. “We didn’t see the numbers we expected at the trials being an Olympic year, but when the athletes go out there and compete for the Bahamas, they really need the support that they receive. “Let’s continue to be proud Bahamians and leave all this negativity behind,” she said. “It’s kind of heartbreaking to hear and see all of the things that are going on at home. We just have to work together with one common goal of keeping the Bahamas as a peaceful nation that we all love and adore as our home.” As for whether or not this is the end of the line for Ferguson-McKenzie, she said that she’s leaving it in the hands of God. Whatever path he has for her in the future, she’s going to embrace it.

Tynia Gaither gets chance to prove her worth in Brazil By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net SHE is being touted as one of the heir replacements for the “Golden Girls.” In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sprinter Tynia Gaither will get a chance to prove her worth as she represents the Bahamas in both the women’s 100 and 200 metres at the Olympic Games. Over the weekend, Gaither got a glimpse of where she’s at going into the games - scheduled for August 5-21 - as she competed in the American Track League’s meet in Atlanta, Georgia. She contested the 200m where she turned in a third place finish in 23.16 seconds to trail the American duo of Jenna Prandini, the winner in 22.42 and Phyllis Francis, the second place finisher in 22.50. Gaither, a 23-year-old native of Grand Bahama, was one of two Bahamians competing in the meet as sprinter Shavez Hart won his heat of the men’s 100m in 10.29 for eighth place overall and was fifth in the half-lap race in 20.57. “It was good for me to get to see where I’m at and to start com-

peting as a professional athlete and making a little bit of money too,” said Gaither, a graduate of the University of Southern California. “I was running with a slight injury, but I got a chance to run through it and it felt quite fine, so I’m looking forward to going to Rio and doing the best that I can to represent the Bahamas.” In Rio, Gaither will be doubling up in the 100 and 200m, becoming the first Bahamian to accomplish the feat since Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, now a member of Team Bahamas as an assistant coach. “I’m really looking forward to it,” said Gaither, who has posted a personal best of 11.19 for fourth in the 100m and 22.54 for fifth in the 200m over the weekend of June 9-11 in Eugene, Oregon, at her final appearance at the NCAA Championships. After going on to clinch the sprint double at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Association’s National Championships June 24-25 at the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Gaither said the Bahamian public could expect for her to put her

SPRINTER Tynia Gaither. best foot forward. “This is the Olympics, some-

thing that we have all been working very hard towards competing in,” Gaither said. “So I would love nothing better than to go to Rio and perform at my best. If it’s getting into a final, I will take it. “I know that the competition is going to be stiff because this is where the best in the world will come to compete. But I’ve been preparing myself for this opportunity and so I just want to go there and do the best that I can do.” She didn’t want to put any limitations on herself, but Gaither said if she can get in a little more work to fine tune her skills over the next few days leading up to the games, she will be in a good position to make an impression for the Bahamas. And while she has been working out with her personal coach, Gaither said having veteran “Golden Girl” Debbie FergusonMcKenzie travelling to Rio as a member of the coaching staff, she really helps to make a difference for Team Bahamas. “I’m really excited that she will be there as a coach,” Gaither said. “I look up to her as a role model and I’m so glad that I will get a chance to spend some more time

to get to know her because I really believe that she has a wealth of experience to pass onto us.” Gaither, however, said she’s a bit disappointed that she won’t get a chance to compete with Ferguson-McKenzie on the women’s 4 x 100m relay team. “We had a chance to qualify, but we didn’t. It just wasn’t our time,” Gaither said. “I think if we had a chance to run in a final event, we would have been able to do it. I honestly feel that we had a team that could have accomplished it. “But it didn’t happen for us this year, but we still have a chance to do it in the future. I’m just sorry that we may not be able to do it with her, but she has been there and I know that she will continue to be there to work with us.” Without the relay team competing, Gaither said she would be leaning on Ferguson-McKenzie for as much support and expertise as she can to glean from when she pursues the sprint double in Rio. Gaither, a silver medallist at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, said she’s going to make the best of her Olympic and senior international debut for the Bahamas.

PAGE 2, Wednesday, July 27, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

GOLFERS compete in the 60th Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships at the Ocean Club Golf Course yesterday.

Photos by Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

60th CAGC off to a scorching start By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AS host of the 60th Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships, the Bahamas was feeling the heat just as much as their opponents as the first day of competition got off to a scorching start at the Ocean Club Golf Club on Tuesday. The Bahamas is currently sitting in seventh place in the Hoerman Cup for males and sixth in the George Teale Memorial Trophy for ladies. As expected, Puerto

Rico is leading the field of nine countries in both categories in the four-day tournament which will continue today at 7:30am and wrap up on Friday. The Bahamas men could only muster a total of 312, compared to the torrid pace of 283 produced by Puerto Rico for the early lead. The Dominican Republic is second with 288 and Trinidad & Tobago is two strokes behind with 290. Puerto Rico leads the ladies with 145, followed by the US Virgin Islands with 155 and Jamaica with 159.

The Bahamas is well off the pace with 166. “It was a tough day for me, a rough start. I’ve never done that before. After six holes, I was six-over-par. I couldn’t miss a fairway,” said Bahamas veteran team member Peter McIntosh after he shot a 80. “The condition wasn’t too bad. The breeze actually helped with the heat. It can’t get any worse than this.” McIntosh said his threesome he played in was so competitive that one of the players shot even par and the other was two-under.

“The difference is we’re home and they’re not,” McIntosh chuckled. Horace Miller, another veteran member of the team, shot a 81. He was just as stunned as McIntosh, not so much about the scores, but rather the condition they played in. “It was quite humid out there. As you can see I’m dripping wet,” Miller pointed out. “I started out shaky, but I came through on the back nine. I played much better.” As the tournament continues, Miller is hoping that

Team Bahamas will pick it up a bit. “We’re positive. We have some ball strikers out there,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a home course advantage. These young fellows play college and so they make the adjustment. But we are home so I guess we could do much better.” The Bahamas’ best performance on the day came from DeVaughn Robinson with a 73, followed by Richard Gibson Jr with 79. Steven Kemp admitted that he got off to a disappointing start, but has vowed to improve on his 80 as the tournament progresses. On the ladies’ side, the Bahamas’ best performance came from Inecia Rolle with an 80. “Even though the tournament just started, I’m quite happy with my performance,” pointed out Rolle, who is making her third appearance on the national team. “I know I could do better, but this is just the first day and I expect to get better as the days go on. With the tournament at home, Rolle said they can rely on the support from their family members and friends, so expect over the next three days for Team Bahamas to remain “a pretty strong team. “We’re sticking together, just gleaning our best every day. We are leaving everything out there.” Sharidan Robinson was the next best player for the Bahamas with 86. Bahamas Golf Federation president Glen Archer admitted that things are going very well from an organisational standpoint, but it’s going to be a tough road ahead for the Bahamian players, considering the circumstances they are facing. “The local golfers came in with a lot of interest, ready to play.” he said. “They’re doing quite well. I haven’t seen all of the first round scores, but they have a lot of confidence and we have a lot of confidence in them too. “But one third of the field

this year are junior golfers, mainly coming from the other Caribbean territories and it’s an indication of the structured programme that they have. We, in the federation, are moving in that direction.” With the tournament underway, some of the players from the visiting teams have indicated that they are enjoying themselves. “It feels great. I feel proud to represent my country as this young age,” said Karina Matabatal, one of the youngest players in the tournament at age 16. “I had a rough day today, I shot 89. The course was a bit long for me because I don’t hit the ball that far, but it was kind of windy on the front nine and that got to me. So today was rough. “I just need to take it nice and slow tomorrow. I made a couple of notes that I will look over tonight and try to rectify tomorrow. It’s been a nice experience so far. This is my first time. I’m enjoying it. Leiza Munn Blakeley is the veteran captain of Barbados and she claimed that the first day was a rough one. “At my tender age, it’s very long. I’m playing against some very fresh young girls, but I held my own. I managed to come out on top of my group,” she said. “But I’ve been plying golf for a very long time, since the age of eight, and this is one of the most beautiful courses that I’ve ever seen.” And Erick Morales from Puerto Rico said they are just enjoying their trip and looking forward to putting on a show. “It’s great. The conditions are great. There’s a lot of wind out there. It’s a great tournament and a great country. We’re just enjoying ourselves,” he said. “This is like home, a lot of wind, so you just have to learn to adjust and get better day by day.” • See the scoreboard for individual scores

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 27, 2016, PAGE 3

Meet our Olympians Name: Dustin E Tynes Age: 20 High School: Bishop Michael Eldon School/ The Baylor School College: The Ohio State University Best subject: Macroeconomics 2002 Event (s): 100 breast stroke Best time (s): 1:01.56 International teams competed on: CARIFTA 2008-2014, CISC 2008, 2010 & 2016, CCCAN 2009, 2011, 2013, Commonwealth Games 2014, Youth Olympic Games 2014, Pan am Games 2015, World Championships 2015 Coached by whom: Andy Knowles, Andy Loveitt, D Rollins (Ohio State) Medals won: CARIFTA, CISC, CCCAN Favourite color: Red Favourite movie: The Matrix Idol: Jeremy Knowles Parents: Elwood and Donna Tynes Sibling(s): Dana Miller, Krizia Tynes, El-

wood Tynes Jr Status - Married, engaged, single: Single Expectations for Rio: Swim a personal best time and better my world rank-

ing • The Tribune is featuring profiles of the Bahamian Olympians daily in the buildup to the 2016 Games in Brazil next month

AUSTRALIANS MOVE INTO RIO OLYMPIC VILLAGE - A FEW DAYS LATE By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Two days after describing the housing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics as “dangerous,” Australian athletes and staff started moving into the massive athletes’ village compound yesterday. Australia team spokesman Mike Tancred said up to 60 delegation members — evenly split between athletes and staff — were checking in. “All we need now is just a bit of plumbing done in three rooms, and some cleaning and our athletes will be moving in tonight,” Tancred said, standing outside the village’s arrival gate. Australians declined to enter their rooms on Sunday after flushed toilets and open taps caused water to gush down walls and

A BEDROOM view of an apartment of the Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP) ceilings in the building. They also complained of electrical shorts and gas leaks. Rio organisers said Tuesday that 21 of 31 buildings were ready, occupied by 600

athletes and 1,800 staff from 120 countries. Organisers said all the buildings would be ready Thursday, barely a week before the games open. The village will accommodate about 18,000 athletes and staff with a dining room serving 60,000 meals daily. After criticising the conditions, Australia has spent two days trying to befriend Brazilians. “It was nothing ever against the Brazilian people,” Tancred said. “It was just a matter that we had to make sure it was all safe for our athletes. But it’s a fantastic village, and we’ve always said that.” The head of Australia’s delegation Killy Chiller said the team complained publicly after working behind the scenes with teams that also had problems. She listed seven other delegations: Britain, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Japan and the

Netherlands. Argentina and Belarus have also complained openly about the conditions. Gerardo Werthein, the president of the Argentina Olympic committee, said on Monday that two of five floors in his building were uninhabitable. “Ours is one of the most affected buildings, as is the Australia one,” Werthein said. Tancred said Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes would hand the team an official key today. Paes harshly criticised Australia, then backed down and said their building was one of the worst prepared in the village. He sarcastically said he was tempted to put “a kangaroo jumping outside” the Australians’ building to make them happy. As it turns out, the mayor will be getting his own gift. “We’re going to give him the boxing kangaroo as a gift,” Tancred said.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, July 27, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

2016 ANNUAL NORTHERN

BAHAMAS BODYBUILDING & FITNESS CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE BIG STAGE: Bodybuilders in Freeport, Grand Bahama, at the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s annual Northern Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships at Regency Theatre on Saturday night. Joey Rolle, Lakeisha Miller, Carina Ferguson, Lorraine LaFleur and Endierich Rahming were the big winners. While Rolle carted off the men’s bodybuilding title, Miller was named the women’s figure champion. Ferguson picked up the women’s bikini crown, LaFleur was the women’s phyique winner and Rahming carried home the men’s physique honour. Here are some more photos of the action. Photos by Vandyke Hepburn/BIS

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Wednesday, July 27, 2016, PAGE 5

Injury anxieties grow but Bolt says ‘sport needs me to win’ By ROB HARRIS AP Sports Writer LONDON (AP) — Whatever controversy is raging in the Olympic world there’s one constant: Usain Bolt’s bravado and self-confidence. It’s what is expected from the world’s fastest man and greatest showman. “I know the sport needs me to win - and come out on top,” Bolt asserts, assessing the damage caused by the Russian doping scandal that has divided sports leaders. As for his pursuit of a treble Olympic treble next month, Bolt adamantly responds: “I’m not going to lose one of the golds, for sure.” In his last lengthy media appointment before heading to Rio de Janeiro, Bolt spent around two hours over a Jamaican lunch last week in London, discussing his Olympic challenge prospects and the challenges of life. When letting his guard down does Bolt sounded less invincible. Weighing on the Jamaican sprinter’s mind is the fear of hitting 30 next month, the toll of injuries - and even being caught up in an extremist attack. “It is scary,” said Bolt, adopting a rare subdued tone. “But if you live scared, you don’t live at all. So I try to live my life to the fullest and when it’s my time, it’s my time.” Bolt recalls being in Munich as news emerged of the truck attack in the French city of Nice on Bastille Day - July 14 - that killed 84

people. Munich was itself the scene of bloodshed last week with a teenager shot dead nine people. Bolt usually goes to Munich every three months to visit his doctor, Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt. “Especially at the start of last year I noticed that injuries take a little bit more time to get back to where you want to be,” Bolt said. “My coach always tells me that the older you get it’s going to get harder, and you have to push yourself.” But coach Glenn Mills also offered him comforting reassurance Bolt still craves, despite being the 100- and 200-metre world record holder. Bolt remembers Mills telling him “don’t worry you’re a champ” at the world championships last year. It was “one of the roughest years,” Bolt said, explaining how his back issue “has really deteriorated over the years.” Bolt’s preparations for the defence of his Olympic titles (100, 200 and 4x100metre relay) have been far from smooth, with a hamstring injury forcing him out of the Jamaican trials. “I always have little doubts in my mind,” Bolt said in a restaurant overlooking London’s St Paul’s Cathedral. “But I’m focused and ready to go.” Unlike many of the world’s top golfers, who have snubbed the chance to go to their first Olympics. “I guess it’s not as important to them as it is to us who have been competing over the years,” Bolt

USAIN BOLT, of Jamaica, poses for photographers after he won the 200 metre race during the Diamond League anniversary games at The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, on July 22. (AP) said. “It surprised me when I heard that golf was going to be in the Olympics. There are a few sports in the Olympics that make me go ‘Argh.’”

At least 105 Russian athletes banned so far By JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer MOSCOW (AP) — At least 105 athletes from the 387-strong Russian Olympic team announced last week have been barred from the Rio Games in connection with the country’s doping scandal. International federations in canoeing, sailing and modern pentathlon ruled out eight yesterday, including an Olympic gold medallist. Rowing added 19 more athletes to three that had previously been announced. Swimming has also barred some athletes. Some appeals are likely. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that Putin had discussed the doping issue with his national security council. “The topic of the recent International Olympic Committee ruling relating to Russian athletes was raised ahead of Putin’s planned meeting tomorrow with the Russian Olympic team,” Peskov was quoted as saying. The vast majority of the Russian athletes who miss out are in track and field, where 67 athletes were ruled out when a ban on the Russian team was upheld at the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week. More are falling foul of new rules imposed in the wake of the country’s doping scandal. While Russia avoided a blanket ban from the International Olympic Committee, it has lost several medal contenders to new IOC rules imposed Sunday banning Russia from entering athletes who previously doped. Alexander Dyachenko, an Olympic champion in 2012, was among five canoeists ruled out after being named in a recent report by World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren alleging a statesponsored doping cover-up. McLaren’s report last week specifically detailed how Russian state officials allegedly intervened to cover up hundreds of failed

drug tests. Dyachenko won gold in the men’s double kayak 200 metres at the 2012 London Games. “The ICF will continue its strong zero-tolerance stance and remove all athletes that contravene its rules in anyway,” said Simon Toulson, the International Canoe Federation’s general secretary. “If you step out of line you won’t make the start line.” The four other banned canoeists are Alexei Korovashkov - a 2012 bronze medallist in the C2 1,000 metres event - Andrei Kraitor, Elena Anyushina and Nataliya Podolskaya. The ICF also said that Russia would not be allowed to enter boats in four events in which the excluded athletes would have raced. Therefore, Austria, Germany, Sweden and Iran are in line to receive their places. World Sailing said Pavel Sozykin, who had been due to race in the 470 class, would be excluded because he was mentioned in the McLaren report. Russia’s other six sailors were approve and Russia is able to nominate a replacement for Sozykin, the federation said. Meanwhile, the International Modern Pentathlon Union named the two Russians it had suspended as Maxim Kustov and Ilya Frolov, saying they both featured in the McLaren report. Kustov’s place in the men’s event passes to a Latvian athlete, while Frolov had only been entered for Rio as a reserve. There are now a total of 22 Russian rowers who have been excluded. They include Ivan Podshivalov and Anastasia Karabelshchikova, who were excluded because they previously served doping bans, while Ivan Balandin from Russia’s men’s eight was implicated in the McLaren report, World Rowing said. The others, according to a release Tuesday, did not meet standards set by the IOC. Meanwhile, volleyball player Alexander Markin told local media he had

been dropped due to a positive test earlier this year for the banned substance meldonium, even though he had not been banned. The international volleyball federation did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The head of the Russian Wrestling Federation told the R-Sport agency that two-time world champion Viktor Lebedev was ineligible because he was given a doping ban in 2006. On Monday, swimming’s world governing body FINA ruled out seven Russians including reigning world 100m breaststroke champion Yulia Efimova. Legal challenges are looming. Efimova’s agent has said he is preparing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the Russian Canoe Federation’s general secretary Irina Sirayeva said that the five banned athletes could follow suit. “The intention to defend the athletes is there,” she told R-Sport. Triple jumper Ekaterina Koneva - a former world championship silver medallist - told local media she was considering a lawsuit in civil court. There was good news for Russia as its judo and shooting teams — comprised 11 and 18 athletes respectively — received approval to compete from their sports’ international governing bodies. Also, Russia also looks set to field a full team of four players in Olympic badminton, the Russian Badminton Federation said Tuesday, citing assurances from the Badminton World Federation. Previously, archery, tennis and equestrian sport’s world governing bodies said they had no objection to the Russians entered in their sports. Lists of Russian athletes approved by international federations must still be approved by CAS arbiters who can reject athletes not tested outside Russia. The IOC refused to accept testing done by Russian agencies because of evidence that the process was corrupted.

The Olympics are unquestionably the pinnacle of track and field. But providing the spectacle desired is proving difficult for the men. “This year is one of the poorest I have ever seen as an Olympic (field) for men really - the women have really shown more promise running fast times,” Bolt said.

“(The men) have really unperformed this season, but I’m sure when we get to the Olympics it won’t be like that.” Bolt expects Rio to be his last Olympics, but he still dangles the possibility of a trip to Tokyo. “My coach always says ‘Usain you can always go on to the 2020 Olympics if you want,’” Bolt said. “So this is

why he tells me to stop talking about retirement and just take it a year at a time.” The power of athletics in attracting big audiences would be more difficult without its global superstar. “People always say to me, ‘Usain when you leave the sport, the sport is going to go down,’” Bolt said. “But I’m not going to look at it like that. There are a lot of athletes stepping up.” Plans to overhaul the sport and make it more exciting have been sidetracked by the Russian doping scandal. The vast majority of the Russian athletes who will miss the Rio Games are are in track and field, where 67 of its 68 athletes were ruled out when a ban on the Russian team was upheld at the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week. Sebastian Coe, head of track and field’s governing body, has to deal with that. But Coe is also the man tasked with making track and field “more exciting,” as Bolt explains. “I’m assuming Seb Coe has a plan,” said Bolt, who advocates more street races. “Over time with different ideas, and the athletes that are coming up, the sport will stay current. It will take a while but I think it will get back to its former glory when I walk away.” Unless he decides to continue, Bolt’s glory era is due to end after the 2017 world championships in London. He is absolutely certain he will be greatly missed. “In football you have the debate who is the best footballer, but no one can debate who the fastest man in the world is,” Bolt said. “It’s going to be a long time, I think, before somebody comes who will be as talented as me to break my records.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 27, 2016, PAGE 7

STOUDEMIRE RETIRES

Roger Federer to miss Olympics, US Open By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer ROGER Federer is sitting out the rest of this season, including the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and US Open, to protect his surgically repaired left knee. Federer wrote on his Facebook page yesterday that he needs “more extensive rehabilitation following my knee surgery earlier this year.” “The doctors advised that if I want to play on the ATP World Tour injury free for another few years, as I intend to do, I must give both my knee and body the proper time to fully recover,” Federer said. The owner of a record 17 Grand Slams titles turns 35 on August 8, so the reference to “another few years” might give his fans increased hope of seeing Federer continue to wield a racket for quite some time. His agent, Tony Godsick, wrote in an email to The Associated Press that Federer’s plan is to “be ready for the start of next year.” Federer is the first member of tennis’ so-called “Big 4” — a group that also includes No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic, 14time major champion Rafael

Nadal and 2012 gold medallist Andy Murray — to pull out of the Rio Games, where that sport’s competition starts on August 6, a day after the opening ceremony. Federer often has spoken about how much the Olympics mean to him, in part because he met his wife, Mirka, when both were athletes at the 2000 Sydney Games. Federer won a silver medal in singles for Switzerland four years ago in London, and he teamed up with Stan Wawrinka to win a gold medal in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In Brazil, Federer was expected to play singles, doubles with Wawrinka, and mixed doubles with Martina Hingis. He is the second big draw who will be missing from the Rio tennis tournament: Fivetime major champion Maria Sharapova won’t be there because she is serving a two-year doping ban. The arthroscopic procedure Federer had on his knee in February, repairing torn cartilage, was the first operation of his lengthy and accomplished career. Federer said he got hurt while preparing a bath for his twin daughters. He’s also had back issues

NEW YORK (AP) — Amare Stoudemire has retired from the NBA after signing his final contract with the New York Knicks. Stoudemire’s greatest team success came in Phoenix as Steve Nash’s pick-androll partner, but he chose to leave the NBA as a member of the Knicks, the team that had a lengthy playoff drought that ended after he signed there in 2010. Stoudemire was a six-time All-Star, but battled knee injuries after his sensational first season in New York, when he became the first Knicks player to be voted an AllStar starter since Patrick Ewing.

three this year. He is a fivetime champion at the US Open and was the runner-up there to Djokovic last year. Federer, who has spent more weeks at No. 1 than anyone in the history of the ATP computerised rankings, currently sits at No. 3, having gone 21-7 this season. Depending on how other players fare, of course, Federer’s ranking will tumble over the course of the rest of the year. He hasn’t played since losing to Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon semi-finals early this month. Federer fell awkwardly during that match, winding up face-down on the Centre Court grass, and had a trainer come out to check on his left knee afterward. Federer said at the time he wasn’t sure how badly he might have been injured. In his statement Tuesday, Federer wrote: “The silver lining is that this experience has made me realise how lucky I have been throughout my career with very few injuries.” And he added: “I am as motivated as ever and plan to put all my energy towards coming back strong, healthy and in shape to play attacking tennis in 2017.”

ROGER FEDERER (AP) this season, missed the French Open to end his record 65-appearance streak at major tournaments, and did not win a title of any sort in 2016 — making it the first year since 2000 that he will finish without at least one trophy. So after participating in every single Grand Slam tournament from the 2000 Australian Open through the 2016 Australian Open, Federer will be sitting out two of the last

WIZARDS RE-SIGN BEAL WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Wizards say they have re-signed shooting guard Bradley Beal. The team did not announce the terms of the deal yesterday, but the AP reported this month that Beal agreed to a five-year contract worth $128 million. Beal, 23, was a restricted free agent. The No. 3 overall draft pick in 2012, he averaged a career-high 17.4 points in his fourth season, pairing with John Wall to form one of the NBA’s most dynamic young backcourts. The biggest question mark about Beal is health. He has never played more than 70 games in a season and has been bothered by stress fractures in his right leg. Last season, he made only 35 starts and 55 appearances as the Wizards went 41-41 and missed the playoffs.

THe WeaTHer repOrT

5-Day Forecast

TOday

OrlandO

High: 95° F/35° C low: 76° F/24° C

Tampa

THursday

FrIday

saTurday

sunday

Sunshine and breezy

Mainly clear

Sunshine and patchy clouds

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Some sun with a t‑storm in the area

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

High: 93°

Low: 79°

High: 92° Low: 79°

High: 93° Low: 77°

High: 91° Low: 78°

High: 92° Low: 78°

AccuWeather RealFeel

103° F

92° F

108°-91° F

113°-87° F

106°-88° F

High: 92° F/33° C low: 77° F/25° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

almanac

aBaCO

High: 88° F/31° C low: 79° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

High: 93° F/34° C low: 81° F/27° C

6‑12 knots

FT. lauderdale

FreepOrT

High: 91° F/33° C low: 81° F/27° C

W S

WesT palm BeaCH

uV inDex toDay

TOnIGHT

High: 91° F/33° C low: 79° F/26° C

mIamI

High: 92° F/33° C low: 80° F/27° C

7‑14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 88° F/31° C Low .................................................... 78° F/26° C Normal high ....................................... 88° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 94° F/34° C Last year’s low ................................... 78° F/25° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date ............................................... 24.11” Normal year to date ................................... 18.93”

eleuTHera

nassau

High: 93° F/34° C low: 79° F/26° C

High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

Key WesT

High: 89° F/32° C low: 80° F/27° C

High: 87° F/31° C low: 80° F/27° C

8‑16 knots

8‑16 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

2:10 a.m. 2:57 p.m.

2.9 3.2

8:27 a.m. 9:14 p.m.

Thursday

3:13 a.m. 4:01 p.m.

2.8 3.3

9:27 a.m. 0.0 10:22 p.m. 0.4

Friday

4:18 a.m. 5:04 p.m.

2.7 3.4

10:29 a.m. 0.0 11:26 p.m. 0.3

Saturday

5:21 a.m. 6:03 p.m.

2.8 3.5

11:29 a.m. 0.0 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Sunday

6:21 a.m. 6:58 p.m.

2.8 3.6

12:26 a.m. 0.2 12:27 p.m. ‑0.1

Monday

7:17 a.m. 7:49 p.m.

2.9 3.6

1:20 a.m. 0.1 1:21 p.m. ‑0.1

Tuesday

8:08 a.m. 8:36 p.m.

3.0 3.6

2:10 a.m. 0.1 2:12 p.m. ‑0.1

0.0 0.4

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:35 a.m. 7:57 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

12:57 a.m. 2:07 p.m.

new

First

Full

last

aug. 2

aug. 10

aug. 18

aug. 24

CaT Island

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

andrOs

san salVadOr

GreaT eXuma

High: 87° F/31° C low: 80° F/27° C

High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C

High: 89° F/32° C low: 81° F/27° C

W S

lOnG Island

insurance management tracking map

High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C

8‑16 knots

mayaGuana High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CrOOKed Island / aCKlIns raGGed Island High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C

High: 86° F/30° C low: 80° F/27° C

GreaT InaGua

High: 89° F/32° C low: 81° F/27° C

10‑20 knots

marine Forecast aBaCO andrOs CaT Island CrOOKed Island eleuTHera FreepOrT GreaT eXuma GreaT InaGua lOnG Island mayaGuana nassau raGGed Island san salVadOr

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS SE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots

WAVES 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 85° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 83° F 83° F 84° F 83° F

PAGE 8, Wednesday, July 27, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

A dinner reception for the stars

HINE BRIGHT: A dinner reception was held at Delphine’s S Room of the Pelican Bay Hotel for our very own Buddy Hield, of the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, and WNBA Connecticut Sun’s Jonquel Jones and family. The private dinner was hosted by the Minister for Grand Bahama and Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe. Photos by Vandyke Hepburn/BIS