Sucking from a bag of sugar cane, baseball cap firmly pulled tight to hide the bad hair day, Cydonie Mothersill is a picture of serenity. One of the physically toughest years of the sprint queen’s life was all made worthwhile when she won
the 200 metres at the trouble-plagued Commonwealth Games in Delhi last month.
It marked 15 years of toil on tracks all over the world for the 32-year-old speedster and a first major gold medal following her world championship bronze in 2001. It was also Cayman’s first major track gold, an achievement put into context by sports minister Mark Scotland
, who highlighted the fact that 71 countries competed in India, representing around 1.9 billion people.
All the negative publicity about how poorly prepared the Games were going into the tournament had washed over Mothersill like the seasoned pro she is. Getting on the podium – ideally in the middle – was her only focus.
We’re sitting at track side at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex and the interview is periodically interrupted by aspiring athletes at their own training session congratulating the golden girl.
The Games were not such a disaster after all. India, with its population of 1.1 billion, has no shortage of manpower, nor rich investors. It just lacks fundamental organisational skills, hence the late panic. Travelling to India, especially Delhi, used to guarantee upset stomachs, and sports stars used to give competing there a swerve. Not anymore. Many Caymanians who went there testify that the food was so exquisite in the athletes’ village that officials from the hotels preferred to eat there. “It was a good Games. If they had had a little more time, it would have been spectacular,” says the munching Mothersill. “It reminded me of the Athens Olympics where the village wasn’t quite finished. At least in Delhi they used a lot of high-end material and it was comfortable. And I never got ‘Delhi Belly’ because I’m always very careful.”
She felt relaxed on the day of the final, which had to be postponed to the following day because the Cypriot athlete, Eleni Artymata, who was the fastest in the semis, was disqualified for running out of her lane. The Cypriots mounted such a vociferous appeal the final was run on the Monday. Artymata failed in her bid. Even if she had run, Mothersill is adamant the outcome would have been the same. Leading up to the final, Mothersill was relaxed and conserved her energy in the heats.
“My adrenaline was pumped up so high it meant I was really going for it. I was coming into the final to win no matter what. It didn’t matter who was in the race. I just wanted to be perfect. I had opened my mind and heart to the possibility that I could walk away with the gold. I never said it to anyone nor the media, I just knew I could do it. When they said the final was postponed, I was really dismayed because I wanted to go then and there. But God has a plan but it doesn’t always work on my timing and it turned out to be fabulous.
“Even though Artymata ran slightly faster than me in the semis, I was determined that she would not cross the line before me in the final. This was my chance to seize the moment and I wasn’t going to let someone to come in and disturb the mental state I had. I just thought I would need to run faster.” She won handsomely by four metres and the years of heartache and pain caused by various injuries were all validated.
In the weeks since, the public warmth and adulation has been totally overwhelming for the George Town resident. It included a government organised reception in Heroes Square to present a $5,000 win bonus and brand new Lake Tahoe SUV from Advanced Automotive – in gold, of course.
“It’s been truly humbling. Cayman’s never done anything of this capacity and this grand. I was soaked in the moment and been enjoying all the well wishers. It’s been an awesome feeling and I’m so grateful. It’s good for the country and athletics and good for sports in general that if you do great things that you will be rewarded and people will appreciate you, and it’s a nice feeling.”
Relatives she never knew existed have thankfully not suddenly appeared. When it was one calamity after another – mostly injuries – although she never felt like quitting completely, doubts always arose as to whether she was in the right sport. She probably won’t go on as long as Merlene Ottey, the great Jamaican who is still competing at the international level at age 50, but Cydonie feels there is plenty left in the tank.
“I know I’m talented but talent can only take you that far. But being the girl that I am, no matter what, I always thought I would come back. I’m not a quitter. It never crossed my mind to quit.”
Genuinely surprised when received by hundreds at the Owen Roberts Airport on her return, the surprise and joy on her face was not a facade. “It made me feel all gooey inside, especially seeing all those kids chanting my name. It made me feel good knowing that I had a positive influence on them.”
When she turned up for the congratulatory ceremony, although the spanking new Lake Tahoe with a bow on it drew her attention, receiving the $50,000 vehicle from Advanced Automotive was not even a consideration. “It was a beautiful night. I’m very appreciative of Advance Automotive. I don’t have a car in Cayman, so this is really, really nice. I hope it inspires every child to do good.”
Her best experience with the general public was going into Foster’s Airport supermarket for the first time and being stopped in virtually every aisle and asked to sign an autograph. “I keep saying to my family that they think I’m a celebrity, which I don’t consider myself to be. But it gives you a genuine, humbling feeling. I was on Rooster radio and a phone caller recited a poem he had written.”
Husband Ato Stephens (also an athlete and her occasional coach) and mum Angela Whittaker have kept her grounded, as well as her two best friends, flag football stars Bobeth O’Garro and Scimone Campbell. “They keep me in check. Nothing has really changed, I’m still the same Cydonie. I got some perfume from a lady when I was at the Corner restaurant, that’s about it.”
A member of the Pentacostal New Testament Church of God, Cydonie said the congregation, too, has been extremely supportive. “I’m definitely a spiritual person. Go to church all the time, not just attend occasionally. I really do think about getting my life in order and not doing anything immoral. That’s been my backbone. I come from a spiritual background. Without my church I wouldn’t have made it. There are so many different elements out there. I’m a grownup but it does get scary when you’re out of your comfort zone. When I’m in a plane, I’m always asking God for guidance. It just brings me a calm. For example, I was at the Beijing Olympics. My mum and brother Ariel came along. Before a race I would call her and we would pray.” It worked. She got to the 200m final despite being hampered by injuries. In Beijing she had a conversation with swimmer Shaune Fraser about one or both winning Olympic gold. “We thought it would be really surreal, but two years later I got Commonwealth gold.”
With the world championships next year and the London Olympics after that, maybe there is more gold to be mined.
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