In what could turn out to be her final Olympics, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie was honored with one final tribute by her teammates and officials of Team Bahamas last night.

For the second consecutive Olympiad, she was chosen as the flag bearer for The Bahamas, and now she can only hope that these Beijing Olympics end the same way the 2004 Games did for her — with a glorious medal winning run.

Ferguson-McKenzie has already gone on record to say that she will hang up the cleats after the 2010 season. She has done it all in a lengthy career which stems all the way from her junior high days at C.C. Sweeting Jr. She has won at every level.

Ferguson-McKenzie is a former New Providence high school champion, a former NCAA double sprint champion, a former Commonwealth Games champion, a former World Champion courtesy of Marion Jones' drug admission, a former relay Olympic Champion and the reigning Olympic bronze medalist in the women's 200 meters (m). Ferguson-McKenzie also serves on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Athletes Commission.

It was Ferguson-McKenzie who first came to the aid of veteran long jumper Jackie Edwards, when Edwards was not ratified as a member on this year's Olympic team, and now with Edwards, they will have opportunities to end their Olympic careers on positive notes.

Reinstated as a member of the team a few days ago, a proud and relieved Edwards was just a few steps behind Ferguson-McKenzie in the parade of nations at a spectacular cultural and inspiring opening ceremony of these 29th Olympic Games.

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