Masters Sports Coming Of Age

He has won two bronze medals, competing for this country in the World Masters. His forte is the hammer/weight throw/weight pentathlon combination.

In recent times, under the jurisdiction of the Bahamas Powerlifting Association, he has gotten involved in Olynmpic Weight Lifting.

Sterling is certainly your authentic masters athlete.

His achievements and consistent presence in a sports category that is rapidly becoming quite popular around the world, beg for the formation of a specific entity for masters in the country.

We had a chat earlier this week, and this Special Education Sports Teacher at Blairwood Academy, is dedicated to making an even greater contribution on the world masters stage for The Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Interestingly enough although has enhanced the Bahamas' image through his competition against world peers, and considers he and his wife to be Bahamians, they still don't have full status.

Its truly amazing how candidates for Bahamian citizenship who clearly demonstrate their loyalty to this country are held back from being granted status while others seem to just glide through. A case in point is Derrick Atkins. A lad with strong Jamaican roots, he however went through his early schooling here, competed on national junior teams, graduated and got a scholarship to Dickinson State University in North Dakota, enrolled as a Bahamian, competed as a Bahamian and established several new sprint records for the school and in the region as a Bahamian. He was not provided with full status without a fight.

Many others who never came close to making the contributions Atkins made, were certified before him. Now as the second fastest man in the world if you judge by his silver medal at the World Championships last year, Bahamians all over are proud of him.

Well, Mark Sterling has made Bahamians proud also, although his profile is not that of Derrick Atkins.

I support him to be the catalyst for the establishment for the National Masters Sports Council.

There should be one in place. Perhaps he can get with the Swift Masters Swimming folks, other masters enthusiasts like Foster Dorsett of track and field, Hon. Dr. Norman Gay of volleyball, boxing and body building and Rex Burnside of Powerlifting.

The time is ripe for the formation of such a body.

Congratulations Mark for your fine world efforts and best wishes for the future.

You have supporters.