For the entire island of Barbados, Sada Williams’ bronze medal performance may as well have been gold as her efforts in the women’s 400-metre final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships triggered national joy and pride. 

Williams ran a stellar national record of 49.75 seconds to complete a Caribbean sweep of the medals behind Bahamian winner Shaunae Miller-Uibo (in 49.11s) and Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic (in 49.60s). 

It was a final that saw six Caribbean women—two from Jamaica, two from the Dominican Republic, one Bahamian and one Barbadian—vie for global supremacy. 

Barbados erupted in online celebrations after Williams crossed the line in third, claiming the island’s first-ever World Championships women’s medal and second since Shane Brathwaite’s gold medal performance at the 2007 World Youth Championships. 

The feat is even more impressive considering Barbados sent only three athletes to the World Championships—Williams, Jonathan Jones and Brathwaite—all of whom progressed through their respective women’s 400m, men’s 400m and men’s 110m hurdles rounds to qualify for each individual final. 

Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, led torrential Bajan showers of praise for Williams, as she congratulated the 24-year-old for a race well-run. 

“I am sure, like many other Bajans tonight, I was cheering on for Sada Williams! I am so proud! She has done us all proud here in Barbados by taking home the bronze in the Women’s 400m World Athletics Championships final!” a doting Mottley tweeted last night. 

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Arguably the most heartwarming bit of Bajan pride was citizens thanking respected Jamaican track club MVP, specifically ace coach Stephen Francis, for their contribution to Williams’ success in the final.

Nation Barbados sports journalist Anmar Goodridge-Boyce extended heartfelt gratitude saying, “Stephen Francis and coaching staff at MVP track club in Jamaica, on the behalf of every Barbadian, thank you from the bottom of our hearts”.

For their part, MVP’s reply on Twitter was just as touching: “We at MVP Track & Field Club humbly thank Barbados for providing us with the opportunity to coach Sada Williams to earning the first World Championship medal by a Bajan woman and the 2nd ever medal for Barbados at a World Champs.”

See placement of all Caribbean finalists below:

• Bahamas | Shaune Miller-Uibo, 49.11 seconds (gold medal)
• Dominican Republic | Marileidy Paulino, 49.60s (silver medal)
• Barbados | Sada Williams, 49.75s (bronze medal, national record)
• Jamaica | Stephanie-Ann McPherson, 50.36s (fifth)
• Dominican Republic | Fiordaliza Cofil, 50.57s (sixth)
• Jamaica | Candice McLeod, 50.78s (seventh).