JamaicaNews
Audra Segree; The Jamaican champion girl
BY JOSEPH CUNNINGHAM
Audra Segree made history as a member of Jamaica’s first ever female team to compete in the women’s bobsleigh competition, which took place at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
This proved to be another achievement that would again highlight the small-sized island of Jamaica and its people ‘punching far above its weight class.’ It is this indomitable spirit that allowed Audra and her teammates to record another historic bobsleigh achievement, qualifying for the Winter Olympics. What we have to remember is that the island of Jamaica does not have any period of snow; none whatsoever.
The name Audra means “noble strength.”
Nothing short of this quality could have brought her to local and international prominence, “Yes, I have achieved quite a bit as an athlete representing my beloved Jamaica, but it hasn’t always been a smooth journey,” she reminisced.
“I started out in sports as a 100m and 200m sprinter at the high school level and then for Jamaica, but I was plagued by injuries,” she revealed. At the world renowned Boys’ & Girls’ Athletics Championships held annually in Jamaica, Audra placed 4th in the 100m, won the bronze medal in the 200m and struck gold in the 4 x 100m relay for Holmwood Technical during her final year of high school in 2009. This was a very powerful year for Audra, and it was a year that she was least affected by injuries. She then represented Jamaica at the senior level at the Commonwealth Games and at the CAC Games where she won silver as part of the 4 x 100m relay team.
“Interestingly, during my career as a sprinter I was exposed to bobsleigh by Wayne Thomas, one of Jamaica’s coaches. I had two training stints in 2014 and 2015 at his request. I went to Salt Lake City, Utah with the team, and although it was cold I enjoyed the experience. I think what got him curious was the possibility of having a talented sprinter with speed and strength on the team, knowing that this would significantly improve the team’s time in order to compete with the fast times of powerhouse teams in the sport.”
Two years after being introduced to the sport of bobsleigh; Audra sustained an ankle injury, which ended her career as a sprinter in 2017. “Being exposed to bobsleigh while I was still in track and field was like a divine occurrence. I could not have predicted that after sustaining a career ending injury as a sprinter, my involvement in sports would have continued via bobsleigh. Thankfully, though I am no longer able to sprint for 100m, the short sprint for bobsleigh suits me.”
The Olympic bobsleigh team made Jamaica proud amidst technical challenges, finishing in the top 20, 19th to be specific. “We actually went into the finals predicted to finish in the top 5. Then our sled starting giving all sorts of problems and it became an uphill task. I thank God for his blessings on the team though. Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian, Carrie Russell – another former Jamaican sprinter and I made history.”
Thankful for the experience, Audra (who received her name after her mother watched a western film starred by a character called Audra) has indeed herself achieved stardom via a decorated journey. And the journey continues…
Approaching the 2022 Winter Olympics, she has her eyes set on yet another historic achievement. She is currently training in her new winter sporting discipline called the skeleton. Already being recognized as Jamaica’s first female skeleton in history, her mission is now to be Jamaica’s first female skeleton to qualify for the Olympics. The next Winter Olympics will be in 2022 in Beijing,China.
When asked by Toronto Caribbean News, what it is that she believes needs to happen in order to be numbered among the best at skeleton, she replied, “Equipment.” She is currently in need of ‘runners’ blades for the bottom of her sled in order to practice in the best possible way.
“It is a joy to represent Jamaica. Wherever I go to compete I feel as if I am in Jamaica because everybody is so amused by what they have heard, seen or experienced. As a result, it doesn’t matter where in the world I am competing, the people can be heard shouting Jamaica. I encourage Jamaicans to support bobsleigh. It is another discipline of sports that we can be the best at.”
You can support Audra Segree by following her on:
- Instagram @audra_segree
- Facebook @Audra Segree
