She pursued higher education at the University of Texas in Austin, TX, USA. This academic foundation complemented her athletic pursuits, providing a balanced approach to her career.

Awards and Honours

Her achievements in athletics have been recognised with numerous awards. Notably, she was named the 2008 Jamaican Female Athlete of the Year. This accolade highlighted her exceptional performance and dedication to the sport.

Ambitions

Looking ahead, she aimed to defend her 400m hurdles Olympic title at the London 2012 Olympics. This goal underscored her commitment to maintaining her status as one of the top athletes in her discipline.

Running on the Flat

Despite her success in the 400m hurdles, she expressed uncertainty about her potential in the 400m flat event. She acknowledged that while she had performed well in 4x400m relays as a sprinter, it had been some time since she competed in this format.

"I'm not sure. I'm not a lover of the flat 400, neither the 400 hurdles, but it's working for me and I'm grateful for the 400m hurdles," she said. "Over the years I have run 4x400s and run really great, but that's when I was a sprinter."

She planned to test her abilities in a few flat 400m races in 2012 to evaluate her potential. This experimentation would help determine if she could excel in this event as well.

Celebratory Tumble

One memorable moment from her career occurred after winning a gold medal at the 2009 IAAF World Championships. During her lap of honour, she jumped on the back of Berlino the Bear, the official mascot. However, Berlino crashed into carts picking up hurdles, causing both to fall.

This athlete's journey is marked by resilience and adaptability. From switching sports due to injury to achieving record-breaking times, she has demonstrated remarkable perseverance. Her future ambitions and past accolades reflect a career dedicated to excellence in athletics.