What more can one say about Nicolette Fernandes.
Once the `golden girl’ of Guyana’s squash, Nicollete’s retirement in 2017 was supposed to pave the way for her heir apparent to take the throne.
She had trained diligently in a career which spanned 15 years during which time the Canada-born Guyanese reached a career-high rank of number 19 in the world before she decided to say `No mas’.
She had won two Pro tour titles, the Greek Open in 2009 and the International Sports Open in 2012 beating players ranked higher than herself in the process and had also won the Caribbean Area Squash Championships (CARASRA) women’s singles title.
In 2010 she also competed in the men’s division of the national squash championships, and won.
What was not surprising was her win in the women’s division, which was, after all, a foregone conclusion.
When she announced her retirement there was a little hint that it was not final but no one paid any attention.
“I’m just taking a break from squash in general. I felt like it was the right time. I was at peace with where I was with my life and all I had accomplished and it just felt like the right time.
“Squash has been my profession for the last 15 years, so if I continue to play squash now it’s for the sheer love of it, which I do have. I don’t think I will be representing Guyana at the Caribbean Seniors,” she had said at the time.
Five years later, in what was her second coming, Nicolette rose from the `dead’ of retirement to ascend to the highest `heaven’ of Pan Am squash.
It could not have happened to a more deserving player.
Nicolette has finally reaped the rewards of her untiring efforts over the years.
She is an inspiration to the young squash players and should be used as an ambassador for Guyana’s sports.
In winning Pan American gold, she has joined a small band of elite athletes who have won gold medals at the Pan Am Championships.
In fact, Fernandes is only the third Guyanese representing the land of the mighty Kaieteur Falls to win gold at a Pan American event.
The others were Martin `The Mighty Midget’ Diaz and sprinter James Wren-Gilkes
Diaz, a weightlifter, won Pan-American gold at the 1963 Games in Brazil in the 56kg event while Gilkes was the talk of the 1975 games in Mexico City when he destroyed all and sundry in the 200 metre final.
What makes Fernandes feat even more difficult is that she is not in her prime. Additionally she was coming off of retirement and off a COVID-19 pandemic period.
Retirement from a sport discipline oftentimes dull the reflexes that are so necessary for success at the highest level.
Additionally it is even more difficult to regain the required level of fitness necessary to compete at the highest levels of one’s sport.
To be able to achieve the required stamina and fitness to prevail at the highest level is a testament to her discipline and dedication.
Fernandes’ triumph suggest that female squash in Guyana is of an extremely high standard (the women’s team did place third at the Pan Am Championships).
The Guyana Squash Association can and should take a bow and also try to build on Fernandes’ performance.
The team’s bronze medal finish is an obvious fillip for the sport here and the squash association should continue its drive to make Guyana’s squash number one in the Pan Am region.
For Fernandes, the squash association should give her some kind of award and certainly she, along with Wren Gilkes and Diaz, should be in line for some sort of recognition from the government maybe an award such as the Golden Arrow of Achievement.
It’s the least they can do.
