Squash Queen, Nicolette Fernandes embodies the cliche’, Form is temporary, class is permanent.’
This cliche is made up of two short statements. The first, form is temporary, means that form, or a player’s current level, their recent performances, are transitory, or will change soon, are not lasting.
The second statement, class is permanent, means that class, or natural ability, skill, a player’s real level, is permanent. Permanent means unchanging, something that lasts forever.
A great player does not morph into a bad player suddenly. A prime example of this is the 39 year-old Fernandes, who earned her sixth Sportswoman-of-the-Year award last Sunday, almost 15 years after winning her fifth.
Fernandes who turns 40 in June, added the coveted award to her glittering collection after unbelievably winning it in the years 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2009. The highly-decorated athlete, who has achieved numerous accolades during her illustrious career, including one of Guyana’s highest National Awards, the Medal of Service (MS) will certainly savour her latest achievement. Despite a stellar 2022 season, Fernandes opines that the sixth award could possibly be her last.
“When I was younger and in the thick of my athletic career, my function was to constantly chase the next tournament, the next goal. Very little consideration was given to how much time or opportunities I had left. As an old girl now, in athletic terms, I can cherish this a little more than I did in the past, especially as I know this could very well be my last. It is an absolute honour!”
During her 2022 campaign, Fernandes showed her class and rolled back her years of excellence to win gold at the Pan American Squash Championships in April in Guatemala. She then became the first Guyanese to win a World Master’s title after securing the gold medal at the World Master’s Championship last August in Poland.
Fernandes capped her overseas duties in October with a silver medal in the Women’s Singles at the South American Games in Paraguay exemplifying that age is just a number.
“At the beginning of 2022, I did not think all that was possible, it is important to understand that 2022 came as somewhat surprising for me, it felt like a second chance,” said the evergreen Fernandes.
Fernandes said the achievement allows her to reflect and be thankful for her squash journey and stated that her father, Robert, who passed away two years ago would have been proud. Fernandes also thanked Carl Ince and Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal for playing major roles in her success.
She concluded by revealing that for the 2023 season, her goal is to help the national squash team to qualify for and compete at the Pan American Games in Chile in October. With her class, that mission could be possible.
