Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie

{{Short description|Bahamian sprinter (born 1976)}}

{{EngvarB|date=October 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{MedalTableTop|Debbie Ferguson.jpg|220px|Ferguson-McKenzie at the 2009 World Championships}}

{{MedalSport|Women's Athletics}}

{{MedalCountry|{{BAH}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}

{{MedalGold |2000 Sydney|4x100 m relay}}

{{MedalSilver|1996 Atlanta|4x100 m relay}}

{{MedalBronze|2004 Athens|200 m}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}

{{MedalGold|1999 Seville|4x100 m relay}}

{{MedalGold|2001 Edmonton|200 m}}

{{MedalSilver|2009 Berlin|4x100 m relay}}

{{MedalBronze|2009 Berlin|200 m}}

{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}}

{{MedalGold|1999 Winnipeg|200 m}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Athletics Final}}

{{MedalSilver|2004 Monaco|200 m}}

{{MedalSilver|2007 Stuttgart|200 m}}

{{MedalCompetition|CAC Championships In Athletics}}

{{MedalGold |1997 San Juan|100 m}}

{{MedalGold|1997 Grenada|4x100 m relay}}

{{MedalGold|2003 Grenada|4x100 m relay}}

{{MedalGold|2008 Cali|200 m}}

{{MedalSilver|1993 Cali|200 m}}

{{MedalSilver|1993 Cali|4x100 m relay}}

{{Medal|Bronze|2008 Cali|4×100 m relay}}

{{Medal|Bronze|2013 Morelia|4×100 m relay}}

{{MedalCompetition|Commonwealth Games}}

{{MedalGold|2002 Manchester|100 m}}

{{MedalGold|2002 Manchester|200 m}}

{{MedalGold|2002 Manchester|4x100 m relay}}

{{MedalCompetition|Continental Cup}}

{{MedalGold|2002 Madrid|200 m}}

{{MedalGold|2002 Madrid|4x100 m relay}}

{{MedalGold|2006 Athens|4x100 m relay}}

{{MedalGold|2010 Split|4×100m relay}}

{{MedalCompetition|Goodwill Games}}

{{MedalGold|1998 Uniondale|4x100 m relay}}

{{MedalGold|2001 Brisbane|200 m}}

{{MedalCompetition|CAC Junior Championships (U20)}}

{{MedalGold|1994 Port of Spain|100 m}}

{{MedalSilver|1994 Port of Spain|200 m}}

{{MedalCompetition|CAC Junior Championships (U17)}}

{{MedalGold|1990 Havana|4x400 m relay}}

{{MedalGold|1992 Tegucigalpa|100 m}}

{{MedalGold|1992 Tegucigalpa|200 m}}

{{MedalBronze|1990 Havana|Pentathlon}}

{{MedalBronze|1990 Havana|4x100 m relay}}

{{MedalCompetition|CARIFTA Games
Junior (U20)}}

{{MedalGold|1994 Bridgetown|100m}}

{{MedalGold|1994 Bridgetown|200m}}

{{MedalGold|1995 George Town|100m}}

{{MedalGold|1995 George Town|200m}}

{{MedalGold|1995 George Town|4x100m relay}}

{{MedalSilver|1992 Nassau|4x100m relay}}

{{MedalSilver|1992 Nassau|4x400m relay}}

{{MedalSilver|1993 Fort-de-France|4x100m relay}}

{{MedalSilver|1993 Fort-de-France|4x400m relay}}

{{MedalSilver|1994 Bridgetown|4x100m relay}}

{{MedalSilver|1994 Bridgetown|4x400m relay}}

{{MedalSilver|1995 George Town|4x400m relay}}

{{MedalBronze|1993 Fort-de-France|100m}}

{{MedalCompetition|CARIFTA Games
Youth (U17)}}

{{MedalGold|1991 Port of Spain|100m}}

{{MedalGold|1992 Nassau|100m}}

{{MedalSilver|1992 Nassau|200m}}

{{MedalSilver|1992 Nassau|400m}}

{{MedalBronze|1991 Port of Spain|200m}}

{{MedalBottom}}

Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (born 16 January 1976) is a former Bahamian sprinter who specialised in the 100 and 200 metres.{{cite web|url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/8/8000868.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909173929/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/8/8000868.shtml|archive-date=9 September 2008|url-status=dead|title=Athlete biography: Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie|website=Beijing2008.cn|access-date=27 August 2008}} Ferguson-McKenzie participated in five Olympics.

Ferguson-McKenzie is assistant coach of track and field at University of Kentucky. Previously, she coached for four years at the University of Houston.{{cite web|url=https://lex18.com/sports/vaughts-views/2019/02/21/five-time-olympian-debbie-ferguson-mckenzie-loves-being-part-of-kentucky-track/|title=Five-Time Olympian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie Loves Being Part Of Kentucky Track|date=21 February 2019|website=WLEX|access-date=14 October 2019}}

In 1995, she was awarded the Austin Sealy Trophy for the

most outstanding athlete of the 1995 CARIFTA Games.{{citation|title=Carifta Games Magazine, Part 2|url=http://www.cariftagames2011.herobo.com/web_documents/carifta_magazine_sm_part2.pdf|publisher=Carifta Games 2011|access-date=12 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425061142/http://www.cariftagames2011.herobo.com/web_documents/carifta_magazine_sm_part2.pdf|archive-date=25 April 2012}}{{citation|title=Carifta Games Magazine, Part 3|url=http://www.cariftagames2011.herobo.com/web_documents/carifta_magazine_sm_part3.pdf|publisher=Carifta Games 2011|access-date=12 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425061211/http://www.cariftagames2011.herobo.com/web_documents/carifta_magazine_sm_part3.pdf|archive-date=25 April 2012}} In total she won 7 gold, 9 silver, and 2 bronze CARIFTA Games medals.

She had her first major successes with the Bahamian 4×100 metres relay team, winning gold at the Pan American Games and World Championships in Athletics in 1999, and taking another gold at the Olympic Games the following year. She won her first individual gold medal at the 2001 World Championships – having initially won silver, gold medallist Marion Jones was later disqualified.

The 2002 season was a career high for Ferguson-McKenzie: she won five gold medals, with victories at the IAAF World Cup and Grand Prix Final, and a 100 m, 200 m and relay gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Her performance in the 100 m remains a personal best, and her time in the 200 m was a commonwealth games record and fastest by any athlete that year.[https://www.iaaf.org/records/toplists/sprints/200-metres/outdoor/women/senior/2002?page=9 200 Metres 2002]. IAAF (14 October 2004). Retrieved 14 October 2019. She won her only individual Olympic medal in 2004, taking bronze in the 200 m. Injury ruled her out for the whole of 2005.Saunders, Gerrino (13 July 2006). [http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=123&a=9058 BAAA Lists Surprising ‘Times’]. The Bahama Journal. Retrieved 22 July 2009. She failed to reach the finals at the 2007 World Championships, unable to compete with the new generation of American and Jamaican sprinters.[https://www.iaaf.org/records/toplists/sprints/100-metres/outdoor/women/senior/2007?page=3 100 Metres 2007]. IAAF. (4 April 2008). Retrieved 14 October 2019. However, she managed to reach the 100 and 200 metres finals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

She was the previous 200 m national record holder with a best of 22.19 seconds. Her record was broken by Shaunae Miller-Uibo (22.05 seconds) at the 2016 Jamaica Grand Prix. Her 100 m best (10.91) is the second fastest time by a Bahamian after Chandra Sturrup.

In 2014 Ferguson-McKenzie became the women's sprints and hurdles coach for the track and field program at the University of Houston.{{cite news|url=https://uhcougars.com/news/2014/7/31/Cougars_Welcome_Track_and_Field_Great_Debbie_Ferguson_McKenzie.aspx|title=Cougars Welcome Track and Field Great Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie|publisher=Houston Cougars Track & Field|date=31 July 2014|access-date=14 October 2019}}

Ferguson-McKenzie was coached some part of her professional career by Henry Rolle.