DEON HEMMINGS, 1996 Olympic 400 metre hurdles gold medallist, is well known for sprinting down the track. However, on June 19 she slowed enough to stroll down the aisle and exchange vows with fiancé Michael MacCatty.
Surrounded by family and friends in a simple setting at the Mandeville Anglican Parish Church, it was another gold medal performance for Hemmings.
The couple met 13 years ago after Hemmings graduated from Vere Technical High School and started running for the Windalco Sports Club. They became friends with the help of MacCatty's brother, Hopeton, who was a good friend of Hemmings. The couple remained mutual friends until 2001 when they bumped into each other on a Jamaican bound flight from Florida. The sparks lit up and they started dating.
"I was more focused with track and field and my education and he had his life and more over I was not even thinking about a relationship but the right time came in 2001," said Hemmings, explaining why it took them 10 years to develop their relationship.
Last year March, under a moonlit sky at the Silver Villa in Duncans, Trelawny, MacCatty, a former manager at Windalco in Manchester, now an independent contractor for Century 21 Real Estate in Kingston, popped the question.
"I was shocked, but in a good way, and excited at the same time," said Hemmings who hung up her spikes last year.
"I felt I was getting tied up, but because I knew him very well I know everything will be all right. Moreover I always do my research just as I do in my track and field events, said Hemmings.
For his part, MacCatty is thrilled to be at the finish line with the queen of hurdles. "I'm honoured to have such a sweet person like Deon to be my wife and I'm truly a lucky guy," he told Flair.
The wedding reception was held at Bloomfield Great House in Mandeville with about 100 guests. The Master of Ceremony was Dr. Winston (Freddie) Clarke. CVM-TV sports editor Ian Andrews was the soloist. Maid of Honour was Michelle Hayman, a friend of the bride and Michael Peart, Speaker of the House of Representatives, was the best man. Patrick Anderson, President of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association gave away the bride.
"I love when he calls me darling. He is so pleasant," sighed Hemmings recently - clearly still in honeymoon mode.
Hemmings is an executive member of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association and member of the Athletic Commission of the International Association of Athletic Federation. She is working at a real estate agency, Property Market, in Mandeville.
- Keisha Shakespeare
