Triumph in Tokyo

2025 TRIUMPH IN TOKYO

SHELLY-ANN THOMPSON Quiet Giants The Rise and Resilience of Jamaica’s World-Class Field Event Stars

2007 Osaka: Maurice Smith’s versatility earns silver in the decathlon, showcasing Jamaica’s multi event potential. 2015 Beijing: O’Dayne Richards launches the shot 21.69 metres, a national record and Jamaica’s first global medal in the event, a bronze medal. 2019 Doha: In a landmark World Championships, Tajay Gayle stuns the world with an 8.69m leap, landing him a world lead, national record, and Jamaica’s first ever global long jump title. 2019 Doha: Fedrick Dacres claims silver in the men’s discus, another Jamaican first. 2019 Doha: Danniel Thomas Dodd earns a silver medal in the women’s shot put. 2019 Doha: Shanieka Ricketts takes silver in the triple jump.

F or decades, Jamaica’s heroics and lightning fast legends. But away from the straightaways and curves, another story has been unfolding. It’s a tale of sand pits, high bars, heavy implements, and measured precision. Jamaica’s field event athletes have carved out a history that, while quieter than the sprint headlines, is still incredibly compelling. In the build up to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo so far, the conversation has turned to the warriors of the field. That’s because several Jamaican born athletes have switched allegiance to other nations, but many fans feel that those who remain steadfast reputation in athletics has been defined by blistering sprint finishes, major relay under the black, green, and gold deserve more than faint praise. They deserve celebration. FROM GOTHENBURG TO GLOBAL GOLD: JAMAICA’S FIELD EVENT MILESTONES Jamaica’s journey in the field events at the World Championships is marked by moments of brilliance and historic firsts: 1995 Gothenburg: James Beckford soars into history with a silver in the men’s long jump. It’s Jamaica’s first ever major field medal. 2003 Paris: Beckford strikes silver again, proving his world class consistency.

2005 Helsinki: Trecia Kaye Smith claims gold in the triple jump, the first ever by a Jamaican in a global field event. A successful 2-way horizontal jumper, James Beckford won silver in every global championships for Jamaica, missing gold in the long jump by 4cm in Paris 2003.

After barely missing an Olympic medal in Athens the year before, the imposing Trecia-Kaye Smith won the world championship in the triple jump at Helsinki 2005 and later two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.