The athletics world mourns the loss of George Vincent Rhoden, a Jamaican sporting icon and two-time Olympic gold medalist, who passed away at the age of 97 on August 24, 2024. Rhoden was the last surviving member of Jamaica's historic 4x400m relay team that clinched gold at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, marking a significant moment in Jamaica’s rich athletic history.
Born on December 13, 1926, in Kingston, Jamaica, Rhoden’s journey to Olympic greatness began in the late 1940s, where he emerged as one of the leading long sprinters of his era. Alongside his compatriots Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley, Rhoden helped establish Jamaica as a dominant force in athletics during the post-war period.
Rhoden first competed in the 1948 London Olympics, where he participated in the 100m and 400m events. Although he did not secure a medal in London, it was a precursor to the greatness that would follow. Rhoden and his teammates were expected to perform strongly in the 4x400m relay, but a muscle injury to Wint during the final dashed their hopes of a medal.
Undeterred, Rhoden continued to build on his successes. On August 22, 1950, he set a new world record in the 400m, clocking 45.8 seconds in Eskilstuna, Sweden. His dominance in the 400m was further cemented by his victories in the AAU championships from 1949 to 1951 and the NCAA championships while at Morgan State University, where he claimed titles in the 220-yard (200m) and 440-yard (400m) events.
Rhoden’s crowning achievement came at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he was a pre-race favorite in the 400m. In a thrilling race, Rhoden narrowly edged out his fellow Jamaican and close friend, Herb McKenley, to claim the gold medal. But Rhoden’s Olympic glory did not end there. As the anchor leg of Jamaica’s 4x400m relay team, he led his team to victory, securing a second gold medal and setting a new world record of 3:03.9. This victory was especially sweet, as it came against the United States, the country where Rhoden had made his home after moving to San Francisco.
Rhoden’s legacy is one of perseverance, excellence, and national pride. His achievements paved the way for future generations of Jamaican athletes, setting a standard of excellence that continues to inspire.
As the last surviving member of that legendary 1952 relay team—comprising Rhoden, Herb McKenley, Arthur Wint, and Les Laing—his passing marks the end of an era for Jamaican athletics. Rhoden’s contributions to the sport, both on and off the track, will be remembered as a cornerstone of Jamaica's rich sporting heritage.
George Rhoden is survived by his family, friends, and a grateful nation that will forever honor his contributions to Jamaica's sporting legacy.
Mixed 4x400m quartet, Dunn finish fourth, ninth in finals as Jamaica medalless on day one of World U-20 Champs
Jamaica’s shot putter Shaiquan Dunn and the mixed 4x400m relay quartet both failed to get the country on the medal board at the World Under-20 Championships despite credible efforts in their respective finals in Lima, Peru, on Tuesday.
With both finalists on the cards, expectations were high that Jamaica would bring the curtains down on the opening day of the five-day championships with at least one medal, but it was not to be.
The quartet of Demarco Bennett, Shanniqua Williams, Marcinho Rose, and Alliah Baker entered the final with the fastest time, but struggled to keep pace with the early front runners and had to settle for fourth at the end.
They clocked a season’s best 3:22.74, behind the Australians, who won in a national record of 3:19.27. Poland (3:20.44) and China (3:21.27) were second and third.
Meanwhile, Dunn, contesting the shot put final, took his time to get going and, as such, was unable to get anywhere close to his personal best of 20.01. He placed ninth as he failed to register a mark on his first attempt, but later hit 18.92m on his third round effort and just failed to squeeze into the top eight to secure three additional throws.
Cuba’s Emmanuel Ramirez was 10th with a best throw of 18.42.
Caribbean rising stars through to 100m finals at World U-20 Champs
The Caribbean will be well represented in the men’s and women’s 100m finals at the World Under-20 Championships as the main protagonists safely progressed from their respective semi-finals in Lima, Peru, on Tuesday.
Jamaica’s Deandre Daley cruised to victory in semi-final one to lead the men’s qualifiers with his 10.34s. Japan’s Naoki Nishioka (10.43s) also progressed.
Another Jamaican and medal favourite, Gary Card, was beaten into third in semi-final two, but his 10.39s was good enough for one of the fastest non-automatic qualifying spots. The race was won by Thailand’s Puripol Boonson (10.30s), ahead of South African Bradley Nkoana (10.30s). Carlos Brown Jr (10.63s) of the Bahamas missed out.
The other finalists are Bayanda Walaza (10.33s) of South Africa, Teddy Wilson (10.35s) of Great Britain, and China’s Jinxian He (10.36s).
On the women’s side, Kishawna Niles of Barbados easily progressed from semi-final one, which she topped in 11.39s ahead of Great Britain’s Nia Wedderburn-Goodison, who was also timed at 11.39s. Dominican Republic’s Liranyi Alonso (11.89s) finished down the track and missed out.
Jamaica’s Olympian Alana Reid expectedly topped semi-final two in 11.44s, ahead of Nigerian Justina Tiana Eyakpobeyan (11.56s).
British Virgin Islands Olympian Adaejah Hodge (11.59s) booked her spot in the final as she placed second in the third semi-final behind Germany’s Chelsea Kadiri, who won in 11.52s. Puerto Rico’s Frances Colon (11.74s) was fourth but failed to secure one of the fastest non-automatic spots.
The 100m finals are scheduled for 6:30pm Jamaica time on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Lebron James of Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica’s Addison Alickson James both failed to progress to the men’s javelin finals. Lebron James threw a best of 62.67m for 13th and Addison James mustered 60.58m for 15th in Group A.
Hodge, Reid lead all qualifiers to Women’s 100m semis at World U-20 Championships in Lima; Card, Daley safely through to Men’s semis
Two of the medal favorites in the Women’s 100m at the World Athletics U-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, Jamaica’s Alana Reid and BVI’s Adaejah Hodge, both successfully advanced from the heats on Tuesday’s opening day of the youth track and field showcase.
Hodge was first up, competing in the first heat alongside Caribbean counterpart Kishawna Niles from Barbados.
As expected, Hodge cruised to 11.45, the fastest time in the heats, to win ahead of Niles who will also be in the semifinals after running 11.63 in second.
Reid, Jamaica’s national junior 100m record holder, was up next in the third heat.
The former Hydel High standout, who represented her country in the Women’s 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics recently, ran a comfortable 11.46 to win her heat.
Dominican Republic’s Liranyi Alonso (11.77) and Puerto Rico’s Frances Colon (11.83) also booked spots in the semi-finals.
On the Men’s side, Jamaica’s Gary Card and Deandre Daley secured safe passage through to the semifinals.
Card, who has a personal and season’s best of 10.07 which he did to defeat Daley at the JAAA National Junior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston in June, eased to a time of 10.40 to win the fifth heat.
Daley, a 10.08 performer at his best, recovered from a stumble at the start of his race to cruise home in 10.37 to win heat six.
Bahamian Carlos Brown Jr (10.48) also made it through to the semis scheduled for later on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, Jamaica’s quartet of Demarco Bennett, Nastassia Fletcher, Marcinho Rose and Alliah Baker advanced to the final of the Mixed 4x400m relay with a time of 3:24.77 to finish second in their heat behind Germany who won in 3:24.10.
In the field, Jamaica’s Shaiquan Dunn threw 19.53m to advance to the final of the Men’s shot put.
In the triple jump, Jamaica’s Chavez Penn barely booked a spot in the final, jumping 15.32m to take the twelfth and final spot, finishing just two centimeters ahead of Colombia’s Santiago Theran.
Trinidad & Tobago's Janae De Gannes produced 6.03m to advance to the final of the women's long jump.
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