2024 was a phenomenal year for Jamaican triple jump star Shanieka Ricketts.

In addition to finally claiming an elusive first Olympic medal of her illustrious career with silver in Paris behind Dominica’s Thea LaFond, the 32-year-old was most recently named as the country’s National Sportswoman of the Year for 2024.

Ricketts’ previous best Olympic finish was fourth at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

 “It’s basically a dream come true. It’s something that has eluded me in my career for a very long time. There were times I felt like giving up but, I just kept in mind that it’s possible, kept working towards it and, to finally have that dream realized, I’m living the dream,” she told Sportsmax.tv at the RJRGleaner Sports Foundation National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards at the Jamaica Pegasus on Friday.

With that weight off her shoulders, the two-time World Championship silver medalist is eyeing up a big 2025 hopefully culminating in gold at the Tokyo World Championships later this year.

“In 2025, I’m looking for more consistency,” she said.

 “I’m definitely putting in the work. Training has been going really well so the sky is the limit,” Ricketts added.

Ricketts also expressed joy at winning the National Sportswoman of the Year award for the first time.

“It means the world to be honored at home. Every time we go out there to compete, it’s about bringing honor to the country so it’s always a wonderful feeling when the country honors our successes,” she said.