Jamaica's diving flag-bearer Yona Knight-Wisdom (left) and teammate Yohan Eskrick-Parkinson practice their synchro techniques during a training session recently
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He may not quite be back to optimum health just yet, but Jamaica's diving flag-bearer Yona Knight-Wisdom believes he is well enough to produce something special, in not one, but possibly three events, at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games later this month.
Though it won't be his first outing since recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured rectus femoris tendons in his left knee late last year, the 24th staging of the June 23 to July 8 Games in El Salvador, will be Knight-Wisdom's first major event of the season, and he is overly excited about the prospects.
"My recovery has been incredible. I’ve put in some serious hard work trying to ensure I’m as close to my best as possible in time for the summer, and I’d say I’m almost there. I’m excited for this CAC Games because I feel I have a point to prove to myself as I was disappointed with my last CAC performance in 2018," Knight-Wisdom told SportsMax.tv from his base in the United Kingdom.
Despite missing the mark at a World Aquatics event earlier this year, the British-born diver, whose mother is Barbadian and father Jamaican, was upbeat about that performance in his comeback, after a careful build up, which he said serves as added motivation, particularly from a mental perspective.
It would have been easy for Knight-Wisdom to throw in the towel on his dream of making a third-consecutive Olympic Games appearance when he initially picked up the injury, but his stubborn determination and unwavering desire to represent Jamaica as long as possible, wouldn't allow him to give in.
"It was a World Cup in Montreal, and I finished 13th, just missing out on the final by four points, but that was enough to qualify me for the super final. I was super surprised by that outcome because I beat some really good divers, granted they didn’t perform as well as they could’ve done," Knight-Wisdom, who is the first diver to represent Jamaica at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games, shared.
"But it was a really good motivational boost for me to keep on pushing through the challenges of rehab. It showed me my mental strength is immense and my approach to injury was that of a truly professional athlete, and I’m really proud of myself for that.... could’ve been easy to just give up, but I didn't," he noted.
With a number of events still to come this season, the 27-year-old, who represented Jamaica at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games in Rio and Tokyo, respectively, considers this CAC Games outing an opportunity to really gauge himself, as remains resolute in his pursuit to rewrite the history books.
In fact, it is clear for all to see that Knight-Wisdom, standing just over six feet tall, is well aware that the challenge of overcoming seemingly insurmountable hardships or failure is the foundation from which true victory begins.
"The last couple of months were beneficial, and I’ve even come a long way since those (World Aquatics) events. My quality is definitely still there, the only question mark is consistency as I’ve been progressing so rapidly every week, it feels a little different to the one before. So, I don’t know what to expect, but my knee is holding up and I still have a lot of confidence in myself," he declared.
After the CAC Games, Knight-Wisdom will look to the World Diving Championships in Japan as his first avenue to secure qualification for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Should he fail to make the top 12 there, he would have another shot at qualify at the World Cup Super-Final in August, after which he will have the Pan American (PanAm) Games in October where he will seek to replicate or even surpass his historic 1-metre springboard silver medal-winning performance from Lima in 2019.
Having contested only the 1m and 3m springboard dives for most of his career, Knight-Wisdom welcomes the addition of Yohan Eskrick-Parkinson to Jamaica's diving programme, which now allows him to compete in synchro competitions.
"I’m hoping my synchro partner will also qualify so I can get to do three events there too. So, I’ve got three opportunities to fight for medals and I’d love to come away with three medals," Knight-Wisdom said.
"I’ve learned over the years that readiness in diving doesn’t really matter, I’ve had some great performances from subpar preparation and vice versa. I’ve put in the work so I can give my best with confidence, but I’m just happy that I can compete as my recovery could’ve been way more problematic," he ended.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Caymanas Park to celebrate retired horses with historic raceday
In a groundbreaking initiative, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) has partnered with the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) to host the inaugural Thoroughbred Aftercare Raceday at Caymanas Park on Saturday, November 23. This historic event, the first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean, underscores the racing industry's commitment to responsible practices and the welfare of retired racehorses.
The dedicated raceday represents a significant step toward formalizing the retirement process for Jamaica’s thoroughbreds. Chris Wills, Vice President of Administration at SVREL, expressed pride in the initiative.
“This raceday is of special significance to us and is sure to become a staple on our racing calendar,” said Wills. “It’s a testament to our commitment to the animals that are the heart of our sport. We’re proud to partner with the JRC in taking proactive steps to ensure the dignity and care of the horses beyond their racing careers.”
The Jamaica Racing Commission, which oversees the largest population of thoroughbred horses on the island, has long championed initiatives to support racehorse welfare. Dr. Simone Johnally, the Commission Veterinarian at the JRC, emphasized the importance of honoring these horses and providing for their well-being after their racing days are over.
“These beautiful creatures spend an average of eight years within the racing product but have a lifespan of up to 30 years and deserve to be honored and provided with the care and support they need throughout their lives,” Dr. Johnally said.
She highlighted the versatility of retired racehorses, which often transition into new roles such as outrider ponies, trail and pleasure riding companions, members of the Mounted Troop Police, or participants in equestrian sports like show jumping, dressage, and polo. Additionally, retired horses can contribute to agriculture, equine-assisted therapy, and even serve as blood donors for medical institutions.
In recognition of the organizations supporting this vital cause, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Raceday will feature nine races, each named after key partner organizations. This creative approach not only celebrates collaboration but also raises awareness of the importance of aftercare for retired racehorses.
The event marks a crucial moment for Jamaica’s racing industry, setting a precedent for responsible racing practices and ensuring that the animals at the heart of the sport are treated with dignity and care throughout their lives. With initiatives like this, Caymanas Park is poised to lead the way in promoting horse welfare across the region.
Rhone Hornsby Trophy an added delight for Sunshine Girls, England in Horizon Series battle
Jamaica's Sunshine Girls and England's Vitality Roses, who are currently half way through their four-match Horizon Series, will have added motivation heading into the next two games as the winner of the series will cop the Rhone Hornsby Trophy.
The new series trophy is named in honour of Molly Rhone OJ, CD, OD on behalf of Netball Jamaica and Jean Hornsby on behalf of England Netball. This home and away series between Jamaica and England will become a fixture on the international calendar for the next four years.
Molly Rhone has a long and distinguished period of service as a sports administrator and former national netball player. She served as president of the Jamaica Netball Association for ten years between 1993 and 2003 and eventually became president of AFNA (Americas Netball) and President of the International Netball Federation from 2003 to 2019, the only Jamaican to ever head an international sporting body.
Jean Hornsby was an outstanding netball player and is the first black player to represent England. She played wing defense for the national U21 team for four years (1974–1978) and was captain for two of the four years. She went on to represent England in the 1979 World Netball Tournament (now known as the Netball World Cup). She has stayed close to the sport over the years. She has declared that she holds fond memories of Jamaica, where she visited for the first time in 1975.
Rhone and Hornsby have greatly impacted the sport of netball in their individual countries, at the regional level and the world stage, and have contributed to the growth and development of netball in their unique ways.
The Rhone Hornsby Trophy will be presented for the first time in Jamaica at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) in Kingston to the winner of the four-match Horizon Series.
England currently lead the tie 1-0 following a 55-47 win in the second contest at the AO Arena in Manchester. The first game ended in a 49-49 stalemate.
Jamaica's Sunshine Girls are eagerly looking forward to the next two matches, which are scheduled for Monday at 6:30pm and Tuesday at 7:00pm.
NB: Action can be seen live on SportsMax and the SportsMax app.
Moca FC's Baez, Correa sanctioned by Concacaf Disciplinary Committee for violent conduct in Carib Cup semis clash against Cavalier
The Concacaf Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned players Miguel Baez and Jesus Correa of Dominican Republic club Moca FC for incidents that occurred during their Concacaf Caribbean Cup second-leg semi-final match against Jamaica’s Cavalier FC on Thursday, October 30.
After considering the documentation and evidence gathered during its investigation and based on the competition regulations and the applicable disciplinary code, the Disciplinary Committee has imposed Miguel Baez a six-match suspension and Jesus Correa a three-match suspension for violent conduct.
The sanctions include the automatic one-match suspension for the on-field direct red cards given to each player during that 7-0 beating in Kingston.
Both Baez and Correa must serve their suspensions during the upcoming 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup third-place matches and future editions of the competition.
Moca FC is scheduled to meet Haiti's Real Hope FC in that home-and-away tie on November 26 and December 3 to determine the next Caribbean representative that will contest next year's Concacaf Champions Cup. Finalists Cavalier and Cibao FC, also of the Dominican Republic, have secured automatic berths.
Meanwhile, the Disciplinary Committee has also warned the players and the club that more severe sanctions could be taken should incidents occur during future matches.
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