KNIGHT-WISDOM...it would be amazing to chase a fourth Olympic Games, but there isn’t much money in diving.
It is hard not to be impressed by the sheer willpower and determination of Jamaica’s diving flagbearer Yona Knight-Wisdom.
While it is not surprising, as Olympians are often seen as the epitome of human performance given their incredible physical and mental strength, the manner in which Knight-Wisdom conducts himself is so businesslike that his financial challenges pale in comparison to his performances.
Despite having very little financial backing since he rose to prominence as Jamaica’s first-ever male diver to compete at the Commonwealth Games in 2014, Knight-wisdom has never lost hope and continues to establish himself on the global stage.
But while his ambition and immense ability shines through like the noonday sun, Knight-Wisdom is once again left contemplating his future in the sport, as he believes the hard work and sacrifice that goes into a thriving career means very little without the necessary funding.
This, as the task of achieving the Olympic dream requires financial accessibility, which Knight-Wisdom seldom has, as he sometimes struggles to make ends meet where preparation for, and getting into competitions are concerned.
It is for this reason why the talented diver, who recently qualified to represent Jamaica at a third-consecutive Olympic Games, might not push for a fourth, as the sport has been cruel in returning dividends on his spend.
“There are many factors that I will have to take into consideration when looking at the future. I think my body would be able to cope with another four years because I’m very professional and committed to doing things in the right way,” he declared.
“The main question for me is value. Of course, it would be amazing to chase a fourth Olympic Games, but there isn’t much money in diving, it takes a lot of personal and financial sacrifice, and I need to figure out if there is enough value in it,” Knight-Wisdom told SportsMax.TV from his base in the United Kingdom.
Though Knight-Wisdom’s hardship isn’t unique, as many athletes look for ways to make ends meet while training, it is the grace and faith that the English-born diver, whose mother is Barbadian and father Jamaican, exudes as he represents the country with much gusto that stands out.
Like his admirers, Knight-Wisdom continues to bask in the fact that he will again represent the country at a third consecutive Olympic Games, as he recently secured an automatic quota spot to this summer’s Paris Olympics Games.
Unlike Rio in 2016 and Tokyo 2020, this qualification struck an emotional chord for Knight-Wisdom, whose progress was derailed by ruptured rectus femoris tendons in his left knee late in 2022, which required surgery and months of rehabilitation for recovery.
“Yes, the emotion certainly caught me briefly after the preliminary round. Competing against 70 other divers and doing a dive every 50 minutes or so was a major mental battle…when you know you can’t afford to make a big mistake with each dive, 50 minutes is a lot of time for your brain to play tricks on you,” Knight-Wisdom shared.
“The hard work I put in before my injury and the motivation to recover and get ready for 2024 meant that I was feeling good and confident coming into this event, so I’m grateful and relieved it has resulted in a positive outcome,” he added.
That confidence stemmed from the fact that Knight-Wisdom sets appropriate goals, which helps to track his progress and provides feedback about the areas of his dives that need to be strengthened.
Add to that the fact that he holds strict expectations which does not allow for areas of his dives to be weak, thereby ensuring that he gives a capital effort on each occasion.
Still, the results were not always what he expected along the way.
But given his unwavering commitment and determination to reap success for the black, green and gold, Knight-Wisdom kept plugging away at training knowing very well that it takes flawless routines to turn his fortunes around.
The 28-year-old has shown in the past that he possesses enough ability to rise to the occasion when it matters most, and that he did at the World Aquatics Championships, where he ended with a semi-final score of 368.95.
“My performances were actually a little lower than I was hoping for, though that is because I anticipated the qualification standard would be a little higher than it was in the end. My dives were good and solid throughout, with only one major mistake in the semi-final, but they all need to be refined and improved to attract even higher scores from the judges when I do them well. But overall, my performances were similar to how my training has been, so I have no complaints,” Knight-Wisdom said.
“This time round I think I was more expectant that I would qualify, even considering the injury. It definitely wasn’t a certainty, but I wasn’t relying on hope and belief as much as I was for Rio or Tokyo. I feel like I’ve done what most people, including myself, thought I would do. I don’t think many people will be shocked or surprised that I have qualified this time so it did sink in very quickly and I was straight to thinking how I can get better,” he reasoned.
That said, the lanky six-foot tall diver declared his intentions to possibly spring a surprise in Paris, provided he maintains a clean bill of health to improve on his current vein of form.
“I’d love to put myself in a position to produce a shocking result in the summer. I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” he stated.
“This (qualification) was another stepping stone on my journey back to peak performance, a potential obstacle successfully negotiated, so I will just continue working on improving the finer details of my dives and on more consistent execution. My confidence will continue to build going forward which will be displayed in my dives,” Knight-Wisdom ended.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Hubert Busby aims to build on positives after Reggae Girlz two-match triumph over South Africa
Jamaica’s Head coach, Hubert Busby, took heart from a successful two-match friendly series against South Africa, as he intends to use the victories as a foundation to sharpen his Reggae Girlz ahead of critical future competitions.
The Reggae Girlz, who dominated the first match with a 3-0 win last Friday, followed up with a hard-fought 3-2 victory in the second match on Monday at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall.
Goals from Vyan Sampson (58th), Drew Spence (63rd), and substitute Kayla McKenna (76th) overturned Linda Motlhalo’s 19th-minute opener and rendered Amogeland Motau’s added-time strike inconsequential.
For Busby, the series wasn’t just about securing wins but about testing the squad in challenging scenarios.
This, as he pointed out that the quick turnaround between matches posed a physical challenge for both teams, but in the same breath, stressed the importance of resilience and adaptability, particularly after a lackluster first half in the second game.
“Yeah, I mean, look, the quick turnaround for both teams was always going to be a little bit tedious. You could see that a little bit in the first half—us trying to find our legs a bit. Credit to the medical and high-performance staff for getting the players ready,” Busby said post-match.
“These games are why we play them. We're going to be put in stressful situations; I wouldn't like it to be as stressful in the 90th minute, but that's football, you know, and credit to the team for how they responded and were worthy winners in the end,” he added.
Busby credited late adjustments for the team’s second-half resurgence after a lukewarm first half. They struggled to find rhythm and squandered a few half chances against a more confident-looking South African outfit that moved the ball well on this occasion.
“We recognized how they were building their play, so we spoke about it at halftime and showed the players what we wanted to do in terms of pressing higher. They responded really well, and those adjustments and then the impetus of players to carry out those instructions is really why we were able to turn around the game in the second half,” he explained.
Despite the team’s offensive prowess, Busby admitted disappointment at failing to maintain a clean sheet.
“Keeping a clean sheet is about the whole team and shows a good defensive performance. Overall, I still think we played well, but football is about moments. We have to manage those moments better because quality opposition at this level will punish you if we don’t. So it’s another chance for us to learn, grow, and take it into the next window,” he said.
The tactician also addressed the absence of veteran Tiffany Cameron, explaining that the decision allowed younger players to gain valuable experience as they aim to balance development and performance.
“Everybody here is ready. This camp was about evaluating players and seeing how they handle stressful situations. Tiffany is a veteran, so we know what she brings. But it’s also about embedding younger players into the group because it is us building a programme so that we can go to this 2027 World Cup and consecutive World Cups thereafter,” he stated.
With the February international window next in their line of sight, Busby is already planning for tougher tests to further prepare the team for the World Cup qualifiers.
“Plans are already in place to get an opposition. We’ve had conversations with different federations, and we’ll confirm that in the next four to five weeks. Another quality opposition that is going to test us in a stressful environment will make us better for World Cup qualifiers,” he ended.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old goalkeeper Liya Brooks, who earned her first two caps during the series, welcomed the opportunity.
“For me, it was kind of like a weight lifted off my shoulders. I knew the team had my back, and that made it easier. I'll say that I feel like my communication with my team is quite solid, and I feel like that's probably the most important thing.
“Moving forward, it’s about getting comfortable and learning my teammates individually. Also to make sure that I'm locked in and focused for every ball played back, and just making sure that I take time to breathe and live in the moment and also ensure that I'm confident in what I'm doing,” Brooks shared.
Mount Pleasant crush Molynes United 4-0 to go top Jamaica Premier League table
Mount Pleasant FA delivered a commanding performance on Sunday, defeating Molynes United 4-0 at Drax Hall to reclaim the top spot in the Jamaica Premier League standings. The victory, their third in succession, extended Mount Pleasant's unbeaten streak.
Substitute Shaqueil Bradford starred with a second-half double, breaking the resistance of a Molynes team that had come into the match on a two-game winning run. The win puts Mount Pleasant on 25 points from 12 games, while Molynes remain in 12th place with 10 points, precariously just one point above the relegation zone.
Mount Pleasant could have taken the lead earlier, but Daniel Green missed a penalty in the 35th minute. However, the home side eventually found the breakthrough in the 56th minute when Raheem Edwards slotted home. Bradford then took over, scoring twice in quick succession in the 66th and 74th minutes, before Nicholas Nelson rounded off the victory with an 83rd-minute goal.
Tivoli Gardens secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season, edging Chapelton Maroons 3-2 at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex. Goals from Nickalia Fuller (11') and Kavan Wilson (34') gave Tivoli an early 2-0 lead, but Leaughn Williams (38') and Jahvon James (60') brought Chapelton level. With the game finely poised, Shaquille Jones scored the decisive goal in the 78th minute, lifting Tivoli to eighth place with 13 points.
Dunbeholden United staged a dramatic comeback at home, scoring twice late to earn a 3-3 draw against Portmore United. The visitors appeared to be cruising, leading 3-1 after goals from Tarick Ximines (18'), Nickoy Gayle (49'), and Emilio Rosseau (72'). Dunbeholden, however, refused to go quietly. Chantamoi Taylor (61') gave them a lifeline, followed by strikes from Shakeen Powell (75') and Chevoy Watkin (90+1'), rescuing a point in added time.
At the Ferdie Neita Sports Complex, Racing United and Humble Lion played to a 1-1 draw. Nickyle Ellis opened the scoring for Racing United in the 47th minute, but Roshane Sharpe equalized in the 58th minute, ensuring both teams shared the spoils.
Mount Pleasant’s dominant display and unbeaten streak keep them in pole position as the league heats up. With more exciting fixtures ahead, the race for the Jamaica Premier League title continues to intensify.
Long overdue: Busby, Shaw celebrate winning homecoming as Girlz outclass Banyana Banyana
Reggae Girlz Head coach Hubert Busby and captain Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw spoke glowingly about the team’s emphatic display in their opening friendly international against South Africa as they highlighted the 3-0 win as a special homecoming for the core World Cup group, who last played in Jamaica over a year ago.
Shaw led the charge with a brace, and Siobhan Wilson scored a stunning opener in the performance that offered a blend of triumph and promise at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Friday.
With the win marking their first victory since the Fifa Women’s World Cup group stages last year, an elated Busby called it “long overdue” as he also praised the crowd’s support. The second game is scheduled for Monday at the same venue.
“First, it was a great result, long overdue; and secondly, we’re just absolutely thrilled to have the people and the fans supporting us. We’re blessed to have one of the best strikers [Shaw] in the world playing in a Jamaica jersey, and it is great to have her back,” Busby said at a post-game press conference.
The match saw Jamaica dominate the proceedings, as Shaw struck in the 55th and 83rd minutes after Wilson’s opener in the 43rd. Despite the commanding scoreline, Busby emphasized that the focus was on executing a complete team performance.
Reggae Girlz Head coach Hubert Busby (left) in discussion with assistant Deon Burton.
“We’re here to win football matches, but really it’s about the performance. We talked about completing a 90-minute performance, and I was really pleased. I think for us, the connector was making sure that we're keeping the ball moving and supplying the balls to our forward, but also making sure that we're dictating the tempo,” Busby shared.
“We haven't done a good enough job at keeping clean sheets recently, and that has been a foundation for our success last year, so that’s also a really positive aspect to take from this game,” he noted.
The coach also heaped praise on 19-year-old goalkeeper Liya Brooks, who made her debut and impressed with a composed display.
“She looked like a veteran, flawless, as if she'd played 20 games. It speaks to the depth of the programme we’re building. So, I am really happy for her and the team as a whole because we really defended well and kept the shape,” Busby shared.
With the Reggae Girlz looking ahead to the qualification cycle for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, Busby stressed the importance of building depth and nurturing young talent as his team still has room for growth.
“Look, everyone who's eligible to play for Jamaica is under consideration. I think it's not just about bringing players in; it's about improving the ones we have as well, creating a culture of excellence, and ensuring that it's a competitive environment. So we’re always looking for players who can add value to the group,” said Busby.
“So it is about making additions to improve it if need be. We had about six teenagers in the group coming in to this game as well, so really pleased to have those players and see how they kind of matriculate to the system as well,” he added.
For Shaw, the match was not just a victory but a personal milestone. After a difficult recovery from injury, she returned in style, showcasing the poise and sharpness that have made her one of the world’s premier forwards.
“Yeah, long 14 months away, but it’s good to get back in the rhythm, reconnect with the coaching staff and players, and I am just happy to get the result,” she said.
“It’s always good to put the jersey back on; the past months were difficult with my injury, but I worked on myself mentally and physically to ensure I was fully fit to return. Back home, in front of my people and family, it’s an amazing feeling,” Shaw declared.
The Manchester City striker’s determination to keep improving was evident, even as she celebrated her brace.
“I missed a chance just before I scored the second goal. Even though I’m scoring, I think I can go even higher with what I’m capable of so I always look for ways to improve,” she said as she pointed out that environment plays a crucial role in her success.
“The environment makes or breaks you. The support around me, both at the club and national levels, helps me flourish. I just have to keep improving and growing, on and off the field,” Shaw ended.
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