EFJ pic Novelette Harris (left), the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) Member Relations Manager (with responsibility for education and training), points to a photo spread showing Jamaica's Equestrian Olympian, Samantha Albert, as she performed in the Eventing dressage, cross country and show jumping disciplines at the Olympic Games. Occasion was the launch of the JOA's Elite Training for equestrian athletes at the JOA's headquarters, Olympic manor, on Cunningham Avenue in Kingston. Loking on are (from left) Albert, Heidi Lalor, President of the Equestrian Federation of Jamaica, Ryan Foster, Secretary General/CEO, JOA and JOA President, Christopher Samuda.
The Equestrian Federation of Jamaica (EFJ) expressed confidence in raising the level of its competitors to perform better in international competition, following the first instalment of an elite training programme hosted by the sports' governing body here, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA).
Eight of Jamaica's leading prospects in the sport, along with their horses, participated in the development programme that saw the JOA and EFJ partnering with Samantha Albert, who represented Jamaica in the equestrian discipline of Eventing at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games.
Samantha currently resides in the UK and coaches young athletes for British Eventing, but jumped at the opportunity to run a series of training programmes to impart her knowledge and expertise and give back to local equestrians.
The primary target of the first JOA Elite Training series, which was held at the Kingston Polo Club recently involved developing and coaching a local talent squad in three disciplines - show jumping, dressage and cross-country.
“It's a proud moment for me to see this partnership between a Jamaican Olympian, the JOA and equestrians. This is the beginning of structured local squad training and by offering this calibre of international expertise on the island we will raise the standard and work towards the bigger picture," offered EFJ President, Heidi Lalor.
"While continuity remains key, the JOA Elite riders also gained invaluable knowledge to further progress themselves and their horses to achieve their goals,” Lalor added of the three-day exercise.
The course was open to eligible athletes of the national federation who have serious aspirations to train and compete for Jamaica and Novelette Harris, the JOA's Member Relations Manager (with responsibility for education and training), reaffirmed the JOA's goal to advance talent in all sports.
“The JOA remains committed to providing the necessary support and resources to actualize our mission to grow the sport and sporting talent across all disciplines within our membership,” Harris said.
"In this regard, we are pleased to have partnered with the Equestrian Federation of Jamaica in hosting this elite training programme for local equestrians and look forward to their continued advancement and development into an Olympic squad,” she added.
Riders were put through their paces with various training techniques, along with forward planning discussions offering personalised tactical advice and 'homework' for the riders and their horses. They had the added benefit of an international course on home soil with the purpose of further bridging the gap between national and international competition, and ultimately a Jamaican Olympic team.
Denise Cole Avril, one of the elite participants, said the programme was "very intensive and a great experience".
"Samantha brought another eye to my training and allowed me to see some things that I may have been missing myself that automatically improved my riding skill," she noted. "Our training with Samantha allowed me to explore my options with respect to competing at the regional and international levels and the qualifications, as well as the commitment to get there.
Continuing, Cole Avril added: "Samantha was very effective, knowledgeable and easy to work with. She was very open-minded and was happy to get our feedback throughout the process. The knowledge and experience that she brought to the table is not only something that our sport needs, but all sports. The support of having someone that has been through the ringer is invaluable. "Thank you to the Equestrian Federation of Jamaica and the Jamaica Olympic Association for this collaboration," she said.
Lalor noted the combined efforts and its reflection in the show of commitment. "The riders, horses and coach Samantha Albert felt the benefits and saw results by the third day," said Lalor. "This is a testament to the commitment and motivation displayed."
Michael Johnson optimistic about bright future for field events amid rise of track-centric meets
Legendary sprinter Michael Johnson, the founder of the upcoming Grand Slam Track (GST) series, is confident that field events will not be sidelined despite the emergence of track-only competitions like GST and September's all-woman Athlos NY meet. Instead, Johnson envisions a future where field events flourish in their own right, buoyed by specialized leagues and platforms.
Grand Slam Track recently announced its inaugural season for 2025, with meets scheduled in Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. As excitement builds for the all-track format, concerns have surfaced about the potential marginalization of field events like the shot put, discus, javelin, and triple jump. However, responding to a query from Sportsmax.TV, Johnson dismissed these fears, offering a compelling case for optimism.
“I think you will see quite the opposite,” Johnson said. “Ryan Crouser, the Olympic champion and world record holder in the shot put, is going to start his vision for a throws league that is specifically for the throws where the fans who actually appreciate those events and understand the great athleticism that is required for those events can actually be closer to the action. And so those events don’t fall secondary to what’s happening on the track, and I have offered my support to Ryan for that.”
Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and former 200m and 400m world record holder, pointed to Crouser’s initiative as an example of how specialized leagues can elevate field events.
“So I don’t think you will see those events continue to go away. I think it’s the exact opposite,” Johnson continued. “I think that there has been inspiration around how you now create leagues for those events as well, where you can make those events more prominent.”
Field events have experienced a resurgence in recent years, with Caribbean athletes making significant strides on the global stage. Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott and Grenada’s Anderson Peters have won Olympic and World Championship medals in the javelin. Jamaica's Roje Stona set an Olympic record to win gold in the discus, with compatriot Rajindra Campbell claiming shot put bronze. Dominica’s Thea LaFond made history by winning her country’s first Olympic medal, a gold in the triple jump, ahead of Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts, a two-time World Championship silver medalist.
Johnson believes specialized leagues and tailored events are key to ensuring that these athletes and their disciplines receive the recognition they deserve.
“Right now, they’re getting lost in a huge stadium where fans far away can’t actually see and appreciate the athleticism,” Johnson explained. “So I think that this [Grand Slam Track] paves the way for a brighter future for the field events.”
Grand Slam Track’s inaugural season promises to bring a fresh, dynamic format to track events, while Johnson’s endorsement of field-event-specific leagues highlights his broader vision for athletics as a sport. With initiatives like Crouser’s throws league on the horizon, Johnson’s optimism reflects a shift toward creating dedicated platforms for all disciplines to shine.
The 2025 GST series, set to kick off with a meet in Kingston from April 4-, marks an exciting evolution for the sport. As Johnson’s vision takes shape, the future appears brighter not just for track athletes but for the field-event stars whose talents deserve a stage of their own.
JOA awards cash rewards to Olympic medalists, unveils JMD$300m investment for LA 2028
The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) celebrated the achievements of Jamaica’s medalists from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in a lavish ceremony at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston on Saturday night. During the event, the JOA not only rewarded the athletes for their extraordinary performances but also announced a groundbreaking $300 million investment for the 2028 Olympic cycle.
Highlighting the evening was the presentation of cash rewards to the Paris Olympic medalists. Gold medalist Roje Stona was awarded JMD$3 million for his remarkable achievement, while silver medalists Kishane Thompson, Wayne Pinnock and Shanieka Ricketts received JMD$1.5 million each. Bronze medalists Rajindra Campbell and Rasheed Broadbell were each rewarded with JMD$1 million. Additionally, Jaydon Hibbert, the Olympic Spirit Award winner, recognized his outstanding sportsmanship, will receive JMD$500,000.
In his address, JOA Secretary General Ryan Foster emphasized the significance of recognizing excellence and the JOA’s commitment to supporting Jamaica’s athletes. “Excellence is not time bound. It is timeless,” Foster said. “So whenever and wherever the JOA observes it, we will applaud with respect and record for posterity while saluting our Olympic ambassadors, those inspired change-makers of a great sporting heritage of which the Olympic movement is the cornerstone.”
Olympic medalists with their plaques and trophies from left to right: Wayne Pinnock, Rajindra Campbell, Shanieka Ricketts, Roje Stona, Kishane Thompson, and Rasheed Broadbell. At right is rising star Jaydon Hibbert.
Foster also unveiled a JMD$250 million investment plan for the next Olympic cycle, targeting key areas critical to athlete development. The funding will support scholarships and grants for 12 athletes aiming to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, amounting to JMD$80 million over the quadrennial. These funds will cover training, attendance at qualifying events, transportation, nutritional support, and access to advanced technology.
An additional JMD$50 million will be invested in an equipment grant, ensuring athletes have the tools they need to train and compete effectively. Coaching scholarships, amounting to $50 million, will bolster the expertise of national and elite coaches, fostering the development of athletes at all levels. A travel grant of JMD$70 million will ensure that athletes can participate in crucial Olympic qualifying events without financial barriers.
In summing up the JOA’s approach, Foster underscored the organization’s role as a key player in the sporting financial market. “The JOA is a major player in the sporting financial market as we continue to amass capital by brokering innovative partnerships and employing prudent strategies,” he said. “The Olympic Reward is an investment instrument that we have created, the dividends of which are payable to deserving sportsmen and women.”
Looking ahead to the conclusion of the 2028 Olympic cycle, Foster revealed that $50 million is already being set aside for the next Olympic Salute, ensuring that future successes are met with equal recognition. “At the end of this Olympic cycle culminating in LA 2028, we will salute again, and of course, it is hoped that this investment of JMD$250 million will reap even greater dividends for our athletes,” he stated.
Foster closed by reinforcing the JOA’s unwavering dedication to the athletes and their success. “We salute your excellence and will continue to provide avenues to monetize your hard work and your brand,” he said.
The event was a testament to the JOA’s belief in Jamaica’s athletes and their potential to achieve greatness, both now and in the future.
Jamaica Olympic Association endorses Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series debut in Kingston
The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has thrown its full support behind the highly anticipated Grand Slam Track series, a pioneering track and field competition created by American Olympic icon Michael Johnson. Kingston’s National Stadium will host the inaugural event from April 4-6, 2025, marking a historic occasion as Jamaica kicks off a global series that merges elite competition with cultural celebration in select cities worldwide.
In endorsing the Grand Slam Track initiative, JOA President Christopher Samuda highlighted the series’ alignment with the evolving nature of sports as both a business and a cultural experience. “The economy of sport is continually diversifying its product offerings,” Samuda said. “This move merits support, for yesterday’s novelty in sport is becoming today’s norm of business innovation in a global enterprise where changing the game has become a pre-requisite of staying in the game and winning the grand slam.”
The Grand Slam Track series promises substantial financial rewards for competitors, a prospect that appeals to both athletes and sports financiers. JOA Secretary General/CEO Ryan Foster outlined the benefits, emphasizing that Grand Slam Track supports the JOA’s vision for sustainable athletic growth. “The grand slam track will not only pay dividends for aspirations invested initially in sweat equity and maturing in bonus payments,” Foster said, “which is a qualitative strategy of the JOA, but, more importantly, the meets will provide self-actualising opportunities for athletes and value for money for fans.”
Beyond the prize money, the JOA sees Grand Slam Track as a platform for continuous, high-level competition, helping athletes prepare for the Olympics by fostering ongoing development through regular, intense matchups. “On the other side of the minted coin of sport, top-ranking athletes will be able to constantly measure performance against character as they compete continually against each other,” Foster explained, adding that it is “in conditioning themselves for the premier event, the Olympic Games,” that athletes will truly benefit from the series.
Drawing inspiration from other global sports formats like tennis and Formula One, Grand Slam Track aims to create an experience that celebrates the culture of each host city. This aspect particularly resonates with the JOA’s vision of sports as a cultural and economic driver. “The concept is allied to the advocacy of the JOA,” Samuda noted, “as we treat sporting events as experiences in physical culture, fan engagement, cuisine, music, entertainment, and tourism—all of which are drivers in creating a viable sports industry.”
The JOA’s backing of Grand Slam Track aligns with its commitment to sports innovation, a mission that led the association to launch the “Olympic Destiny” series in 2021. This JOA initiative was designed to prepare Jamaican athletes for the Tokyo Olympics amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Olympic Destiny series offered incentives for athletes and fostered historic performances, including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s national record-setting 10.63s sprint in the 100m. That experience, Samuda pointed out, was “a first in the history of the sport,” underscoring the JOA’s commitment to driving progress and championing local talent on a global stage.
With the JOA’s endorsement, Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track is poised to deliver a unique blend of high-stakes competition and cultural celebration, solidifying Jamaica’s position as a host for world-class athletic events and creating a new chapter in track and field’s evolution.
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