This Sunday, July 14th, marks the beginning of the final phase of Olympic preparations for over 135 athletes from 32 countries in the Pan American region. The training camp, hosted in Mulhouse-Alsace, will run until August 4th, serving as a crucial prelude to the Paris Olympic Games.

Located less than three hours from Paris, Mulhouse-Alsace is ready to welcome these athletes from across the Americas. The camp is organized by Panam Sports and the Mulhouse Alsacia Agglomeration, providing an optimal environment for athletes to fine-tune their skills and strategies before heading to the Olympic stage.

 Athletes from Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay will be participating in this comprehensive training camp.

 Training across 15 disciplines, including Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Artistic Gymnastics, Judo, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Swimming, Rowing, Taekwondo, Archery, Shooting Sports, Table Tennis, Triathlon, and Beach Volleyball, the athletes are set to prepare intensely for their respective Olympic events.

 Among the standout athletes is Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic. As a world champion in the 400-meter dash and 4x400 mixed relay, and a silver Olympic medalist from Tokyo 2020, Paulino is set to lead her country as the flag bearer in Paris 2024. Her prowess on the track has earned her two Pan American championships, making her a formidable competitor.

 Ecuador’s Neisi Dajomes, an Olympic champion in weightlifting from Tokyo 2020, will also be training in Mulhouse-Alsace. Dajomes, a world medalist in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and the Pan American champion at Lima 2019, will be carrying her nation's flag at the Olympics.

 Grenada’s Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion in javelin at Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022, and the Pan American champion at Lima 2019, will also be preparing for Paris. Peters’ incredible achievements in javelin mark him as a key athlete to watch.

 Flor Ruiz Hurtado from Colombia, who recently won a silver medal in javelin at the World Championship in Budapest 2023 and is the Pan American champion in Santiago 2023, will be honing her skills at the camp.

 Joining the roster is Angie Palacios of Ecuador, who won the Pan American championship in weightlifting at Santiago 2023 and has secured world medals in 2022 and 2023. Palacios’ continued success highlights her as a significant contender in Paris.

 Panama's gymnastics star, Hillary Herón, will also be training at the camp. As the Pan American vice-champion in 2024 and a bronze medalist at the Gymnastics World Cup in Cairo 2023, Herón is set to make a strong impression at the Olympics.

 Her fellow countrywoman, Karla Navas, who claimed gold at the Doha World Cup in 2024 and is a Pan American champion at Santa Marta 2024, will also be preparing in Mulhouse-Alsace. Navas’ achievements in gymnastics underscore her potential for Olympic success.

 Ecuador's Lisseth Ayovi, who won a silver medal in weightlifting at Santiago 2023 and a bronze medal at the Riyadh 2023 world championship, will be part of this elite training camp. Her strength and dedication are key assets as she prepares for Paris.

 Lastly, Alexander Ogando from the Dominican Republic, a silver Olympic medalist in the 4x400 mixed relay at Tokyo 2020 and the latest world champion at the Paris 2024 Diamond League, will be training with his sights set on Olympic glory.

 The Panam Sports Channel will provide extensive coverage of the training camp and the Olympic Games, broadcasting a daily 30-minute show from Mulhouse starting July 15th. The program will feature interviews, reports, and testimonials, offering a comprehensive look at the athletes' preparations and their journey to the Olympic Games.

 As these athletes embark on their final preparations, the training camp in Mulhouse-Alsace stands as a pivotal point in their journey to Paris 2024, ensuring they are ready to compete at the highest level and make their countries proud on the world stage.

On June 30, at the final day of the Jamaica National Championships held at the National Stadium in Kingston, reigning world 100m hurdles champion Danielle Williams secured her place on her first-ever Olympic team with a second-place finish in 12.53 seconds. This achievement comes at the age of 31, after two previous unsuccessful attempts, marking a significant milestone in her illustrious career.

Williams, who had set the previous national record of 12.32 seconds in 2019, finished behind Ackera Nugent, who won the event with a new national record of 12.28 seconds. Janeek Brown, who previously held the record before Williams, finished third in a season’s best 12.61 seconds.

When asked by Sportsmax.TV about her emotions on making the Jamaica Olympic team for the first time, Williams expressed her gratitude and humility.

"To be honest, I don’t feel any different. I am happy, I’m blessed to be on the team this time around. God is an on-time God. It is His will for me to be on the team this time; the other two times it wasn’t His will, so I’m just giving Him thanks, staying in the moment, staying grounded; going back to work and gearing up for Paris."

Williams had aimed for a faster time, and her second-place finish in 12.53 seconds was a bit surprising given her current form and expectations.

"I felt I would have gone 12.3 or low 12.4, so 12.53 was a bit surprising given the shape I am in and how I felt, but again, God’s time and not my time, and the time will come. I am just happy to finish in the top three."

Reflecting on her world title victory in Budapest last year, Williams emphasized that her confidence heading into the Jamaican championships came from her ability to trust her body rather than her previous win.

"I have always been confident; winning last year didn’t affect my confidence for this year. The confidence I get is that I can trust my body; my body is not failing me this year. I have been able to stay injury-free, and that is all the confidence I need."

Williams' coach, Lennox Graham, acknowledged that there were areas needing improvement for Williams to perform at her best in Paris. Despite her solid performance, Graham saw room for technical refinement.

"You know me; I will always say yes because I am always striving to get better. She ran 12.46 there earlier in the season with a lot of load, and so I could see why she would believe; she would be running well in practice and running 12.46 loaded when she came for the Jamaica Athletic Invitational, there is no way we wouldn’t believe she would run faster."

Graham pinpointed specific issues during the race that need to be addressed.

"She didn’t have a technically good race and she picked a good time to do it because usually in Jamaica you have a technically bad race you run fourth or fifth so it was fortunate for us that she was 12.53 and second. Ackera Nugent ran a great race, 12.28, anywhere you go and run 12.2 (you do well), so we are not taking anything away from her, but I believe Ants was in shape to run faster than 12.5 for sure."

 The coach identified the final hurdles as a critical area needing improvement.

"She was not happy with the last three hurdles I was not happy with the last five because that was where it started going wrong. It’s not something that is unfixable, it’s something that can be adjusted. At the end of the day, the athlete has to go out there and race. We can see the progress being made in practice, but then you have to go out there and race."

Graham elaborated on the technical aspects that need correction.

"Over the last five hurdles, she was just running. The hurdles is a rhythm race, it’s not just running, so you just have to embrace that and make the necessary corrections to make sure that she stays in rhythm because she went out of rhythm, totally out of rhythm. But it’s a good problem to have; you’re on the team because we have gone in 2016 and 2020 and not made the team."

Reflecting on past disappointments, Graham emphasized the significance of Williams making the team at age 31.

"2016, we were leading and then ran into a hurdle, jumped over it and out of the race. 2020, we ran hard and was fourth. So we missed it twice and to get it at 31 years old is a blessing. We are holding it with both hands and with both legs wrapped around it. Now we are going to try and show up and make ourselves and Jamaica proud. That is our plan."

Jamaican athlete Leford Green will be inducted into the Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) Athletics Hall of Fame this September, celebrating a remarkable collegiate career and outstanding contributions to the university's track and field program. Green, a former student-athlete who excelled both on the track and in the classroom, expressed his overwhelming gratitude for the honor.

"I am overwhelmed. We have been working hard over the years. We have done a lot with regards to Johnson C. Smith and the track and field programme. As a matter of fact, I was Coach (Lennox) Graham's first recruit, so it is just overwhelming that I am being acknowledged for all the efforts and the achievements," Green shared.

These days a Unit Manager at Piedmont Airlines, Green's journey at JCSU began in 2008, where he quickly made a name for himself. In his sophomore year, he was named the 2008-09 CIAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, setting the stage for an illustrious collegiate career. He became the NCAA defending indoor 400m national champion in 2008 and led the JCSU men's track team with standout performances across multiple events. Notably, he set a new Clemson University facility record of 1:03.52 in the 500m during the 2009 indoor season.

Born in the parish of St Mary but raised in St. Catherine, Jamaica, Green earned his second All-American honours for his indoor performance and set a personal best in the 200m with a time of 20.41 seconds, the fastest collegiate time in the nation that year. His prowess extended to the outdoor track as well, where he secured automatic qualifying times for the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships in both the 200m and 400m.

Green's dominance continued at the CIAA Outdoor Championships, where he was named MVP after winning the 200m, 400m hurdles, and placing second in the 400m. His remarkable athletic achievements were matched by his academic excellence, as he maintained a 4.0 GPA in information systems engineering. Green also received the Pettis Norman Award at the JCSU Annual Athletic Banquet, recognizing him as Student-Athlete of the Year.

The pinnacle of Green's collegiate career came in 2011 when he was named NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year. That year, he finished the season undefeated and won the NCAA title in the 400m with a time of 45.74 seconds, outpacing the nearest competitor by a full second. He also won the 400m hurdles at the NCAA meet in 2010 and contributed to JCSU's winning 4x400m relay team and fifth-place 4x100m squad.

Green's impact extended beyond his individual accolades. At his conference meet, he earned 2011 CIAA Male Athlete of the Meet honors after winning the 400m and 400m hurdles, finishing second in the 200m, and running a leg on the Golden Bulls' second-place 4x400m relay team. His efforts earned him the title of Division II Male Track Athlete of the Year in 2010.

Reflecting on his time at JCSU, Green highlighted his freshman year as especially memorable. "My freshman year. It was a transitional period for me and Coach Graham. Freshman year, pretty much won indoors, new to all that stuff and came out national champion in the 400m was exceptional for me so it just showed I could overcome and keep on going further and further."

 Green's achievements extended to the international stage, where he represented Jamaica at the 2012 London Olympics, finishing seventh in the 400m hurdles final. He also competed at the World Athletics Championships in 2011, 2013, and 2015. Additionally, Green won gold in the 400m hurdles for Jamaica at the 2010 and 2011 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Puerto Rico. After graduating, Green continued to contribute to JCSU as an assistant coach, mentoring the next generation of athletes.

Leford Green's induction into the Johnson C. Smith University Athletics Hall of Fame is a testament to his dedication, resilience, and excellence both on and off the track. His legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations of student-athletes to strive for greatness.

Jamaican hammer thrower Erica Belvit has expressed her deep disappointment at not making the Jamaican team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite winning at the national championships just over a week ago. Belvit’s winning throw of 68.28m defeated Nayoka Clunis (66.63m) and Marie Forbes (63.14m), who finished second and third, respectively.

However, Clunis, having thrown a season’s best of 71.83m that exceeded the World Athletics 'B' standard of 70.00m, and who is ranked 25th in the world, has been selected for the Olympic team. Belvit, on the other hand, did not meet the B standard and is ranked 57th, rendering her ineligible for selection.

Taking to Instagram, Belvit shared her emotional journey and the challenges she faced this season.

“I don’t really have many words to describe this season other than ‘I tried my best’. Because I did,” Belvit wrote. “I came out of this season a National Champion, but I unfortunately could not put it together to qualify for the Olympics this year.”

The distraught hammer thrower revealed that her season was marred by a car accident just before it began, which resulted in her wearing a neck brace for nearly a month due to nerve issues in her neck and shoulders. Despite these setbacks, she persevered, balancing rest and training in an effort to reach her peak performance. However, time was not on her side.

“I tried so hard to allow my body the rest I could afford while continuing my training to the best of my ability. But the clock was running out and it became clear that my ‘best’ just wasn’t going to be good enough,” she lamented.

Belvit’s emotional struggle was palpable as she described the toll it took on her mental health. “I’ve never really thought of myself as a crier; this season broke that (and me) down for sure. I cried for and grieved this season for weeks; every single day. Woke up, crying. Falling asleep, crying. Before, during, and after trainings, crying. In airports, on planes, crying. Because I love to throw, and I couldn’t fathom that the dream I had to make it to this Olympic Games was dying right in front of me.”

The heartbreak was compounded by her exclusion from Jamaica’s team for the World Championships in Budapest last year, making the missed Olympic opportunity even more painful. “I felt like I needed to get there, especially after not being selected to go to Worlds last year,” she added.

Despite the setback, Belvit expressed gratitude to those who supported her throughout her journey. “Thank you to everyone who has shown support and love throughout this season and my entire career. Thank you to @wilfredo_dejesus for sticking with me through this season. Thank you to @rskim7296 at @reformpt_natick for your amazing work - I couldn’t have gotten back into competition shape this quickly without you. To the special few who spoke life into me and picked me up when I didn’t have strength, I love you.”

Looking ahead, Belvit remains uncertain about her future but is determined to take time to recover mentally. “I’m not really sure where I go from here; I definitely need some time to get my mental together. Only God knows what’s next,” she concluded.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 23 points to send Greece into the Paris Olympics.

Antetokounmpo has not previously featured at a Games, but is now set to debut after Greece qualified for the 12-team basketball tournament.

They beat Croatia 80-69 on Sunday, and will now face Australia, Canada and Spain in the group stage in Paris.

And two-time NBA MVP Antetokounmpo believes Greece should be gunning for gold.

"The best athletes in the world compete in the Olympic Games," Antetokounmpo said.

"We have nothing to lose. I really believe we have an incredible team and we can accomplish something special."

Spain and Brazil also booked their places at the Games on Sunday, beating the Bahamas and Latvia respectively.

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has unveiled its formidable team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, featuring a mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers. The team, comprising over 60 athletes, is poised to make a significant impact on the global stage.

Leading the charge is sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who will make her fifth Olympic appearance after debuting in Beijing in 2008. Joining her is newcomer Kishane Thompson, the fastest man in the world this year, who headlines a strong contingent of sprinters that includes Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake. Jamaica's men's 100m team is eager to reclaim Olympic glory after missing out on medals in Tokyo 2020.

The women's sprint squad also features exciting new talent, with Tia Clayton, Lanae-Tava Thomas, and Niesha Burgher making their Olympic debuts. Janeek Brown and Ackera Nugent, both newcomers, are set to compete in the hurdles, adding depth to Jamaica's lineup along with two-time world champion Danielle Williams.

Shericka Jackson, aiming for her individual first Olympic gold, seeks redemption after a missed opportunity in Tokyo. Jackson, along with Thomas, who has shown impressive form this season, and Niesha Burgher will bolster Jamaica's medal prospects in the 200m. Andrew Hudson and Bryan Levell will take on the men's half-lap sprint.

In the field events, NCAA National Division One high jump champion Romaine Beckford makes his Olympic debut. Beckford, who won the NCAA title in June with a season-best 2.27m, hopes to translate his collegiate success to the Olympic stage.

 Lamara Distin will join Beckford in the high jump, representing the women's team.

The team also includes several standout athletes in various disciplines.

In the 400m, Junelle Bromfield, Stacey Ann Williams, and newly minted national record holder Nickisha Pryce will represent the women, with Stephenie Ann McPherson as a reserve. The men's team features Sean Bailey, Deandre Watkin, and Jevaughn Powell, with Rusheen McDonald serving as a reserve.

In middle-distance events, Natoya Goule-Toppin and Adelle Tracey will compete in the 800m, with Tracey also taking on the 1500m. On the men's side, Navasky Anderson will represent Jamaica in the 800m.

The hurdles events will see Janeek Brown, new national record holder Ackera Nugent, and Danielle Williams competing in the women's 100m hurdles, with Megan Tapper as a reserve. The men's 110m hurdles team includes Orlando Bennett, Rasheed Broadbell, and Hansle Parchment, with Tyler Mason as a reserve.

For the 400m hurdles, Rushell Clayton, Shiann Salmon, and Janieve Russell will compete for the women, with Andrenette Knight as a reserve. The men's team includes Roshawn Clarke, Jaheel Hyde, and Malik James-King, with Assinie Wilson as a reserve.

In the long jump, Chanice Porter and Ackelia Smith will represent the women, while Tajay Gayle, Carey McLeod, and Wayne Pinnock will compete for the men.

The triple jump team includes Shanieka Ricketts, Kimberly Williams, and Ackelia Smith for the women, and Jaydon Hibbert and Jordan Scott for the men.

In the discus throw, Samantha Hall will compete for the women, while Roje Stona, Ralford Mullings, and Traves Smikle will represent the men's team, with Fedrick Dacres as a reserve.

In the shot put, Lloydricia Cameron and Danniel Thomas-Dodd will compete for the women, with Rajindra Campbell representing the men. Nayoka Clunis will compete in the hammer throw for the women.

The relay teams feature a strong mix of talent. The women's 4x100m relay team includes Tia Clayton, Shashalee Forbes, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Shericka Jackson, with Alana Reid as a reserve. The men's 4x100m relay team consists of Ackeem Blake, Jehlani Gordon, Oblique Seville, and Kishane Thompson, with Jelani Walker as a reserve.

For the women's 4x400m relay, Junelle Bromfield, Stephenie Ann McPherson, Nickisha Pryce, and Stacey Ann Williams will compete, with Ashley Williams as a reserve. The mixed 4x400m relay team includes Andrenette Knight, Charokee Young, Zandrian Barnes, and Raheem Hayles, with Stephenie Ann McPherson and Kimar Farquharson as reserves.

The selection of relay teams will be at the discretion of the Technical Leader and his team. With a mix of experienced athletes and emerging stars, Jamaica's team is set to make a significant impact at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Romaine Beckford, the NCAA National Division One high jump champion, is nervously awaiting the announcement of Jamaica's team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, set to be revealed on Monday. Despite finishing fourth at the national championships last week, Beckford remains the highest-ranked Jamaican high jumper this season, courtesy of his impressive 2.27m clearance at last month's NCAA Division One Championsips.

With the Olympic standard for the high jump being 2.33m and the quota set at 32 for the event, Beckford’s 2.27m has him ranked 32^nd in the world.

Beckford's season has been noteworthy, marked by a standout performance in June when he cleared 2.27m to win the NCAA National Division 1 title. In May, he also won the SEC title for the University of Arkansas with a 2.22m jump. However, at the Jamaican national championships, things did not go as planned. He finished behind newly crowned champion Lushane Wilson (2.25m), Christoff Bryan (2.25m), and Raymond Richard (2.20m), managing only to clear 2.20m.

Reflecting on his performance, Beckford said, "Everything felt good until the 2.25m bar. I prayed before the competition. I cannot complain. I pretty much had, I wouldn’t say a perfect season but a great season before coming to this meet. I can't doubt myself, I can't beat myself up. I wanted to defend my title or jump better than what I did. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, but I can't stay on this. I have to move forward and, hopefully, Jamaica will take me to the Olympics."

With Jamaica expected to name more than 60 athletes for the Paris Olympics, Beckford is keeping his fingers crossed. Despite his national championship setback, his season-best 2.27m places him right on the bubble in the World Athletics global rankings, making him a candidate for Olympic selection.

Beckford attributes some of his recent struggles to technical issues in his approach. "The approach is the main thing that we need to work on, and that was one of the factors that was giving me problems at 2.25m because the bounce and strength and everything was there; it’s just a little technical issue," he explained.

However, Beckford remains optimistic even if he is more than a bit nervous. "But it's nothing to worry about, Jermaine Beckford will always find a way, and it’s just for me to go back to the drawing board, remain focused and stay calm," he said confidently.

Last Sunday at the Jamaica National Championships, Stacey-Ann Williams secured her spot as the runner-up in the 400m, earning her place on the Jamaican Olympic team for the first time as an individual competitor. After missing out for three consecutive years, Williams expressed immense joy and relief at finally achieving this milestone.

Reflecting on her journey, Williams shared, "This is my first individual Olympic team. I’ve been in fourth position for like three years. Last year I had an injury, so I’m happy and excited." Her perseverance and dedication have paid off, and she is now set to represent Jamaica on the grand stage of the Paris Olympics.

Williams clocked a season-best time of 50.56 seconds at the championships, inching closer to breaking the coveted 50-second barrier. She remains optimistic about her chances, stating, "I feel like it’s 100 percent possible. The aim was to make top three and, honestly, once it was top three that’s all that matters, for now." With her sights set on further improvement, Williams is determined to get even faster in time for Paris.

In addition to her individual ambitions, Williams is excited about Jamaica’s prospects in the 4x400m relay. She believes that the team, comprising herself, national champion Nickisha Pryce (50.01), and third-place finisher Junelle Bromfield (51.24), has a bright future ahead. "The future is very bright for the quarter-milers, finally. I am excited to be on the 4x400m with these ladies. It’s just exciting overall," she shared enthusiastically.

When asked about the possibility of winning medals in both her individual event and the relay, Williams responded, "I am, but I feel like for the 4x400m, we don’t know what colour yet. I think we will have to wait until Paris to know what colour it is." Her confidence in the relay team's potential is palpable, and she remains hopeful that they will be among the medals in Paris this summer.

Portland Trailblazers center Deandre Ayton was in a dominant mood on Saturday to help the Bahamas defeat Lebanon 89-72 and book their spot in the final of the Olympic Basketball Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, Spain.

The Bahamians jumped out to a 31-16 lead at the end of the first quarter before a tight second quarter meant the Caribbean nation enjoyed a 50-36 lead at halftime.

Lebanon had a much better defensive showing in the third quarter, holding the Bahamas to only 13 points while scoring 18 of their own to cut the deficit to 63-54 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Bahamas were back to their dominating best in the final stanza, however, winning 26-18 for a final score of 89-72.

Ayton, in his 32 minutes of action, went 11-15 from the field on his way to a top score of 24 points to go along with 15 rebounds.

Warriors guard Buddy Hield contributed 19 points while VJ Edgecombe and Eric Gordon had 13 points, each.

Sergio El Darwich had 22 points, five rebounds and three assists for Lebanon.

Their opponent in Sunday’s final will be the winner of the semi-final between Spain and Finland.

At the time of publishing, Spain were ahead 38-30 at halftime.

The Bahamas will look to move one step closer to their dream of competing in Basketball at the Paris Olympics this summer when they tackle Lebanon in the semi-finals of Olympic Basketball Qualifying Tournament 1 in Valencia, Spain on Saturday.

The other semi-final will see hosts Spain taking on Finland, who the Bahamians defeated in the group stage.

The winner of the tournament will advance to the Paris Olympics.

The Bahamians booked their spot in the final four with a 90-81 win over Poland on Wednesday.

18-year-old Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe Jr, a projected top-5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft who has committed to Baylor University, led the way with an efficient 21 points on 13 shot attempts. He also pulled in six rebounds and had one steal and one block.

Portland Trailblazers center Deandre Ayton was also solid with 18 points and nine rebounds while Eric Gordon missed just one of his six shot attempts on his way to 12 points.

San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Poland.

Lebanon booked their spot in the semis with a 74-70 win over Angola, also on Wednesday.

Former Villanova and Golden State Warriors big man Omari Spellman dominated with 22 points and 13 rebounds for Lebanon and will need to be given extra attention by the Bahamians on Saturday.

Ackelia Smith, the standout 2024 NCAA long and triple jump champion, is channeling the lessons learned from last year’s World Championships in Budapest as she eyes the Paris Olympic Games. After recovery from serious injury early on in the season, her recent performance at the Jamaica National Championships, where she potentially qualified for both events, underscores her steely determination.

Her achievements at the Jamaica National Championships, including winning the long jump with 6.53m and placing second in the triple jump with 14.44m, further demonstrated her ability to bounce back. Although short of the Olympic standards of 6.86m and 14.55m, Smith’s season-best performances of 6.79m (with an indoor jump of 6.85m) and 14.52m at the NCAA Championships, have earned her rankings of 21st in the long jump and 23rd in the triple jump, respectively. This means the University of Texas graduate, who recently signed a professional contract with Puma, is on track to compete in Paris.

In March, Smith faced a significant hurdle when she suffered a hamstring injury, with doctors predicting a six to eight-week recovery. Defying expectations, she returned in early May to win both the long and triple jumps at the Texas Invitational with wind-aided marks of 7.10m and 13.51m. “That injury that I had was a hamstring tear. That has definitely healed. Being in explosive events, I try to stay as technical as I can. I am not perfect but I try to be as close to it as possible and make sure I work on my recovery, and always do my treatments. You have got to take care of your body so you can come back and do that every day,” she said.

However, injury has not been her only challenge. At the Budapest World Championships in 2023, a massive leap deemed a foul prevented her from advancing to the final. Reflecting on the setback, Smith shared, “It was a big jump; it was very frustrating because as a young athlete this is your time and going in with the world lead, I really wanted to make the final. But sometimes what you plan is not what you get but it was a lesson and I have learned from it. I kind of left it late and now I know that if I am going to do it I have got to get it out of the way early.”

Balancing a rigorous training schedule with the demands of a competitive season, Smith is preparing for the challenges ahead. Drawing on her experiences from two World Championships, she and her coach have fine-tuned their training to peak at the right time. “You know, I’ve already been to two World Championships and those were later on in August after having a whole NCAA season. I use those as experience, me and my coach, and we say ‘Okay, we need to adjust training, we need to address everything else around it and the goal itself is the Olympics,’” Smith explained. “Even though we have the nationals, the NCAAs, and all that, I think my coach was like, ‘You’ve got to be ready for the Olympics.’”

As she prepares for the biggest event of her life, Smith plans to participate in more competitions to fine-tune her skills and honour her country. Her journey is not only about personal success but also about inspiring the next generation of athletes. “It’s really great but I think even better it is for the young athletes coming up because they think they have to choose one,” Smith emphasized. “Making it in both shows that you don’t have to; once you qualify you can just perform, and you can do good and you can make it in both.”

Manchester City's Julian Alvarez has been named in Argentina's Olympics squad for the Paris games and is likely to miss the start of the 2024-25 Premier League season. 

Alvarez, who is currently at the Copa America, was included in Javier Mascherano's 18-man squad as one of the three overage players, along with Geronimo Rulli and Nicolas Otamendi.

The final of that competition takes place just 10 days before the Olympics begins, with Mascherano’s side playing Morocco, Iraq and Ukraine in the group stage in France.

With the Olympics final to be played on August 9, the day before Manchester City's Community Shield fixture against Manchester United, Alvarez's involvement has almost certainly ruled him out of the start of the new season. 

Last season, the 24-year-old made 54 appearances in all competitions for Pep Guardiola's side, more than any other player. 

Manchester City's Premier League campaign starts on August 18th against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. 

Claudio Echeverri has also been included in the squad. The teenager joined the Premier League champions in January but immediately returned to River Plate on loan.

Sergio Gomez has also been called up by Spain for the competition, meaning Guardiola has three players competing at this summer’s games in Paris.

With Hurricane Beryl barreling towards Jamaica and expected to make landfall later this week, the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) is proactively looking at ways to mitigate potential disruptions to the training programmes of Olympic athletes.

The athletes, who secured their spots on Jamaica's team for the 2024 Paris Olympics just this past weekend, face the looming threat of the hurricane's strong winds, which exceed 100 kph. These conditions could lead to blockages on roadways and significant damage to training sites, hampering the athletes' final preparations for the global competition, which kicks off in just over three weeks.

JAAA Vice President Ian Forbes spoke to Sportsmax.TV about the association's plans to address any significant disruptions caused by the hurricane. "One has to try forecast and plan ahead as best as possible," Forbes said. "A lot of that would possibly be done on a case-by-case basis, so in terms of contingencies, we have facilities. Once they are accessible, they will be allowed full access, the main one being the National Stadium for the locals and even some of the overseas athletes who might, for want of a better term, be trapped here because of the inclement weather. So certainly, full access would be granted."

Forbes also mentioned other potential sites that could be utilized to ensure the athletes' training is not compromised. "There are some other sites that could be called upon to facilitate, for example, GC Foster College, possibly UWI, Jamaica College, Calabar, and Kingston College, those places with synthetic surfaces."

The discussions within the JAAA are still in the preliminary stages, with a meeting scheduled soon to address all these issues comprehensively. "We are going to be meeting in a little while so all those issues will be addressed," Forbes added.

The association's contingency measures are geared towards providing the best possible support to the nation's athletes as they gear up for one of the most significant sporting events in the world.

Elaine Thompson-Herah has taken to Instagram to explain her decision to withdraw from Jamaica's national championships, a move that will prevent her from defending her 100m and 200m Olympic titles in Paris this summer. The national championships are set to begin on Thursday, June 27, just one day before Thompson-Herah's 32nd birthday.

Thompson-Herah, who made history by winning the sprint doubles at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, shared in a statement from her management team, Andi Sports Management, that she would not be competing due to an injury sustained at the New York Grand Prix earlier this month. She finished last in that race, clocking 11.48 seconds, and was visibly in pain, needing to be helped off the track and seen icing her foot afterward.

In her Instagram post, Thompson-Herah provided further insight into her injury and her decision to withdraw. “It’s never fun sharing news like this but at the New York Grand Prix I felt something in the race and still insisted to push. Couple steps to the line I realized something was really wrong. I sat on the ground because I couldn’t apply any pressure to the leg whatsoever as I was carried off the track,” she wrote.

She continued, “I went quickly to get some medical check up and found out that I have a small tear on my Achilles tendon. Funny enough I got back home with a strong mindset to keep pushing to prepare for my national trials, another shot at my third Olympics but my leg wouldn’t allow me to.”

Thompson-Herah expressed her disappointment but also her determination to recover and return to the sport she loves. “It’s a long road but I am willing to start over and keep working to make a full recovery and resume my track career. I am hurt and devastated to be missing the Olympics but at the end of the day it’s sports and my health comes first.”

She acknowledged the timing of the injury, noting, “Not the birthday gift I was hoping for but God, whatever you have in store for me I will wait and I will still continue to work towards my goals that I haven’t achieved yet. I will be definitely watching from the stands and cheer my country Jamaica on. I will be back!”

At the 2020 Tokyo Games, Thompson-Herah established a new Olympic record of 10.61 in the 100m and ran 21.53 to win the 200m.

 Thompson-Herah's decision to withdraw has sparked an outpouring of support from fans, fellow athletes, and the global sports community, all wishing her a speedy recovery and expressing confidence in her eventual return to competition.

Alex Morgan has been left out of the United States Paris Olympics squad ahead of the games in July. 

Morgan, who has scored 123 goals in 224 appearances for her country, has appeared at every Olympics for Team USA since Beijing 2008 and won gold at London 2012.

The two-time World Cup winner has not scored in her past eight games for San Diego Wave after recently recovering from an ankle injury.

"Today, I'm disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent my country on the Olympic stage," posted Morgan on social media. "This will always be a tournament that is close to my heart and I take immense pride an time I put on the crest.

"In less than a month I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country."

Former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes will take charge of her first tournament as the USA manager, and has opted for Trinity Rodman, Jaedyn Shaw, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson as her main forward options.

"It was a tough decision, especially considering Alex's history and record with this team, but I felt I wanted to go in another direction and selected other players," Hayes said. 

Women's football in Paris begins on 25 July, with the gold-medal match taking place on August 10. 

The United States, who won bronze at Tokyo 2020, are drawn in Group B where they will face Zambia, Germany and Australia.