As Julian Forte stepped onto the track at the Jamaica Athletic Invitational, last Saturday, he carried with him a mixture of concern and determination. This as he only recently returned from nursing an Achilles injury, which threatened to derail his season.
Despite his concerns, Forte, through stubborn determination and a desire to enjoy a successful season, delivered a stellar performance to win the men’s 100m in a season’s best 10.02 seconds, as he improved on the 10.07s he ran a week prior at the JAAA’s All Comers Meet, also staged at the National Stadium.
Not only did the winning time solidify Forte’s hold as the fastest Jamaican male sprinter this year, but it was also a testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into his training, which is laser-focused on his ultimate goal – securing a spot on the Olympic podium.
“I'm feeling good. I'm really pleased with my performance and really pleased with where I'm at right now. It hasn't been smooth sailing, but I am really grateful to have come out with a victory,” Forte said, a hint of relief in his voice, as he iced his hamstring.
“My hamstring never felt a 100 per cent at about 60 metres in, but I never wanted to stop. It didn't feel that bad, so I just kind of carried on with the race. It doesn't feel like anything serious, so I just have to go back, assess it and make sure I come back stronger,” he shared.
With the National Trials to select the country’s athletics team to this summer’s Paris Olympic Games on the horizon, Forte's focus has been on maintaining his fitness and avoiding any setbacks, which is crucial in determining his path to the global multi-sport showpiece dubbed the pinnacle of every athlete’s career.
While things don’t always go as planned, the 31-year-old, who at his optimum clocked personal best times of 9.91s and 19.97s for the 100m and 200m, intends to keep pushing himself, remain positive, and trust his abilities.
Simply put, with hard work and a bit of luck, Forte, who was a part of the 4X100m relay team that placed fourth at the Tokyo Games, and boast a Commonwealth Games relay gold medal, has no doubt that he can achieve his dreams of securing an Olympic medal.
“I just came back about five weeks ago; I was out with an Achilles injury for about seven weeks, so it's never smooth sailing for me and the past seasons were never injury free. But we're trying to learn from each injury and find a way to still compete and still do well,” said Forte, who has represented Jamaica at the 2012, 2015 and 2017 World Athletics Championships.
“Like I said earlier, I like where I'm at. I think the execution is well done and just glad for victory. So, my expectation is definitely to make it to Paris where I am aiming for a medal at the Games. That is the goal,” he declared.
For now, Forte has his sights on the Diamond League Meet in Rabat, on Sunday, where he will face off against some of the world's top sprinters.
“The Diamond League is always a tough competition, but I'm looking forward to the challenge,” he ended.