Jamaican Athletes Struggling Ahead of the Olympics: A Cause for Concern?
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As the 2024 Paris Olympics draw near, concerns have been raised regarding the performance of several Jamaican athletes who have been performing below expectations. Veteran sports commentator Oral Tracy spoke on the lacklustre performance of Jamaican athletes on Tuesday, outlining his own concerns.
Speaking on the poor performance of Jamaican athletes on his YouTube channel, Tracey expressed that the majority of the country’s track athletes are struggling ahead of the summer Olympics.
Tracey highlighted the performances of Shericka Jackson and Brianna Lyston and said they are faring better than their Jamaican compatriots. However, the Sports Commentary host noted that Jackson was only doing okay and that Lyston is an injury-prone athlete and is far from completing her season.
Tracey said most of the Jamaican athletes had already made their season debuts but were not shining on the global stage. Despite several of these athletes training with different training camps, Tracy said he has to question if something is now fundamentally wrong with the Jamaican training programme.
He also shared that a prominent track and field coach has noted the poor performance of the local athletes. Tracey added that the public was not getting enough wow performances ahead of the Olympics, and it is a cause for concern.
“Going to the Olympic Games now you wah get a buzz bout how di athletes dem look and di kind a form weh dem inna and yuh expectations kind of rise. But mi nuh sure if we’re being inspired,” Tracey stated.
The Jamaica Olympic Trials are scheduled for June 27-30 at the National Stadium in Kingston, and Tracey went on to question if that is enough time for the athletes to turn things around. “Is that enough time fi people who have not been competing and have not been impressive fi come and mend all a dem fences and turn di tables and look impressive?” Tracey asked.
Despite Jamaica’s size and small population, the island has left an undeniable mark on the world of athletics, specifically track and field. The country has become accustomed to stunning performances from its renowned sprinters, such as Veronica Campbell Brown, Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, and Elaine Thompson-Herah.
However, following the retirement of multiple athletes, Jamaica’s list of exemplary sprinters has shrunk. The less-than-spectacular performances of several of the country’s sprinting stars have been noted internationally as well as locally.
Reacting to Tracey’s video, one viewer expressed that the athletes of one country couldn’t always remain on top. “Over the years our athletes have set the performance bar so high, it is almost as if we are spoiled. The truth is, no one or no country stays on top forever. A jus suh di ting guh,” the viewer stated.
Watch the video below:
