Roje Stona etched his name in the annals of Jamaican sports history by securing the nation’s first gold medal of the Paris Olympic Games and becoming the first Jamaican—male or female—to win an Olympic gold medal in the throws. In a breathtaking debut at the global multi-sport showpiece, Stona clinched the top podium spot and set a new Olympic record of 70.00 meters at the Stade de France on Wednesday.
Competing in a world-class field, Stona’s impressive fourth-round throw upset the favorites, winning ahead of Lithuania’s world record holder Mykolas Alekna (69.97 meters) and Australia’s Matthew Denny (69.31 meters). Two other Jamaicans, Ralford Mullings (65.61 meters) and Travis Smikle (64.97 meters), finished ninth and 10th, respectively.
Stona, 25, who is coached by American three-time Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser, received praise from his compatriot Smikle for his achievement, highlighting his relentless work ethic and rigorous training regimen. This included training stints with NFL teams such as the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints.
“I am so happy for him; it’s a big thing to see. Stona is a great thrower, and he showed it today. This is the beautiful thing about track and field; there are a lot of upsets, and Stona is having his moment. I had a bad day and Ralford Mullings had a bad day as well, so Stona’s performance is a great achievement for him and for Jamaica as well,” Smikle said.
Jamaica, renowned for its prowess in sprinting, now has a new hero in field events. Four of the country’s five medals at the Paris Games have come from field events, with Kishane Thompson’s 100m silver being the lone medal from the track.
Stona’s historic victory in the discus throw, alongside Rajindra Campbell’s shot put bronze, Shanieka Ricketts’ triple jump silver, and Wayne Pinnock’s long jump silver, heralds a new era of success and diversification in Jamaica’s athletic achievements and promises an exciting future for the island’s athletes in all disciplines.
