‘Gold, silver, and bronze moments of glory’ JOA President Samuda hails Commonwealth, CAC athletes

Christopher Samuda, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), hailed the performances of Jamaican athletes at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games.
Jamaica competed with a record number of over 250 athletes in 36 sporting events across both competitions.
At the Commonwealth Games, Jamaica earned 19 medals (10 gold, four silver, five bronze) to finish eighth on the table.
Eighteen of Jamaica’s 19 medals came in athletics, while also earning a silver medal in netball.
At the CAC Games, Jamaica ended the competition with 11 medals (one gold, four silver, five bronze), placing 16th on the medal table.
Five of Jamaica’s medals at the CAC Games came in athletics, with two in artistic gymnastics, and a medal each in women’s rugby, squash, netball, and badminton.
Samuda praised each athlete for their performance in the national colours, saying the JOA will continue its mission of supporting Jamaican athletes.
“Gold, silver, and bronze moments of glory,” Samuda said.
“My respect for our sportsmen and women … as they continue to make sacrifices for our country while exemplifying the Olympic attributes and values of resilience, fortitude, and determination, which are defining of character.”
One of the highlight moments for Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games came when the Sunshine Girls defeated world number one-ranked Australia in the netball semi-finals.
Navasky Anderson also made history at the Commonwealth Games when he became the first Jamaican man to win the 800m title.
NON-TRADITIONAL SPORTS
While the nation also impressed at the CAC Games, a lot of the attention went to the non-traditional sporting disciplines.
Jahzara Swaby was a double bronze medallist in the women’s artistic gymnastics, making the podium in the women’s vault and all-around events.
In badminton, Tahlia Richardson won bronze in the women’s singles, while the pair of Julian Morrison and Tahjia Lumley won bronze in the men’s squash doubles.
The Lady Crocs, Jamaica’s women’s rugby sevens team, also picked up their first-ever medal at the CAC Games, claiming bronze.
The team was led by captain Naomi Dodd, who was also Jamaica’s flag bearer.
Samuda said the performances show the importance of ensuring that athletes are placed at the centre of any development plans.
“Athlete centricity is imperative to any successful strategy of sport development, not only because it enables matriculation of talent to the regional and international stages, but also critically in enabling the self-actualisation of citizens of a sporting fraternity,” he said.
“Citizenship in sport must be a focal strategy of sports development as we pursue the infrastructural development and financial viability of a sector.”
gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com