Jamaica: Rajindra Campbell secure historic silver in Men’s shotput at Paris Olympics

A nail-biting experience at the Stade de France as Rajindra Campbell wrote his name in the history, to be remembered for becoming the first Jamaican man to win an Olympic medal in throwing event.

Throwing in the Men’s shot-put final at Paris 2024 Olympics, 28-year-old Campbell was very exceptional in his performance and won the silver medal with just two legal attempts.

Campbell’s jaunt to the Olympics medal started well with him achieving a total distance of 20.00 meters in his first attempt. However, the second-round throw of 22.15 meters shocked everyone as in his previous attempt he was able to make a throw of only 20 meters. This demonstrate the best of him and helped move up to the second place behind American the World record holder, the two-time Olympic champion Ryan Crouser, who was the leader in the competition with the result of 22. 69 meters.

Campbell getting the silver is a sign of a new dawn of Jamaican athletics when the country particularly being famous for sprinting events. It is a great achievement for him and shows that he put his best effort and focused on the victory.

Cambell had switched his career from cricket to track and field athletics, after which he accomplished Jamaican national shot-put record of 22.22 meters in Madrid, Spain in the month of July of year 2023.

Born in Jamaica, Campbell worked on his skills at both Ferncourt High School in Kingston College and Cloud County Community College in Kansas as well as Missouri Southern State University. He won a Jamaican national championships title in 2023, and likewise, set national record and proved that he was one of the international racers to be reckoned with.

Nevertheless, Campbell had trials in making it past the first round at the 2023 World Athletics Championships held in Budapest, as well as missing out on the finals in the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, his determination was finally rewarded at the Paris Olympics.