PARIS, France — World Championships long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock has indicated that the men’s competition at the Olympic Games will be very tough because there are many strong competitors that are down to contest the event.

However, he noted that he has prepared himself physically, mentally, and vigorously to handle this pressure, and he is quite optimistic about capturing a medal in the event.

“I think it is going to be a real tough competition, and I think for sure probably 8.70 metres or 8.50 metres is going to win,” said the 23-year-old Jamaican. “It is going to be a really challenging competition, but I am ready, and this will show the world what you are capable of doing.”

Pinnock, a former Kingston College athlete, has a personal best of 8.54m and a season’s best of 8.40m.

He will enter the event in Paris as the third-best jumper in the world, behind world leader and world champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece, who has leapt 8.65m this season.

“I lost the gold medal by two centimetres last year at the World Championships, and that gave me the mindset to learn more about my event. I think that I am physically ready to perform at my best, so I just want to put one out there and let the field chase me,” Pinnock said.

“My preparations have been good, and I will be doing some light jumps this week to get ready for the event, so I am just confident and ready to go. The mindset is just to go out there, stay confident, and execute my game plan.”

Pinnock pointed out that he is looking forward to putting on a great showing at the Olympic Games.

“Growing up all my life, I wanted to be an Olympian and my dream has finally come through so I have to thank God for giving me this opportunity. “The mindset is just to go out there and stay confident and just execute my game plan,” he said.

PINNOCK… this will show the world what you are capable of doing (Photo: Naphtali Junior)