PARIS, France — Despite struggling with injuries all season, new Olympic Games long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock never lost hope in his abilities to claim his first Olympic medal. Pinnock achieved this feat on Tuesday in front of a sell-out crowd at Stade de France, leaping 8.36m to secure second. Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou won the gold medal with a mark of 8.48m, while Italy’s Mattia Furlani claimed the bronze with a leap of 8.34m.

“I was hurt a couple of months ago, but I never lost hope,” Pinnock said. “I always stayed confident and positive. It was a tough journey coming back, but I trusted in God and I prayed about it, and now I am an Olympic silver medallist. Words can’t explain the feeling because growing up, I always wanted to be an Olympian. My dreams have come true with winning a silver, and I am delighted for that. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the gold, but it is all in God’s plan, and I am just going to keep going. For sure, I know that I am going to get it one day.”

Pinnock, a former Kingston College athlete, joins James Beckford as an Olympic Games long jump silver medallist as Beckford finished second at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Pinnock said that he could have executed the event better, but once he gets it right, he will take home the gold medal next time.

“It is just a gift from God, being confident and staying positive even when the competition was really tough,” he said. “I know that one day I am going to get that Greek guy for sure.”

Jamaica’s other competitor in the event, Carey McLeod, the World Indoor bronze medallist, finished 12th with a leap of 7.82m.

National champion Rushell Clayton and Shiann Salmon have advanced to the final of the women’s 400m hurdles competition. Clayton clocked 53.00 seconds to win her semi-final, while Salmon ran a personal best time of 53.13s to finish third and advance. The race was won by Femke Bol of the Netherlands in 52.57s, with second place going to American Anna Cockrell in 52.90 seconds. Jamaica’s other competitor in the event, Janieve Russell, failed to advance, finishing fourth in 54.65s. That race was won by defending Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who clocked an impressive 52.13 seconds.

National champion Bryan Levell advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 200m after finishing second in the repêchage round of his heat in 20.49s. The race was won by Canada’s Brendon Rodney in 20.42s. However, the second Jamaican, Andrew Hudson, failed to advance as he finished second in his repêchage round in 20.55s. That event was won by Sweden’s Erik Erlandsson, who ran a personal best of 20.49 seconds.

Quarter-miler Jevaughn Powell crashed out of the men’s 400m event, finishing fourth in his semi-final in 44.91s.