In a display of emotion, dedication and grit, Jamaican Wayne Pinnock secured back-to-back silver medals at major championships, jumping his way onto the podium in the men’s long jump competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, before dedicating his achievement to his mother, who passed away when he was 14 years old.

Pinnock, who also won silver at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last year, took second spot with a leap of 8.36m inside the Stade de France on Tuesday, finishing behind defending champion, Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou, who won the gold medal with a mark of 8.48m. Italian youngster Mattia Furlani claimed the bronze with a leap of 8.34m.

Pinnock’s medal brought Jamaica’s tally to four (3 silver, 1 bronze) and represents another highlight for the island’s field event campaigners, who have so far led the country’s push for podium positions.

Pinnock returned one of the most impressive series in the competition with four of his six jumps measuring over 8.00m, with his best effort coming on his second attempt, going from eighth into second place — a position he would not let go of, despite the efforts of the 19-year-old Italian prodigy.

Silver secured, and with one last effort to steal the gold from Tentoglou, the 23-year-old Jamaican was a picture of disappointment, as he could only manage a 8.12m mark on his final attempt. However, that passing second of discouragement quickly gave way to celebration, as he pointed to the sky in tribute to his mother.

“Honestly, she is not here with me physically, but I know that she is here, spiritually. I know that she always wanted me to do good growing up, because I lost my mom when I was 14, and so I am sure she is looking down at me now feeling very proud of her son,” he said.

“Words can’t explain the feeling, because, growing up, I always wanted to be an Olympian, and dreams have come true [with me] winning a silver, so 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, and for sure I know that I am going to get one, one day,” Pinnock said.

A former Kingston College standout Pinnock, joins James Beckford as an Olympic Games long jump silver medallist, after Beckford’s second-place finish at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

Hampered by injuries and setbacks leading up to the Olympics, Pinnock’s latest success is a mark of consistency in the face of adversity, resulting in his second-straight podium finish at a major international championships, this after a ninth-place finish at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, two years ago.

He noted that, despite the issues, he has always kept faith in himself and believed that once he remained confident, he would achieve his objectives this year.

“It was a tough journey coming back, but I trust in God and I prayed about it, and now I am an Olympic silver medallist,” Pinnock said.

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

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

Pinnock joins triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts and 100m sprinter Kishane Thompson with silver medals, while Rajindra Campbell won bronze in the men’s shot put.

Also yesterday, experienced diver Yona Knight-Wisdom progressed to this morning’s semi-finals of the men’s 3m springboard competition after scoring 382.90 points and finishing 14th in the preliminary round.

The medal push will continue with Traves Smikle, Ralford Mullings and Roje Stona in the final of the men’s discus throw, while sprint hurdlers Hansle Parchment, Orlando Bennett and Rasheed Broadbell, as well as 400m hurdlers Jaheel Hyde, Roshawn Clarke and Malik James-King; quarter-milers Stacey-Ann Williams, Junelle Bromfield and Nickisha Pryce, as well as Brian Levell in the men’s 200m, will all be looking to book their places in the final of their respective events.

Romaine Beckford will feature in men’s high jump qualification, while the opening round of the women’s 100m hurdles, which will feature Janeek Brown, Danielle Williams and Ackera Nugent; the men’s 800m heats with Navasky Anderson as well as the qualification round of the men’s triple jump with Jaydon Hibbert and Jordan Scott.