PARIS, France — In a historic moment at the Olympic Games on Wednesday, Jamaican discus thrower Roje
Stona won the gold medal, setting a new Olympic record and securing the first gold medal for his country in any field event at the Olympic Games. Stona’s spectacular performance not only brought glory to Jamaica but also etched his name in the annals of Olympic history.

Stona, 25, faced stiff competition and delivered a remarkable throw of 70.00 metres on his fourth attempt, surpassing the previous Olympic record of 69.97 set by Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania only moments earlier in the competition.

Prior to those efforts, the Olympic record was held by Alekna’s father Virgilijus who threw 69.89 at the 2004 Athens Games. Stona’s throw stunned the crowd at Stade de France, as well as his competitors, and cemented his place at the top of the podium.

Mykolas, the world record holder and gold medal favourite, was second, while Matthew Denny from Australia, the reigning Commonwealth Games champion, was third with 69.31.

“The situation that I was in, going into the final, I was in seventh place, I mean it doesn’t get any more difficult than that, but I knew I had nothing to lose and so I just went for it,” Stona explained.

“I feel like the fans enjoyed it and everyone loved it, and so field events should get more attention, to be honest. I am enjoying the moment right now, the country should be proud, and we have to give thanks to those who were there before. We have the likes of Fedrick Dacres, Travis Smikle, who was there in the competition, and you have many more discus throwers who have passed through the island. To be here at this time, we should all celebrate and put more support into the field events, the discus, the shot put, and everything,” he noted.

After achieving the Olympic record, Stona ran over to the stands to hug his American coach Ryan Crouser, the current shot put Olympic and world champion.

Crouser, who on Saturday won an unprecedented third consecutive shot put gold at the Olympic Games, is regarded as the greatest shot put thrower of all time.

Under Crouser’s guidance, Stona has reached the pinnacle of Olympic accomplishment after finishing 19th at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Stona, who stands at six feet, six inches, and weighs 240 pounds, has also played American football in college. He was invited to attend NFL rookie mini camps hosted by both the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints earlier this year. He has paid tribute to Crouser for sticking with him during difficult times.

“It is just the problems that I have been going through all season. It’s been a long year for me, actually. I did shot put, then I went to football (NFL), and then I took back up discus, and now I am here,” he said. “You know, Ryan Crouser is a great guy. He is the greatest shot-putter of all time, and to work with him has been a really good feeling. I am just looking forward to what the future has,” Stona said.

Jamaica’s Roje Stona competes in the men’s discus throw during the Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Wednesday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Roje Stona of Jamaica reacts to winning the men’s discus throw during the Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Wednesday. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)