Dear Editor,

With bated breath many Jamaicans awaited the opening ceremony but within a couple days after athletics had begun in the second week they were calling for the closing ceremony.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are over. It’s been an Olympic Games fraught with myriad issues and challenges. Swimming events in the polluted Seine river, the gender debate about two gold medal-winning female boxers, cardboard beds, and unbearable heat due to lack of air conditioning were only a few of the concerns raised throughout the little over two weeks in Paris.

For many Jamaicans, some top sports analysts included, the country’s medal haul at the Games was disappointing. But was our medal tally really a disappointment? Most will readily say yes, especially when compared to previous Olympic Games. In Tokyo 2020 the medal haul was nine, inclusive of four golds. Rio 2016 brought 11 medals, with six golds. The last time the country failed to win more than a single gold medal was in Sydney 2000 and even then the total medal haul was nine. Clearly, there is strong argument for labelling this Paris Olympic Games a disappointment. However, before signing off on that label, it is imperative that one more question be answered: Was the medal haul really below what should have reasonably been expected?

Going into the Games it was known Shericka Jackson had injury concerns, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce had not been in prime shape, that’s potentially three to four medals at stake. As it turned out, Fraser-Pryce pulled out of the 100m semi-finals and Jackson was unable to set foot on the track. Imagine both fit, a possible two medals in the 100m, Jackson gold in the 200m, and another medal in the sprint relay, just like that our medal tally would have reached double figures.

The hard truth is the Jamaican team experienced setbacks, from injuries to baton and hurdle mishaps, the rub of the green just didn’t seem to go our way at times. But what did go right? Rasheed Broadbell took bronze in the 110m hurdles, though not a surprise, it was more hoped for than expected. Rajindra Campbell’s bronze in the shot put is the surprise that got the ball rolling. Shanieka Ricketts triple jump silver, her first Olympic medal, is one that most would have predicted, given the absence of world record holder and defending champion Yulimar Rojas. Kishane Thompson’s silver medal in his first Olympics was good to see, though his disappointment in not winning the gold was evident. Wayne Pinnock’s long jump silver, Jamaica’s second medal in the event at the Olympic Games was another expected medal, but the joy it brought was almost unmatched. The sole gold medal came from the most unlikely person, the most unlikely event, the men’s discuss. Roje Stona’s Olympic record throw was undoubtedly the highlight. It was unexpected, having three Jamaicans in the final was great but even then there was no expectation until he sailed, hurled, launched the 2kg/4.4lbs discuss 70m.

A total of six medals, not what most would have predicted, but losing Fraser-Pryce and Jackson to injuries would have had an impact on the medal count, and it did. However, instead of crying foul or disappointment, let us make merry the medals we did win and ‘big up’ all our athletes.

Medals will not always come as predicted, but in this case, medals came from the unexpected. So let us celebrate our athletes, like in previous years, and welcome them home to fan-fare and festivities, because they did us proud.

Kemar Bogle

knb800@yahoo.com