Jamaican Olympic champion Roje Stona is among 14 athletes selected to participate in the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) programme next year, the American football league announced on Monday.

The NFL said 13 nations around the world are represented in its IPP Class of 2025 as the league continues to focus on creating more opportunities for talented international athletes to play the game at the highest level.

Stona won a historic gold medal for Jamaica in the discus at the Paris Olympics, throwing an Olympic record of 70.00 metres.

Roje Stona, who won a historic gold for Jamaica at the Paris Olympics, is among 14 athletes selected to participate in the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) programme next year.

Other athletes named as part of the new IPP class are Australia’s Jordan Petaia, Laitia Mocejdreke and Laki Tasi; Jeneiro Wakeham of Fiji; France’s Joachim Trouabal and Maceo Beard; Germany’s Leander Wiegand; Ireland’s Aaron Sexton; Nathaniel Salmon of New Zealand; Paschal Ekeji Jr of Nigeria and South Africa; the United Kingdom’s Dante Barnett; Mapalo “Maz” Mwansa of the UK and Zambia; and TJ Maguranyanga of Zimbabwe.

Established in 2017, the IPP programme identifies elite global talent with the aim of providing selected athletes the opportunity to improve and develop their skills, and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster.

Starting in January 2025, athletes on the programme are invited to train in American football — both on the field and in the classroom — for 10 weeks at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, before showcasing their skills in front of NFL club scouts as part of the University of South Florida’s Pro Day in March.

Stona won a historic gold medal for Jamaica in the discus at the Paris Olympics, throwing an Olympic record of 70.00 metres.

Players can be signed as a free agent or, if eligible, selected during the 2025 NFL Draft. Each NFL club is permitted one roster exemption for a qualifying international player from the start of the club’s offseason program through the roster reduction to 53 players. At that time, qualifying international players are eligible to be signed to a 17th practice squad roster spot reserved for international athletes across any of the 32 teams, the NFL said.

The programme has historically welcomed athletes from diverse sporting backgrounds, including rugby, basketball, Gaelic football, track & field and more, and is supported by elite football coaching staff.

“The Class of 2025 is an exciting one, and we are delighted to welcome these talented athletes from around the world to the International Player Pathway program,” said Executive Vice President International, Events and Club Business at the NFL Peter O’Reilly. “Focusing on our global football development efforts and fostering international talent is crucial to growing our game globally. The IPP program offers life-changing opportunities for international talent, and we look forward to following their progress in the weeks and months ahead.”