JAMAICA’S Olympic Games discus throw gold medallist Roje Stona has taken a massive step towards his dream of playing in the NFL after he was one of 14 men from 14 countries who were invited to a 10-week training camp in Bradenton, Florida, in January.

Stona, who broke the Olympic Games record after he threw 70.00m to win Jamaica’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in a throwing event, has been 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, who had never played the game competitively despite attending both Clemson University and University of Arkansas, opened eyes with his display at the latter school’s workout for NFL prospects in March — just two weeks after he was a finalist in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor National championships in Boston.

A second Jamaican, former Munro College football (gridiron) representative Sheldon Clarke, could also get the opportunity to impress the scouts in Florida as he was not allowed to take part in an NFL International Player Pathway (NFL-IPP) Combine in London in October after he was denied a visa to visit England, the Jamaica Observer was told.

The 21 year-old, who has been an assistant coach for the Munro College team, was selected following an evaluation held in Kingston on August 14th at Mona Hockey Field — the first time an event of this kind was being held in Jamaica — outperforming a “field of elite local athletes, demonstrating the skills and potential that the NFL-IPP programme seeks in international talent”, a release said.

Stona had impressed while working out for scouts from several NFL teams, including the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints.

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.

According to the NFL, the players can be signed as free agents 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 off season programme 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.