JAMAICAN athlete Shadae Lawrence has been making waves in the athletics world with her impressive performances. Born on December 31, 1995 in the parish of St Catherine, Lawrence has been specialising in the discus throw event, and her hard work and dedication have paid off in a big way.

Lawrence’s Olympic debut came at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she represented Jamaica in the discus throw. Although she didn’t qualify for the final, the experience was invaluable, and she has since used it as motivation to push herself to new heights.

Lawrence qualified for the discus throw event at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 — her determination and perseverance had paid off. And though she didn’t medal, she proved her readiness to take on the world’s best in reaching the finals.

Lawrence is now on a mission. She’s determined to take the next step: winning a medal. With her sights set on the world championships in September in Tokyo, Japan, Lawrence is more focused than ever.

“Moving from a finalist to a medallist will require hard work, dedication, and a bit of luck. I believe it will also take a favour from God, as injuries can happen at any time — and that’s exactly what’s been holding me back for the past two to three years,” Lawrence told the Jamaica Observer.

“We [are] kind of ironing out a lot of those injuries now, and hopefully with the hard work and dedication for the time — world championship is in September — and anything is possible. The aim is just continue to work and stay injury-free,” the 29-year-old said.

Lawrence’s biggest achievement came on May 22, 2021 when she shattered the national record with a throw of 67.05 metres in Tucson, Arizona. This incredible feat cemented her position as one of Jamaica’s top athletes and marked a major milestone in her career.

She is taking a measured approach to her training, knowing that patience and perseverance will be key to her success.

“We’re taking the training slow at the moment. I mean, the world championships is in September and so there’s no need to rush. We are trying to build a solid foundation, getting all the reps in training and just taking care of the body,” Lawrence explained.

Lawrence draws inspiration from fellow Jamaican athlete Roje Stona, who made a remarkable impact at the 2024 Paris Olympics when he won discus gold with a record throw.

“It was just inspirational, and I must give [Roje Stona] that. What he did was at the Olympics. It was a testament that we’re not just making strides on the track, but also on the field. He gave me the encouragement that I can do that for myself. I am looking forward to making everyone proud,” Lawrence said.