HAVING faced numerous challenges throughout his career, Olympic discus throw champion Rojé Stona says switching allegiances to Turkey is the best thing for his profession.

The 26-year-old publicly addressed the lucrative move to Turkey for the first time after competing in the London Diamond League on Saturday.

Stona, along with Olympic shot put bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell, Olympic long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock, and Olympic triple jump finalist Jaydon Hibbert stunned the nation in June when it was revealed they would no longer be representing Jamaica.

The quartet accepted offers from Turkey which reportedly include US$500,000 ($80 million) signing bonus, monthly stipends, and multimillion-dollar bonuses for medals won at major championships.

It came just a mere 10 months after Stona announced himself on the world stage by taking gold for Jamaica in the discus throw in an Olympic record 70.00 metres in Paris.

STONA… I’m not going to point out certain things but there’s obviously the general stuff that they should take care of, just like every other national athletics federation (Photo: AFP)

Despite concerns from many surrounding the switch to the European nation, Stona believes it was an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“I think it was a smart decision on my end. The offer came up and, based on how my career is going, I think it was the smartest decision so far in my career,” he told The Inside Lane.

“I got to think about it as a professional — as I’m a professional — so I just took up the offer when it came to me.”

Stona’s Olympic success didn’t significantly change his fortunes, as the Jamaica Observer learnt his financial struggles continued, which almost led to him quitting the sport.

He had told the Observer last November that he would seriously consider giving up his throwing career for a shot in the National Football League (NFL) in the United States.

The 2024 National Sportsman of the Year admitted that the offer from the Turks prevented him from walking away from the ring.

“It wasn’t really that hard because it wasn’t anything personal — it’s just on a professional level,” he said.

Jamaica’s Roje Stona competes in the men’s discus throw qualification rounds of the athletics event during the Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on August 5, 2024. (Photo: AFP)

“I indulged in a little bit of [American] football this year as well, and that’s one of the reasons I started my season late. I was likely [[to] sign with a team in the NFL and not throw for Jamaica anymore. I was fully committed to football this year in the off season.”

Though admitting Stona and his fellow field athletes’ departures were unfortunate, the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) last month wished them all the best and said they remain committed in supporting local athletes.

However, Stona says the local governing body needs to do more if they are to prevent an exodus of athletes to overseas countries.

“I think [JAAA] need to pay more attention to the athletes’ needs,” he told Tallawah TV.

“A lot of the athletes have a lot of needs for them to pursue or thrive in their career, especially on this kind of circuit because it can get difficult [at] times. I’m not going to point out certain things but there’s obviously the general stuff that they should take care of, just like every other national athletics federation. It’s pretty standard — you’ve got development programmes, athlete support in different tiers — they just need to step up a little bit better.”

Due to World Athletics rules, Stona’s will be inactive at major championships for the next three years, which means his next appearance will be to defend his Olympic title at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

It means he will miss out on competing at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.

However, he’s not bothered as he plans to make improvements in his discipline going forward.

“I’m trying to finish up the season strong. I started the season late so I’m trying to finish up the season strong, and I look forward to those meets,” he said.

Stona threw 64.71 metres for fifth in the London Diamond League on Saturday. He has a season’s best of 67.19 metres which he achieved at the FBK Games in the Netherlands in June.

Roje Stona of Jamaica displays the men’s discus gold medal during a presentation ceremony of the Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on August 8, 2024. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)