Fresh off a 17.02-metre comeback jump at the Rome Diamond League, Jaydon Hibbert says Turkey helped rebuild him mentally and emotionally after a devastating injury, while accusing Jamaican sporting officials of failing to support him during one of the darkest periods of his career.

The Jamaican-born triple jumper made the remarks during an interview with The Inside Lane following his season-opening performance, which marked a significant step in his return from a bone injury that sidelined him since the Paris Olympic Games.

“My mind is so full right now. I’m lost for words, but I’m feeling so good. I am so excited, I’m so happy, I’m so thankful to God,” Hibbert said.

The 21-year-old revealed that he only resumed training in February and remains under medical restrictions.

“I’ve been dreaming of this 17 since I started training in February…But, oh my gosh, short approach. 17.02? And I’m not really in my competition training yet? It’s going to be crazy late this year,” he said.

Hibbert was equally encouraged by how his body responded after six rounds of competition.

“My knee’s not hurting. I’m just cramping up. That’s why I didn’t finish the last jump. My body, my nervous system is shattered. I haven’t done this in a year, you know?” he continued.

After opening with a series of cautious jumps, Hibbert said he finally trusted his body enough to attack the runway.

“The first three jumps, I was scared…I wasn’t running. I was passive, coming to the board. You see the [next] one now, I said, you know what? Let me just run, run, nothing nah happen,” he explained, adding that he will be targeting another big jump at next week’s Diamond League meeting in Oslo.

The journey back to competing, he said, was made possible by the support he received after switching allegiance to Turkey. According to the athlete, the lack of support he received after getting hurt played a major role in his decision.

“This is the right space for me,” Hibbert said.

Hibbert claimed that after sustaining his injury, no one from Jamaica’s sporting leadership reached out to check on his wellbeing.

“There were times when I had nobody to speak to. Nobody checked in. Especially the way I got injured, I got injured through negligence. And the fact that no one deliberately tried to reach out. And when I say no one, you know who I’m speaking about. You feel me? Nobody reached out.

“The only call I got was when I was supposed to sign up for the trials last year for Tokyo. That was the only call. And they were like, ‘Mr Hibbert, I don’t see you sign up’… I’m like, bro, do you even know if I’m healthy to even come to the trials? And it goes to show you that they can reach out. They can call. They can check up,” he said.

By contrast, Hibbert said Turkey’s approach to his recovery focused first on rebuilding his mental health.

“Turkey, they’re big on psychology. And that’s the first step in my recovery that they took. Psychology.”

He revealed that the first two weeks of his rehabilitation consisted almost entirely of sessions with a psychologist.

“Two weeks and twice per day. And I just spill it out and mi bawl mi gwaan and mi bawl and mi gwaan. One of the time dem, the man never understand weh mi talk cause mi start talk inna patois. But yes, mi cry man, mi cry because it was just so depressing,” he said, adding “I’m just in a better space.”

The athlete said the support network provided by his new federation has made him feel valued.

“They’re big on my recovery and it feels like family. It feels like a construct that I can depend on in times of need cause a nuh every day, it a go happy and jolly. You feel me? But I’m just thankful for them. I’m thankful to God that he put them in my space to reignite me.”

While expressing gratitude to Jamaica for discovering and developing his talent, Hibbert believes the leadership of the local sporting establishment failed him when he needed support most.

“I’m thankful to Jamaica too because a dem identify my talent and build me,” he said. “But I’d be lying if the leaders of the sporting entity didn’t break me.”

“So I’m thankful to Turkey for rebuilding me. And it’s just up from here,” he added.