Sports champion & champion for change
SHANIEKA Ricketts has spent years soaring to global recognition, securing Olympic and World Championship medals, setting records, and dominating in her track & field event, the triple jump. Beyond the sandpit, she is driven by a mission far greater than personal achievement – using her platform to advocate for education as a powerful tool for crime prevention and social change in Jamaica.
Born and raised in Bull Bay, St Andrew, Ricketts’ early years were shaped by sports, discipline, and ambition. A past student of St Benedict’s Primary and Vere Technical High School, she realised her potential in track and field from an early age, though she also enjoyed playing netball. Her towering presence and natural athleticism saw her excelling in multiple events before she specialised in the jumps.
“I was always much taller than my peers, and after winning a physical education class race against both boys and girls, my teacher encouraged me to join the track team. I never looked back,” she recalls.
Her success on the track earned her a scholarship to San Diego State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics and was inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame in 2019. Her accolades include three National Collegiate Athletic Association national titles, multiple conference championships, and two Field Athlete of the Year honours. Since then, Ricketts has gone on to become an Olympic silver medallist, a two-time World Championships silver medallist, and Jamaica’s Sportswoman of the Year in 2024.
Beyond track and field, Ricketts is also passionate about education.
“Initially, I actually wanted to become a teacher, because of the profound impact that my teachers had on me,” she shared. She remembers the challenges she faced in school learning to balance academics with athletics, but credits a disciplined and strategic approach and the support of her teachers for her success. “I was always a student-athlete and one of the most difficult things to do is to balance academics and sports. It is not easy, but it is possible.”
Ricketts believes education equips persons in any field with knowledge that can guide them throughout all aspects of life – for example in the case of athletes, it prepares them for situations in life beyond the competition.
“Education helps athletes with contract negotiations, financial management, navigating business settings and a number of other important things. An educated athlete is less likely to be exploited and more equipped to stand up for themselves and what they believe is right and just.”
She also believes strongly in the role literacy can play in combating crime and violence in Jamaica’s communities. Having grown up in an area affected by these challenges, she understands first-hand how limited opportunities can lead young people down the wrong path.
“The way I see it, engaging in sports and education enables people of all ages, young people especially, to spend their time effectively. It allows them to focus their energy and attention on positive and productive activities, which makes them less likely to fall into the world of crime,” she shared.
Furthermore, she feels that oftentimes literacy is neglected as an important contributor to the well-being of the nation, emphasising that the inability to resolve misunderstandings and conflicts often stems from a lack of education.
“I do believe that if individuals had a wider knowledge base and higher mental capacity to understand and consider different perspectives, many conflicts could be solved without escalation or turning to violence,” she expressed.
