FUELLED by past disappointments and desperate to make her mark on these Games, history-making Jamaican triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts says she is thrilled after her silver medal-winning jump inside Stade de France highlighted a day of mixed emotions for Jamaicans as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games served up a healthy dose of both pleasure and pain.

Ricketts became the first Jamaican — male or female — to win a triple jump medal at the Olympic Games, in what was the second of two firsts for the island which also celebrated Rajindra Campbell’s historic bronze in the shot put ­— another first for any Jamaican athlete.

“I’m feeling great, I feel like this was the only medal that was missing from my collection — an Olympic medal — and to come out tonight and to deliver, I am just really happy with the result,” Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer. “I just knew that I had to come out and fight, and give it everything I had.”

Pointing to Campbell’s bronze and the island’s success in the field over the years, Ricketts says she is hoping that the results will inspire more Jamaicans competing in field events.

“It shows that we are doing well in the field, and if you just put your mind to it and believe then anything is possible,” said Ricketts.

Both medals, Jamaica’s first at these Games, came after Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal from the women’s 100m semi-finals, reportedly due to an injury suffered during her warm-up, likely bringing an end to one of the most decorated and impactful Olympic careers of any sprinter.

It is unclear how serious the injury concern is and whether or not the 37-year-old will be available for selection for the 4x100m relays, which get underway on August 8.

Young sprinter Tina Clayton (19), looking to continue Jamaica’s 16-year grip on the event, advanced to the medal round after winning her heat in 10.89 seconds, but ran out of steam 72 minutes later in the final, fading to seventh in 11.04 seconds in her first appearance at a senior international championships.

The event was won by St Lucia’s Julien Alfred, a former student-athlete at St Catherine High School, who overpowered the field, stopping the clock at 10.72 seconds (national record) to get the better of fancied American Sha’Carri Richardson, 10.87, and her teammate Melissa Jefferson, 10.92.

Meanwhile Ricketts, a two-time silver medallist at the World Championships, produced her best jump of the series on her second attempt, disturbing the sand at season’s best 14.87m and propelling herself into second place, a position she would not relinquish for the entire competition.

It was, however, a nervous wait for Ricketts, made worse by a brief rain delay, with flashes of her barely missing out on a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games admittedly playing on her mind. Back then, with two rounds to go, Ricketts sat in the bronze medal spot but was relegated to fourth during the penultimate round, failing to find a response with her last jump and ending her campaign in disappointment.

Coach and husband Kerrylee Ricketts admitted that her Tokyo let-down and witnessing the results of the women’s 100m final in Paris provided added motivation for the triple jumper who has actually been based in France since April.

“This year we were hoping to get back on the podium. That was the target and the goal, to get on the podium — whatever medal. This result means a lot for us. While we were competing she actually had flashbacks of what happened in Tokyo … but she was fighting and she really wanted to deliver something great for Jamaica. She was also watching and saw that the women’s 100m ended with us not having representation on the podium, and that really pushed her even more to do her best in terms of securing the medal for Jamaica,” said Kerrylee.

The event was won by Dominica’s Thea Lafond, 15.02m (national record), with American Jasmine Moore taking the bronze in 14.67m.

Campbell, who made it to the final at the World Championships in Budapest last year but failed to register a legal throw, also found redemption, hurling the implement 22.15m to secure the bronze medal behind the USA pair of Ryan Crouser, 22.90m, and Joe Kovacs who also registered 22.15m but got the silver medal because he had the next-best measurement.

Jamaicans will be hoping for more medal success today when the men’s 100m hits a crescendo during the semi-finals (1:00 pm) and final (2:50 pm), after impressive first-round runs by medal favourites Oblique Seville (9.99 seconds) and Kishane Thompson (10.00), who comfortably won their respective heats, and Ackeem Blake (10.06) who placed second in his.

Natoya Goule-Toppin will feature in the women’s 800m semi-finals at 1:35 pm, after winning her heat yesterday in 1:58.66 minutes. The men’s 400m heats will also begin at 12:05 pm, with Deandre Watkin, Sean Bailey and Jevaughn Powell representing.

Several Jamaicans will also be in action during the morning session in the women’s 200m heats (Shericka Jackson, Niesha Burgher, Lanae-Tava Thomas); men’s long jump qualification (Wayne Pinnock, Carey McLeod, Tajay Gayle); men’s 110m hurdles (Rasheed Broadbell, Hansle Parchment, Orlando Bennett); and the women’s 400m hurdles (Rushell Clayton, Janieve Russell, Shiann Salmon).

Rajindra Campbell celebrates after winning the bronze medal in the men’s Shot Put at the Olympic Games in Paris, France on Saturday, August 3, 2024. Campbell secured Jamaica’s first medal in the event at the Olympic level. (Naphtali Junior)

St Lucia’s Julien Alfred roars with delight after winning her country’s first medal at the Olympic Games with gold in the women’s 100m final at the Paris 2024 Games inside the Stade de France on Saturday, August 3, 2024. Alfred clocked a National Record, 10.72 seconds to beat the American pair pf Sha’Carri Richardson, 10.87 and Melissa Jefferson, 10.92. Naphtali Junior

Tia Clayton competes in the women’s 100m final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games inside the Stade de France on Saturday, August 3, 2024. Clayton, 19, clocked 11.04 seconds to finish seventh in the event. (Naphtali Junior)