To many achievers, giving up is never an option, and Jamaican female triple jumper – Shanieka Ricketts is no different.
The 32-year-old Saint Thomas Parish born athlete has revealed that despite her illustrious career winning an Olympic medal was the missing piece her portfolio so grapping a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is an accomplished dream.
Speaking to SportsMax at the Jamaica Pegasus on Friday, the Jamaican National Sportswoman of the Year for 2024 said having accomplished her long standing dream she is now looking forward to ticking many more positive boxes in 2025:
“It’s basically a dream come true. It’s something that has eluded me in my career for a very long time.
“There were times I felt like giving up but, I just kept in mind that it’s possible, kept working towards it and, to finally have that dream realized, I’m living the dream.”
“In 2025, I’m looking for more consistency,” she said.
“I’m definitely putting in the work. Training has been going really well so the sky is the limit,” Ricketts added.
Ricketts’ previous best Olympic finish was fourth at the Tokyo Games in 2021. She is also a two-time World Championship silver medalist. Her Her personal bests in the event are 15.03 metres outdoors [Eugene, Diamond League, 2023] and 14.08 metres indoors [Albuquerque 2013].
Ricketts further noted her delight for winning the National Sportswoman of the Year award for the first time.
“It means the world to be honored at home. Every time we go out there to compete, it’s about bringing honor to the country so it’s always a wonderful feeling when the country honors our successes,” she said.
By Kwame Yeboah
