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Hammond Ross gets reallocated Olympic medal from Beijing - Former Jamaican jumper proud of improvements by country’s field events athletes
August 12, 2024
PARIS, France:
Jamaica's Chelsea Hammond Ross was on Friday awarded her reallocated bronze medal from the 2008 Beijing Olympics women's long jump, at a ceremony in Champions Park at Trocadero Gardens in Paris.
Hammond Ross was upgraded to bronze for her performance in Beijing after silver medal winner Tatyana Lebedeva was disqualified for testing positive for a banned substance.
With that medal, Hammond Ross became the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic medal in the women's long jump.
It is a distinction that she doesn't take lightly and is proud to have, being the first to pave the way for those who have come after.
"I hope that I was an inspiration to my fellow teammates and the fellow young ones coming up from before that, showing that, of course, it is possible. Jamaica has done great things but we don't necessarily have a shine in the field events. But I know that from 2008 up Jamaica and the islands (Caribbean) have been doing so well, getting the attention it deserves," Hammond Ross said.
Jamaica got the majority of their medals from the Paris Games in the field events, with two in the sprints and four coming from the field. Two of those have come in the men's long jump and in the women's triple jump where Shanieka Ricketts became the first Jamaican to win an Olympic medal in the event.
That final was won by Dominica's Thea LaFond, who won her country's first Olympic medal in their history
With the field events now being in the spotlight for Jamaica, it is something that has warmed the heart of Hammond Ross.
"I'm so excited. From the shot put, to the long jump to the discus. I am so excited that our jumps are getting recognition. We are a part of track and field, we are not just runners, we are jumpers, we are throwers. And I am so happy that the encouragement is happening in the field events and we are showing you that we belong just as much as the sprinters," Hammond Ross said.
