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• Grant pleased with growth as Jamaica to host inaugural Carifta Gymnastics Champs

  Jamaica’s Gymnastics Association (JAGA) president, Nicole Grant says securing hosting rights for the inaugural Carifta Gymnastics Championships not only marks another milestone achievement for her administration, but more importantly, signifies the country’s continued growth in the sport.

  Though the region has been known for the Carifta Games and Carifta Swimming Championships, where rising stars showcase their athletics and aquatic prowess across various age groups, there has never been an outlet for gymnast.

  That prompted Grant and others to work with the Pan American Gymnastics Union (PAGU) to conceptualize the Carifta Gymnastics Championships, which is set for November 29-30 at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

  “Hosting the inaugural Carifta Gymnastics Championships is a significant achievement for Jamaica Gymnastics. It showcases Jamaica's commitment to the sport and its ability to organize a major regional event. Carifta has been around for many years but gymnastics hasn’t been part of it and because of the technicality of the sport,” Grant told SportsMax.TV.

  “This event provides a platform for gymnasts in the Caribbean region to compete and showcase their talents. It also helps to promote gymnastics in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, inspiring more young athletes to take up the sport. Overall, hosting such a prestigious event is a great honor and a testament to Jamaica's growing presence in the gymnastics community,” she added.

  

  Olympian Toni-Ann Williams and Coach Mladen Stefanov.

  Grant explained that Jamaica found favour with the PAGU since last year’s successful staging of the Pan American Hopes tournament, and she is eager to deliver another fine spectacle.

  “We were seen as a country that has the capability of hosting tournaments of this level and therefore we were given the nod. There were three other countries in the running to host the tournament, which included Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Bahamas,” Grant shared.

  “I can tell you that Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bahamas, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands are already confirmed to participate, and each country is expected to bring about 20-30 athletes, at a minimum. So while we wait on other countries to confirm their participation, we are focused on delivering what we hope will be a memorable first staging,” she declared.

  On another note, Grant revealed that Jamaica has also secured the services of Olympian Toni-Ann Williams as Technical Director with her former coach Mladen Stefanov, set to guide the country’s team which begins preparation next month.

  “Toni-Ann will be working with us on a monthly basis. She will begin in July with a camp for the team competing at the Carifta Gymnastics Championships and Mladen Stefanov will be the Head Coach for the senior male and female teams. He was Toni-Ann’s coach throughout her years as gymnasts and has worked with us over the years, so we are pleased to have them both on our technical team,” she noted.

  Prior to the Carifta Gymnastics Championships, Grant pointed out that Jamaica’s athletes will engage two overseas training camps, in Canada and China, to fine-tune techniques and routines.

  “The China camp is a part of the bilateral agreement between both ministries of sports and is the final leg of that camp. Also, our higher level local gymnasts will have a four-week camp in Canada to also prepare for the tournament,” she ended.

• Jamaican gymnasts Alana Walker and Isabelle David excel at Pan American Championships

  Jamaican gymnasts Alana Walker and Isabelle David delivered strong performances at the 2024 Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships, finishing 15th and 17th, respectively, in Santa Marta, Colombia. The competition, held from May 22-26, marked a historic achievement for Jamaica as both gymnasts reached the all-around finals.

   Head coach Mladen Stefanov expressed his pride in the gymnasts’ achievements. “I am so happy with Isabelle David and Alana Walker’s performance at the Pan Am Games 2024. Both of them got through the qualifying round and made it to the top 24 in the final. This is the first time that Jamaica has had two athletes in the all-around final. Our gymnasts were able to do their skills with confidence and really show their potential, making us proud. It was a long week of competing, and they had to compete two times in three days, which is very hard, but somehow they were able to pull it off. They were trained well, and I am so happy that we were a part of the 2024 Pan Am Games and represented Jamaica in the best way possible.”

  

   Alana Walker

  Alana Walker, who secured a top-15 finish with a combined score of 46.867, reflected positively on her performance despite some challenges. She achieved scores of 8.900 on the vault, 7.30 on the uneven bars, 6.51 on the balance beam, and 6.865 on the floor exercise. “Although the finals didn’t go exactly as I had hoped, it was a great end to my 2024 season. I am proud of my top-15 finish for team Jamaica and I also want to say thank you to coaches Mladen and Mary [Marylin Pretov] for helping me through this competition. I look forward to continuing my gymnastics career at Stanford University.”

  

  Isabelle David 

  Isabelle David, who finished 17th with a total score of 45.867, was also pleased with her performance. She scored 9.40 on the vault, 7.5 on the uneven bars, 6.5 on the balance beam, and 6.967 on the floor exercise. “Even though our all-around finals didn’t go exactly as planned, I am very proud I hit eight out of eight routines while at Pan Ams. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been here and represent Jamaica, and I am grateful to coaches Mary and Mladen for supporting everyone on the team during this competition. I am very happy with this end to my 2024 season and I am looking forward to opportunities to compete and represent Jamaica in the future.”

  The success of Walker and David at the Pan American Championships underscores the progress of Jamaican gymnastics on the international stage, showcasing the nation’s potential and dedication to excellence in the sport.

   

   

   

   

• USA Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek aspires to meet sprint legend Usain Bolt: "It'd just be nice to pick his brain..."

  As the USA's Kenny Bednarek gears up for a bid to join his second Olympic team, the 200m silver medalist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has set his sights on meeting his childhood idol, Usain Bolt. In a recent interview with Nick McCarvel for Olympic.com, Bednarek revealed his admiration for the eight-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the 100m and 200m.

  Despite his own accomplishments on the track, Bednarek has yet to meet the Jamaican sprint legend. "I've never met him, but Usain is somebody that I looked up to as a kid," Bednarek shared. "It'd just be nice to pick his brain, know his thoughts, and see how he was able to accomplish everything he did."

  As Bednarek prepares for the upcoming Paris Olympics, he acknowledges the influence Bolt has had on his career while also emphasizing his commitment to his own training regimen and support system. "I'm trying to take some cues from the all-time great from Jamaica, but I'm also trusting my own process and the team that surrounds me," he said. "I just know all the work that I put in to help me reach this moment. I trust my coach, my technique, and everybody else who has supported me. The confidence is through the roof, and all that I need to do is execute."

  Throughout his journey, Bednarek has learned invaluable lessons, including the importance of humility—a value instilled in him by his mother. "My mum always told me to stay humble," he remarked with a smile. "I've always told her to let me know if I ever get too cocky because I don't want to change just because I get more fame or more money. If I ever get a little too cocky, she always reminds me, and I appreciate her for that."

  With Olympic and world medals under his belt and a growing social media presence, Bednarek remains grounded as he continues to chase his dreams. Meeting Usain Bolt would be a significant milestone for the American sprinter, symbolizing the connection between two generations of sprinting excellence.

  As Bednarek looks ahead to Paris, his admiration for Bolt and his own dedication to the sport serve as dual inspirations, driving him to achieve even greater heights in his career.