Team Jamaica delivered a strong and determined showing at the 2025 Pan American Gymnastics Championships in Panama, with standout performances from Elel Wahrmann-Baker and Raeya Linton, who both secured spots in the individual event finals set for Sunday.

Competing against top-tier talent from across the Americas, Jamaica’s men's and women’s squads showed resilience and technical growth, highlighted by Linton’s emotional qualification for the vault final and Baker’s breakthrough in the men’s competition.

The women’s team—Raeya Jordan Simone Linton, Danyella Laura-Kaye Richards, Lauren Jada Roussin, and Alana Kristi Walker—faced early adversity when Richards was sidelined from the bars rotation due to an allergic reaction. With only three athletes available, all scores counted toward the team total. Raeya opened the event under pressure, followed by a composed effort from Roussin and a determined routine from Alana, who had a small misstep on her dismount.

The team rebounded strongly on beam, where Richards returned to action with a confident routine. Alana followed with what head coach Mladen Petrov Stefanov described as a “stunning” performance before Linton closed the rotation with a poised and clean routine.

Momentum carried through to the floor exercise. Richards, Linton, and Walker all delivered energetic and expressive routines, with Alana and Linton especially drawing praise for their power and presence. “They actually showed what they can really do,” Stefanov said. “I’m very, very happy with that.”

On vault—Jamaica’s final event—Richards and Walker executed clean vaults, setting the stage for Linton, who needed to land two different vaults cleanly to qualify for the final. She delivered both with precision.

“Qualifying for vault finals at the Pan American Championships just wasn’t an easy feat,” Linton said. “The competition was intense and everyone was fighting for their spot from the beginning. It was a struggle, but I stayed focused and trusted my gymnastics until the very end.”

Her performance carried additional meaning. “At the last Pan American Champs, I suffered an injury on vault that pulled me out of the competition,” she shared. “Being able to make finals in the same event was more than redemption for me. It is a chance to prove to myself that I can do it and that nothing is impossible.”

“I strive for improvement with everything I do and want to make Jamaica proud. With that, I’m eager to get back on the podium and show that Jamaicans shouldn’t be underestimated,” she added.

Linton will compete in Sunday’s vault final alongside Elel Wahrmann-Baker, who qualified for the pommel horse final. Baker, part of a four-man Jamaican team alongside Clayton Courtney Roy Bell, Caleb Fische Faulk, and Matthew McClymont, tied for eighth to secure his place in the final.

“One of my main goals for myself at Pan Am Championships was to make it into pommel finals,” Baker said. “It wasn’t easy, but I managed to tie with two other athletes and qualified in eighth place. Now that I’m in, I’m excited to get to represent Jamaica again and my new goal is to climb up the rankings towards top three.”

The men’s effort was guided by coaches Toni-Ann Natasha Williams and Vincent Andrew Smurro, while head coach Mladen Stefanov oversaw the overall campaign.

Despite fierce competition, both squads demonstrated grit and promise. “We are happy to be part of that new team rising,” said Stefanov. “There’s a lot we still need to improve, but the future looks bright.”