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JAM | Jan 18, 2025

Stona, Ricketts crowned 2024 sportsman and sportswoman of the year

Howard Walker

Howard Walker / Our Today

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Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year for 2024 Roje Stona (second left) and Shaneika Ricketts (second right) pose with Sports Minister Olivia Grange (left) and chairman of the RJR Sports Foundation Gary Allen. (OUR TODAY photo)

Roja Stona and Shaneika Ricketts were crowned RJR/Gleaner Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year at a glittering ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Friday night (January 17).

Stona was the overwhelming favourite having struck discus gold at the Paris Olympic Games in an Olympic record with a massive throw of 70m. It was never in doubt.

The 25-year-old Stona will forever be etched in Jamaica’s athletics folklore as he is the first Jamaican to be Olympic Champion in a throwing event.

Despite his historic achievement, Stona’s Olympic record is still below the Jamaican record of 70.78m held by Fedrick Dacres set in 2019.

Roje Stona (left) collecting his 2024 People’s Choice Performance of the Year award from RJR’s Head of News and Sports Milton Walker. (OUR TODAY photo)

It was a year when the former St Jago High student announced himself on the world stage as a top discus thrower where he won the LA Grand Prix with a throw of 66.93m. He was second in New York and won in Luxemburg ending the year ranked fourth in the world.

Olympic 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson was the male runner-up after losing in a photo finish to American Noah Lyles. It was one of the closest 100m races in Olympic history.

While Stona’s selection was straightforward among the eight male nominees, Ricketts’ was also amongst the five females as her silver medal stood above all.

Ricketts who won silver medal at the Olympics in the triple jump with a leap of 14.87m was well deserved for a consistently wonderful year.

Sportsman of the Year 2024 nominees from left: Rusheen McDonald, Kishane Thompson and Rasheed Broadbell pose for the camera on he red carpet affair prior to the star of the gala event at the Pegasus Hotel. (OUR TODAY photo)

She had won the National Championship and ended the year third in the world following her second-place finish in the Diamond League final.

National 400 hurdles champion Rushell Clayton was the runner-up. She set several world-leading times throughout the year with a brilliant run of 52.51 to finish fifth at the Olympic Games. She ended the year ranked fourth in the world.

Stona was the star of the night as he also won The People’s Choice Award for Performance of the Year.

It was the logical choice which was decided by voting and Stona saw off Khadijah Shaw, Rasheed Broadbell, Ackera Nugent, Kishane Thompson and Chavany Willis.

Alana Reid (left) collecting her Certificate of Merit after striking gold in the 100m at the Under-20 World Championship. (OUR TODAY photo)

The Iconic Award went to the Maximising Velocity and Power (MVP) Athletics Club for their continued production of medallists at the highest level for the last 26 years having been formed in 1999.

The MVP club athletes have won 83 medals at the World Championships both indoors and outdoor and 37 medals at the Olympic Games. Truly remarkable.

The club also provided the winners of the Sportsman and Woman crown 19 times and three World Athlete of the Year in Asafa Powell (2006), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (2013) and Elaine Thompson-Herah (2021).

The award function is in its 64th year having started in 1961 with Joy Foster (table tennis) and Bunny Grant (boxing) emerging as the first Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year.

The gala event was broadcast live in 22 Caribbean countries.

There was also a calming performance from 2024 Digicel Rising Star winner Akeen Fennell before the curtain came down.

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