KINGSTON, JAMAICA – Sports Medicine Physician at the St. John Golding Rehabilitation Centre and long-serving team doctor for Jamaica’s Paralympic delegations, Dr. Shari St. John, is set to represent the Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA) in Germany this month as she pursues her goal of becoming an international classifier.
The sessions, hosted by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), will take place from October 9 to 11 at the IPC headquarters in Bonn.
Dr. St. John’s journey follows the ground-breaking achievement of Sodia Peters, who became the first Jamaican to attain the status of International Technical Official (ITO) in world para athletics. Inspired by this milestone, Dr. St. John is committed to further advancing para sports in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
International certification
“My passion is sports, and the best way to pair my work with my passion is para sports,” St. John stated, emphasizing her dedication to expanding classification opportunities for athletes in the region. She believes this is vital for empowering young athletes to excel across a range of para sports.
As part of the JPA’s broader strategy, several individuals have been identified to pursue international certification in various capacities, from technical officials to coaches. Christopher Samuda, President of the JPA, highlighted this initiative, noting, “It is part of the JPA’s games strategy to qualify as many classifiers, technical officials, and coaches across the spectrum of sport.”
The JPA has also distinguished itself as the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean to have the IPC sanction a local track and field meet as an international qualifying event, with its Velocity Fest meets contributing to the development of para sports across the region.
