With the ISKA World Championships wrapped up in Vienna, Jamaica’s kickboxing team has returned home with 10 medals, an achievement that further cements Jamaica’s reputation in international kickboxing.
Dr. Jason McKay, president of ISKA Jamaica, praised coach Claude Chin and his five-member squad for their impressive performance, including two additional gold medals for Akino Lindsay, extending his world record.
Dr. McKay emphasized the importance of recognizing ISKA kickboxing’s role in enhancing Jamaica’s image on the global sports stage. “Aside from the IAAF Track and Field Championships, there is no other event where Jamaica dominates like this,” McKay noted. “This success reflects our administrative approach. We recruit fighters early, as young as 13, then provide them with coaching, sponsorship, and career-long management. This level of commitment is essential to be a global leader in any sport.”
Potential challenge to Jamaica’s future dominance
The Jamaican squad achieved an 80 per cent rate of world champion returns, narrowly besting Ukraine’s close 72 per cent—a performance McKay acknowledged as a potential challenge to Jamaica’s future dominance. McKay hopes to see the return of prominent fighters Nicholas Dusard and Delano Francis for next year’s championship in Brisbane, Australia.
Jamaica’s high school program, crucial to nurturing this talent, was recently relaunched at Jamaica College, Wolmer’s Boys, and Kingston College after a pandemic-induced hiatus. This program, which began in 2003, has produced every Jamaican athlete on the current squad and continues to supply fighters for the JTA/ITF Taekwondo team.
“Our future success depends heavily on how Jamaica embraces and supports these athletes,” McKay shared. “We’ve just seen four world champions return from Vienna, including three previous ISKA titleholders. It’s especially gratifying to see Nicholai Reid claim a world title on European soil.”
Meanwhile, ISKA President Corey Schaefer, commended the Jamaican squad in a press release, describing them as embodying the spirit of ISKA competition. “Team Jamaica always elevates the championship experience. Their dedication, sportsmanship, and camaraderie make them not only fierce competitors but also some of the most respected athletes at the event,” Schaefer stated.
