Jaydon Hibbert, the World Under-20 triple jump record holder, is channeling the frustration from his injury at last year’s World Championships in Budapest into motivation for a stellar performance at the Paris Olympics.
The 19-year-old sensation, who entered last year’s World Championships as one of the world’s top jumpers, is eager to make his mark on the Olympic stage.
At just 18, Hibbert set a World Under-20 record with a jump of 17.87m to win the SEC Outdoor title in Baton Rouge in May. Heading into the World Championships, the former Kingston College standout had impressive jumps of 17.56m, 17.68m, and 17.66m, making him a favorite for the gold medal.
Disaster struck
During the preliminary round of the triple jump in Budapest on August 19, Hibbert led the qualifiers with a jump of 17.70m. However, disaster struck during his first attempt in the final when he experienced discomfort in his hamstring and was unable to complete another jump, ending the competition without a mark and not jumping again for the rest of the season.
Now, a year later, Hibbert is set to compete again on the grand stage at the Paris Olympics. “I’m just really excited and pumped up especially after last year in Budapest,” Hibbert told Nationwide 90FM.
Reflecting on his injury, he admitted, “I have to forget what happened in Budapest because it literally broke me for months. I was depressed and so sad but I had to get over it. Thank God for the confidence I have now and for the lessons that I’m learning now in the sport and it just makes me more hungry to give out my best.”
Season’s best of 17.75m
Hibbert’s season’s best of 17.75m, achieved at the Racers Grand Prix on June 1, ranks him third in the world this season, trailing Spain’s Jordan Diaz and Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo. Diaz and Pichardo delivered a thrilling performance at the European Championships in Rome, with both surpassing 18m. Diaz’s jump of 18.18m is the third longest of all time, with Pichardo close behind at 18.04m.
To secure a medal in Paris, Hibbert may need to surpass James Beckford’s national record of 17.92m, set in 1995. “Right now, I’m even more focused to go out there and give it my best. There may be uncertainties here and there but the biggest thing is to just trust what God has for you,” Hibbert said.
The men’s triple jump qualification at the Olympics is set to begin on Wednesday, August 7, with Hibbert aiming to turn his past heartbreak into triumph on the world’s biggest stage.
