Bryan Levell, Jamaica’s national 200-metre champion and Olympic-bound sprinter, has received a significant financial boost to support his preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has invested $1 million in Levell, recognizing his potential and achievements in track and field.
Levell, who also placed fourth in the 100 metres at the recently held National Championships, has been named as a reserve for the individual event. He announced his arrival on the big stage by breaking the 10-second barrier in the 100 metres at the National Championships, clocking 9.98 seconds in the semi-final and finishing fourth in the final. He then went on to break the 20-second barrier in the 200 metres, clocking 19.97 seconds to claim the national title.
The financial boost from the JOA comes under its ‘Young Olympic Changemakers’ program, designed to support promising athletes. Levell expressed his gratitude for the investment, stating, “This will be very beneficial with me not having any support, and by giving me this award, the JOA is supporting my dreams and aspirations.”
An ideal candidate for the financial support
The JOA highlighted Levell’s achievements as making him an ideal candidate for the financial support. Ryan Foster, the JOA’s secretary general, emphasized the importance of the Young Olympic Changemakers’ program in recognizing and supporting excellence. “It is a handshake that acknowledges excellence, empathizes with a need, and shares in an Olympic dream that has become a reality. It is a firm handshake of mutuality that says we’re in this together in realizing Bryan’s aspirations and for Jamaica’s glory,” Foster said.
Levell’s manager, Damia Russell, praised the athlete’s resilience and determination, noting his challenges with injuries and the difficulty of training full-time without sponsorship. “Bryan intends to advocate and show other young boys and girls that dreams do come true and hard work works,” Russell remarked.
Christopher Samuda, the JOA president, affirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting athletes like Levell. “We have a social contract with our sportsmen and women who are our business, livelihood, and lifeblood, and we are delivering opportunities on a level playing field,” Samuda stated.
In addition to Levell, the JOA has provided financial support to other athletes, including Malik James-King, Samantha Hall, Shanieka Ricketts, and Nayoka Clunis, demonstrating its broad commitment to fostering Jamaican athletic talent.
