Jaydon Hibbert inspiring Arnett Gardens youth

Despite not being able to deliver the projected gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, triple jump star Jaydon Hibbert is inspiring the youth in his community to pursue excellence in sports.

Hibbert hails from the community of Mexico in Arnett Gardens, in South St Andrew. Yesterday, a group of boys hailed Hibbert for his exceptional athleticism and for being recognised in the top five in the world for the men's triple jump.

"Mi want fi be like him but inna 100 metres, him all deh pon the commercial board up by the ball field," said 10-year-old Omar Fraser, who attends the Iris Gelly Primary School.

Fraser, who carries the surname of another popular Jamaican athlete Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, explained that he does very well at his sports days and intends to join the track and field club.

"I am in yellow house and I want to run and get a lot of medals," Fraser said.

Prior to the triple jump final, Hibbert's grandmother Jennifer Taylor and residents of Mexico expressed how proud they were of him representing Jamaica and their community on the world stage while having his mother there to see it.

"From him little him love running. He has a lot of medals from sports he has participated in because him always a take part, whether sports day or other competitions," said Taylor, who added, "His mother always push out fi him and always go watch him run."

Hibbert experienced difficulties and stopped midway the first round of finals. He received medical attention and later pulled out. With a personal and season best of 17.87m, he was the title favourite, but in his absence, Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso in West Africa jumped to the gold medal with a distance of 17.64. Jamaicans utilised various platforms to express their support and encouragement for Hibbert after learning of his injury.

"The person that got gold still didn't beat your score. It's only up from here," commented Latanya Farquharson.

"Oh my, that was a sure medal. He's young and has a bright future. Look out for him at the Olympics next year," said one commentator wstephanie931.