Hibbert yearns ‘something special’

BUDAPEST, Hungary:

With excitement in his eyes and faith in his heart and spirit, Under-20 World Championships triple jump winner Jaydon Hibbert is ready to rise to the occasion as he makes his senior World Championships debut, with the prospect of producing history for Jamaica.

Hibbert will begin his campaign on Saturday in the men's triple jump qualification at 12:35 p.m. Jamaica time, after a year where he smashed the world under-20 record and enters his first senior championships with the best jump this year.

For the 18-year-old, who is absorbing the experience, he is prepared to take on the biggest challenge of his life.

"I am ready to accept this whole experience and go out there and do my best, try and make the medal podium. The first thing is to get through the qualification and bring it to God, so I can do something special for Jamaica," Hibbert said.

That would be to secure the country's first World Championship medal in the event, but while he has been labelled a gold medal prospect, he is not putting unnecessary pressure on himself.

"I'm never pressured by whatever people say. If there is pressure, it's me pressuring myself because I'm doing this for me and my country. It is all on me," Hibbert said.

While he admitted his build-up to the World Championships hasn't been ideal, Hibbert said the confidence he got from his coach the moment he arrived in Budapest; has set the stage for what he hopes will be a memorable debut.

"I came here doubting myself a little. Some training was not on point - was messing up on my run-up, but ever since I got here, my coach said, 'I don't know if it's the atmosphere, I don't know what, but you have been having some great training sessions'.

"So that has really uplifted my spirit even more. I'm mostly optimistic but trusting myself and trusting God, and I am super excited to go out there, wear the colours and then go and get it," Hibbert said.