Jamaica Loses 4 Medal Hopes as Stona, Campbell, Hibbert, and Pinnock Reportedly Join Turkey

According to major reports, Jamaican Olympic medallists Roje Stona, Rajindra Campbell, and Wayne Pinnock, along with U20 world record holder Jaydon Hibbert, will no longer compete for Jamaica, as Turkey offers $500,000 upfront to strengthen its 2028 Olympic campaign

L-R: Rajindra Campbel and Roje Stona, no longer represent Jamaica

Jamaica’s Olympic medal hopes have reportedly taken a major hit, with four top athletes set to switch allegiance to Turkey.

Olympic discus gold medallist Roje Stona, Olympic shot put bronze medallist and national record holder Rajindra Campbell, U20 triple jump world record holder Jaydon Hibbert, and Olympic long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock are all said to be in the process of transferring their sporting allegiance.

The revelation, first reported by SportsMax and later expanded by Omilia Sports, comes amid a broader push by Turkey to strengthen its Olympic medal prospects by naturalising elite international athletes. Sources say several Jamaican stars have been quietly approached in recent weeks.

The developing story later identified U20 triple jump world record holder Jaydon Hibbert and Olympic long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock as among those reportedly set to make the switch. Each athlete is said to have been offered at least US$500,000 upfront, along with monthly stipends and performance bonuses.

According to Onder Ozbilen, a consultant with Turkey’s Sports Ministry, Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell are already part of an urgent recruitment drive. The athletes must obtain Turkish citizenship and residency by the end of this month to meet World Athletics’ three-year eligibility requirement in time for the 2028 Olympic Games.

The move makes all athletes ineligible to represent Jamaica at global competitions for the next three years, including the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Stona made history by becoming Jamaica’s first Olympic champion in a throwing event, while Campbell secured bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics and set a new national shot put record of 22.31 metres in September 2024.

The lack of adequate support from the Jamaican Athletics Federation seems to be pushing athletes to take matters into their own hands, a move that, while securing their personal futures, could undermine Jamaica’s success on the global stage.