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Who are the Sportsmen and Sportswomen of Jamaica?

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Who are the sportsmen and sportswomen of Jamaica? | source: Jamaica ObserverWho are the sportsmen and sportswomen of Jamaica? | source: Jamaica Observer

By Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

Our athletes showcase their talents on the international stage, year after year, leaving their mark wherever they go. The Sportsman and Sports woman of the year is one way of showing them some appreciation. 

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The RJRGLEANER National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards mark 59 years of continuous acclaim for sporting brilliance. This national asset was once guarded by the Machado Sportsman and Sportswoman Awards, the Carreras Sportsman and Sportswoman Awards, and as of 2018, the RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation.

The RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation is a private, non-profit organization made up of people with a history of being actively involved in, managing, or administrating sports.

The award is a gala event that annually recognizes and honours performances from the prior year. It takes place in January of the new year.  It is the only event of its kind in the Caribbean and is carried LIVE at media houses in 22 Caribbean nations including Jamaica’s very own, Television Jamaica, HITZ 92FM, and TVJ Sports Network.

The objective of the Awards:

  • Recognise and reward our local athletes who have excelled in their chosen disciplines at the international, regional and national levels.
  • Generate adequate cash or kind to make the awards self-financing.
  • Provide compelling quality ‘sports content’ by making the occasion and the journey to the Awards a signature event that has a national, regional and international appeal to Diaspora markets.

The awards are divided into seven areas:

  1. The Special Awards
  2. Category Awards – representing all sports
  3. Chairman's Award
  4. Gleaner Newspaper Iconic Award
  5. People’s Choice Performance Awards
  6. The coveted National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards
  7. VMBS Y.O.U.T.H. Awards


Eligibility for nomination of the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year

When establishing a nominee's eligibility for the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year categories, the following broad criteria are used:

  • The nominee must be a citizen of Jamaica or have represented Jamaica in a competition that is recognized globally.
  • Either a professional or an amateur may be nominated.
  • None of the following shall harm the nominee: Race, colour, creed, class, and political influence
  • The nominee must not have engaged in any actions or conduct that the Foundation believes has damaged their sport.

Sportsmen and Sportswomen of the Year

The last Gala, held in 2019, saw athletes Tajay Gayle and Shelly-ann Fraser-Pryce honoured as sportsman and sportswoman respectively for the athletic year prior.

Tajay Gayle-  He is a Jamaican long jumper who won the 2019 World Championship, was born on August 2, 1996. Gayle earned a silver medal at the 2018 NACAC Championships and a fourth-place finish at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, raising his personal best to 8.24 m (27 feet 14 in). Gayle, whose current personal best is 8.69 meters (28 feet 6 inches), became the first Jamaican male to win a gold medal at a World Championship in the long jump on September 28, 2019.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce- Track and field sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce OD, OJ, born December 27, 1986, represents Jamaica in the 60, 100, and 200-meter distances. As one of the finest sprinters of all time, she is highly respected.

Fraser-Pryce has one of the longest careers of any track athlete in history, spanning from the late 2000s through the 2020s. Her prowess on the track, which included her dependability in important competitions, aided at the beginning of the heyday of Jamaican sprinting. This was Pryce’s fourth time receiving this award. She also received the award in 2012, 2013 and 2015. Pryce has quite a long list of accomplishments, you can read more about her here. 

Even though the RJR Sports Foundation took over in 2018, the Sportsman and Sportswoman of Jamaica Award have been around for decades. Previous sportsmen and women of Jamaica include: 

Sportsmen

  • Fedrick Dacres - 2018
  • Omar McLeod- 2017
  • Usain Bolt- 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016
  • Nicholas Walters - 2014
  • Chris Gayle - 2010

Sportswomen

  • Alia Atkinson - 2014, 2017 and 2018
  • Elaine Thompson- 2016
  • Veronica Campbell-Brown- 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011
  • Brigitte Foster-Hylton- 2002, 2003 and 2009
  • Melaine Walker- 2008

While not mentioned above, Merlene Ottey has received the sportswoman of the year the most in history, with a total of 13 times. For the men, Usain Bolt has revied the award the most, at 7 times. 

These Jamaican sportsmen and sportswomen have undeniably carved an indelible mark on the global sporting landscape. Through their exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and remarkable achievements, they have inspired generations of athletes and fans worldwide.

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References & Sources For Who are the Sportsmen and Sportswomen of Jamaica

  1. RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation. (2019, January 1). Sportswoman of the Year – RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation. http://rjrgleanersportsfoundation.com/

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