‘Much faster, much more focused’
Difficult injuries force Tajay Gayle into becoming a better athlete
Published:Sunday | February 19, 2023 | 4:44 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
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TWO CONSECUTIVE injury-riddled seasons would make even the most optimistic of athletes concerned about going into a new campaign. But former World long jump champion Tajay Gayle’s attitude is still light-hearted and cheerful because, according to...
TWO CONSECUTIVE injury-riddled seasons would make even the most optimistic of athletes concerned about going into a new campaign.
But former World long jump champion Tajay Gayle’s attitude is still light-hearted and cheerful because, according to him, there are positive signs that have him ready to have a season with a much different outcome.
Gayle got his first taste of competition this season at the SW Isaac Henry Track and Field Invitational yesterday, where he had only one legal jump of 7.51 metres.
The event, for Gayle, was a training exercise ahead of his February 25 jaunt to the Birmingham World Indoor Tour Final.
Gayle, who was a late entry and competed with the Class One boys, said it was important to get into a competitive mindset before he travelled to England.
“I really wanted to compete because I am leaving next week for Birmingham. So I am trying to get into the competition feeling the vibe and get everything together,” Gayle said.
“Coach didn’t want me to go to Birmingham with little to zero experience. So he just gave me this to get it out of the system and to be ready for next week.”
Since winning the World Championships in 2019, Gayle has had a number of challenges. The lanky jumper has been struck with injuries over the past two years and those injuries coming at very inopportune times.
Hampered by a knee injury at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, he would make the final but finish 11th. He would suffer a bruised bone at the National Championships last June and the following month at the World Championships, he would fall in his title defence, unable to make it to the final.
Despite those setbacks, Gayle says he feels strangely content about his progress this year, believing that signs of his old explosive ability are returning.
“The most I can tell you is that, even though everything happened to me in the last two years, I still feel happy because, currently, I am much more explosive and stronger than my previous self, much faster, much more focused,” Gayle assessed. “I feel lighter. I am not sure why I feel so happy all of a sudden. I guess it is a good look for now.”
In the interim, Gayle says that his work in training has seen good results so far. A lot of that work, he explained, includes the strengthening of his left leg.
Despite getting short notice about being able to compete yesterday, Gayle outlined the importance of getting as many reps in as possible.
“At first, I didn’t want to jump because it was taking so long, but they said they could squeeze me in because I am the only senior. Sometimes you just don’t watch what is around you, you just do what you came here to do and just get it done,” Gayle said.
While coy on other improvements he has had in training, Gayle said that he feels that he can go beyond what he has already shown in his fledgling career and has already put the past two years behind him.
“I am not sure how far I can jump now but I am pretty optimistic I can jump further than my previous performances. It is not only the confidence, but training has shown me that I am much more powerful than I was, much faster. You will just have to wait and see.”