Yona Knight through to swimming World Champs semifinal
Published:Wednesday | February 7, 2024 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
JAMAICAN DIVER Yona Knight-Wisdom advanced to the semifinals of the men’s three-metre springboard at the World Aquatics Championship in Doha, Qatar, finishing 11th of 70 in the preliminaries yesterday.
Jamaica’s other participant in the event, Yohan Eskrick-Parkinson finished 61st, with a score of 250.65.
Knight-Wisdom, who has been recovering from a severe knee injury for which he required surgery in December of 2022, made his return for Jamaica at the Pan American Games in November.
The Britain-born diver, along with Eskrick-Parkinson, finished ended 13th in the men’s three-metre synchronised events with a score of 337.17. Knight-Wisdom scored 385.65 in the three-metre event.
Today, Knight-Wisdom will be looking to better his tally.
“There were some 70 divers and mentally it was a bit draining to be sitting and waiting. Not all the divers were doing well but I was confident, although in diving things can change quickly.
“But I held my nerve under the pressure, knowing what was at stake and I am very proud,” he said of his preliminary-round performance.
“My goal now is to make the final and improve on my preliminary dives as well. So that is my aim in the semis, to improve.”
Yona, who also has his sights set on qualifying for a third straight Olympics, believes he is at his best level again.
“I believe I can do it. I have done it in training already, hopefully I can do it in Doha as well.
“I have done some competitive practice and I’ve done some good quality dives. So it’s whether I can put together some good dives in this competition. However, now I have the opportunity to do just that,” he commented.
The 28-year-old added that his road to recovery from injury was a frustrating one but that determination to compete at the February 2-14 event kept him going
“It is hard to put into words with the year that I have had. I have had this injury and coming back knowing that this day was ahead of me, was what kept me going and what kept pushing me.
“It has helped me to get over the injury and it is a most amazing feeling when it results in an amazing outcome. You can say that it was worthwhile,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jamaican swimmers, which include Josh Kirlew, Emily McDonald, Sidrell Williams and Jessica Calderbank, will begin their preliminary competitions on Thursday.