Distin sets sights on Paris podium

PARIS, France:

In her first Olympic Games appearance, Lamara Distin is not focused about how strong the group of competitors has been this year, but more on her own capabilities in seeking a historic podium finish for Jamaica.

Distin, the reigning national high jump champion and national record holder, enters her third major global championships in a row hoping to complete an ascent that leads to her being the first Jamaican to win an Olympic medal in the event.

The mindset for Distin is not only just to focus on herself but to ensure that she enjoys the moment, heeding the advice of her younger brother and fellow high jumper Santino, a bronze medallist in the Class One boys' high jump final at the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships earlier this year. Lamara says she is glad she was able to guide her brother along his journey as a jumper as well as receiving encouragement from him.

“He's great, you know. He is my younger brother and he started to do high jump two years ago. It's been great giving him encouragement. He just told me to go and have fun and that is what I am going to do,” Distin told The Gleaner.

Distin reached the 2.00m club earlier this year, a goal that she has been chasing since she made her major championship debut at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon two years ago.

She made it to the final on the first try and since then, she has grown, winning the Commonwealth Games title the same year and last year in Budapest finished fourth in the final, just missing the medals.

With stiff competition expected in Paris, led by reigning world champion and world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine, Distin says she can break into the top three if she ensures that she focuses on her own game plan.

“I am not too worried about anyone. I am just going in there with an open mind. I just have to do my best. If I just do the right thing on that day, I will be on that podium,” Distin said.