Stone, Lindsay in ‘record’ rivalry

RICHARD Stone, the first fighter to win back-to-back Night of Champions International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Championship titles at the International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) United States Open, has issued a warning to teammate Akino Lindsay ahead of their individual quests for double gold medals at the Amateur Members Association (AMA) World Championships under way in Vienna, Austria.

“If Akino slips, I am taking that world record from him, teammate or not,” Stone warned Lindsay, whose feat of winning eight consecutive gold medals in two disciplines at the ISKA AMA World Championships, 2017-2023, was recognised as an ISKA world record for which he received a special award during Wednesday’s opening ceremony.

“I am one medal behind him. I am leaving Austria with two more, so he needs to win both his events to keep his new crown,” said Stone, who first won tatami gold in Germany 2016, followed by double gold-medal performances in Jamaica 2018, Ireland 2019 and Munich 2023.

Stone, a newly minted medical doctor, has competed in fewer world championships than Lindsay because of his studies. A double from Stone could put him ahead on gold-medal count, should Lindsay fail to win his divisions.

Lindsay, gunning to break his own world record, aiming at a third straight double gold after winning points and continuous sparring titles in 2018, 2022 and 2023, said he wished Stone all the best.

“He should feel confident about his chances,” he said. “He is a really good fighter and has all the capabilities in the world to take that world record from me. I would be happy for him if he did, but that time is just not now.”

Renowned for his strength and speed, Lindsay, an iconic figure in ISKA tatami sparring, won his first two ISKA gold medals in continuous sparring at Portugal 2015 and Greece 2017.

He first completed the double on home soil in 2018 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. Having missed 2019 and the COVID-19 years of 2020 and 2021, Lindsay returned with a vengeance for Turkey 2022 and Germany 2023, establishing an ISKA world record of eight consecutive gold medals.

In Vienna, Lindsay will compete as a super heavyweight whereas Stone will fight as a heavyweight in defence of their respective black belt divisions.

Jason McKay, ISKA Jamaica president and a travelling coach, said he was proud to see Jamaica in a position of dominance, crediting “a properly run programme and committed athletes”, who have been training since their teen years.

McKay conceptualised the Jamaica Taekwondo high-school programme in 2003, recruiting Lindsay and Stone from St George’s College and Kingston College, respectively, in 2012.