Olympic history of Jamaica

JAM

22nd	33	22nd

The Jamaica Olympic Association is the National Olympic Committee of Jamaica . It was founded in 1936 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee that same year .

Since 1948, athletes from the Caribbean have taken part in the Summer Olympics. In 1960 Jamaicans took part as part of the West Indian Federation team. Jamaica has also been represented at the Winter Games since 1988. Young athletes took part in the youth summer games held so far.

Participation in the Olympic Games

Summer games

Jamaica's Olympic debut took place in London in 1948. 13 athletes from the sports of athletics, boxing and weightlifting had traveled. The first Olympians in Jamaica were sprinter Leslie Laing on July 30, 1948 and the 800-meter runner Arthur Wint , who won the silver medal in the final on August 2, 1948 and thus became Jamaica's first medalist. The first woman in Jamaica started the 100-meter run on July 31st. Cynthia Thompson finished sixth in the final. Arthur Wint became Jamaica's first Olympic champion on August 5 when he won the 400-meter run ahead of compatriot Herb McKenley . McKenley finished fourth and Laing sixth over 200 meters. In the women’s Vinton Beckett fourth in the high jump and Kathleen Russell sixth in the long jump.

1952 in Helsinki a cyclist from Jamaica was used for the first time. In Helsinki the athletes were successful again. So won her 400-meter relay, in the individual race George Rhoden was Olympic champion ahead of Herb McKenley, who also won silver over 100 meters. Arthur Wint finished fifth over 400 meters and won silver over 800 meters. Leslie Laing, like Rhoden, McKenley and Wint season member, was fifth over 200 yards. 1956 in Melbourne were only athletes in the team, but were unsuccessful. In 1960 Jamaica was part of the West Indian Federation . Jamaican athletes started in the combined team, consisting of athletes from Jamaica, Barbados , Trinidad and Tobago and the Lesser Antilles .

As an independent team, Jamaica took part again in Tokyo in 1964, this time for the first time with sailors and riflemen. The track and field athletes took fourth place four times, with both men's relays as well as with George Kerr over 800 meters and Una Morris over 200 meters. 1968 in Mexico City was again to win a medal after 16 years. Lennox Miller won the silver medal over 100 meters. Michael Fray was seventh over 200 meters, the 100-meter relay finished fourth. A Jamaican swimmer took part for the first time in Mexico City, and a diver in Munich in 1972. In Munich Lennox Miller was able to win another medal, this time it was bronze over 100 meters. Michael Fray reached number five. In the women's race, Rosie Allwood finished eighth over 200 meters, Andrea Bruce ninth in the high jump and Audrey Reid eleventh.

Donald Quarrie was Olympic champion over 200 meters in Montreal in 1976. Colin Bradford finished seventh. Quarrie also won the silver medal over 100 meters. The men's 400-meter relay finished fifth and the women's 100-meter relay came in sixth. Quarrie won another medal in Moscow in 1980. He was third over 200 meters and won bronze. Bronze was also won by Merlene Ottey , also over 200 meters, who became the first woman in Jamaica to win a medal at the Olympic Games. The men's 100-meter relay came in sixth. In Moscow, for the first time, a Jamaican athlete who did not come from the athletes' camp won a medal. Track cyclist David Weller won bronze in the 1000 meter time trial.

Merlene Ottey won two medals in Los Angeles in 1984, bronze over 100 and 200 meters. The men's 100-meter relay also won silver. Raymond Stewart was sixth in the 100 meters, Grace Jackson fifth in the 100 and 200 meters and Sandra Farmer-Patrick eighth in the 400 meter hurdles. The women's 100-meter relay came in fifth, the 400-meter relay in eighth. In the long jump, Dorothy Scott came in tenth. In the 1000 meter time trial, cyclist David Weller took sixth place this time. In swimming, Andrew Phillips was sixth in the 200 meter medley.

In 1988 in Seoul, the athletes won two silver medals through the men's 400-meter relay and Grace Jackson over 200 meters. Merlene Ottey finished fourth, Jackson finished fourth over 100 meters, Juliet Cuthbert finished seventh. The women's 400-meter relay finished fifth and the men's 100-meter relay finished fourth. Raymond Stewart ran over 100 meters in seventh place, Bert Cameron over 400 meters in sixth place. Winthrop Graham reached fifth place over 400 meter hurdles . A Jamaican table tennis player took part for the first time in Seoul.

In Barcelona 1992 athletes collected four medals. Winthrop Graham won silver in the 400 meter hurdles, Juliet Cuthbert in the 100 and 200 meters. There was also a bronze medal from Merlene Ottey over 200 meters. Grace Jackson finished sixth, Merlene Ottey fifth over 100 meters. Sandie Richards finished seventh over 400 meters and fifth in the women's 400 meter relay. Raymond Stewart finished seventh in the 100 meter run.

Deon Hemmings became Jamaica's first female Olympic champion in Atlanta in 1996 when she won the 400-meter hurdles. Debbie-Ann Parris finished fourth. The women's 100-meter relay and the men's 400-meter relay each won bronze. The women's 400-meter relay also came in fourth. In the 100 meter hurdles, Dionne Rose finished fifth and Michelle Freeman sixth. Juliet Cuthbert finished seventh over 200 meters. Sandie Richards achieved the same placement over 400 meters. In the men’s race, Roxbert Martin finished sixth and Davian Clarke seventh. Michael Green was also seventh over 100 meters.

In 2000 in Sydney eight medals were won, the greatest success in Jamaica in terms of the number of medals. Both women's relays and the men's 400-meter relay won silver. Over 100 meters, Tayna Lawrence won silver and Merlene Ottey bronze. Merlene Ottey, who also won silver in the season, competed at the Olympic Games for the sixth time. In total, she won nine medals, but never became an Olympic champion. Nevertheless, together with the US sprinter Allyson Felix , she is the most successful athlete in Olympic history. Deon Hemmings also won silver in the 400 meter hurdles and Lorraine Graham over 400 meters. Beverly McDonald won bronze in the 200 meters. In the 100 meter hurdles Delloreen Ennis-London was fourth and Brigitte Foster-Hylton eighth. In the long jump Elva Goulbourne reached ninth place. In the men's category, Gregory Haughton won bronze over 400 meters, Danny McFarlane was seventh. The men's 100-meter relay finished fourth. In swimming, Janelle Atkinson barely missed a medal in the 400 meter freestyle with fourth place. A Jamaican triathlete started for the first time in Sydney.

In 2004 in Athens, Veronica Campbell-Brown became a double Olympic champion. After her victory over 200 meters and a bronze medal over 100 meters, she also won gold with the 100 meter relay. The women's 400-meter relay also won bronze. Aleen Bailey finished fifth over 100 meters and fourth over 200 meters, Sherone Simpson sixth over 100 meters. Lacena Golding-Clarke took fifth place in the 100 meter hurdles, Trecia Smith fourth in the triple jump. In the men's category, Danny McFarlane won silver over the 400 meter hurdles. Maurice Wignall finished fourth over the 110 meter hurdles . There were three finalists in the 400-meter run. Brandon Simpson finished fifth, Davian Clarke sixth and Michael Blackwood eighth. Asafa Powell crossed the finish line in fifth over 100 meters . James Beckford finished fourth in the long jump and Claston Bernard ninth in the decathlon . A Jamaican badminton player competed in Athens for the first time.

Five Olympic victories in Beijing in 2008 meant the most successful participation in the Olympic Games so far. Usain Bolt was a double Olympic champion over 100 and 200 meters. Asafa Powell and Michael Frater finished fifth and sixth over 100 meters, respectively. The men's 100 meter relay also crossed the finish line first. Due to a doping offense committed by Nesta Carter , Jamaica was subsequently disqualified and the gold medal revoked. The men's 400-meter relay reached eighth place. Danny McFarlane was fourth over the 400 meter hurdles, Markino Buckley seventh. In the 110 meter hurdles, Maurice Wignall finished sixth and Richard Phillips seventh. In the decathlon, Maurice Smith reached ninth place. In the women's category, Veronica Campbell-Brown was able to defend her Olympic victory over 200 meters, Kerron Stewart also won bronze, Sherone Simpson was sixth. All three medals over 100 meters went to Jamaica. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce became the Olympic champion . Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart both won silver because they finished with exactly the same time (10.98 s). Melaine Walker won gold over the 400 meter hurdles, Shericka Williams won silver over 400 meters. Here Rosemarie Whyte came in seventh. The women's 400 meter relay won bronze. Kenya Sinclair finished sixth in the 800 meter run. In the 110 meter hurdles Delloreen Ennis-London was fifth and Brigitte Foster-Hylton sixth. Long jumper Chelsea Hammond just missed a medal in fourth place. Trecia Smith came in eleventh in the triple jump. In Beijing, the first Jamaican rider took part in an Olympic horse show.

In terms of the total number of medals, the participation in London 2012 was the most successful for Jamaica. The athletes were able to win twelve medals in athletics. Usain Bolt repeated his one-two win in Beijing over 100 and 200 meters with Yohan Blake in second place. Warren Weir completed Jamaica's absolute triumph with third place over 200 meters. Asafa Powell finished seventh over 100 meters. Bolt won his fifth gold medal with the relay. Hansle Parchment won bronze in the 110 meter hurdles. Over 400 meter hurdles, Leford Green was seventh. In the women's category, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce defended her Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters in 2008. Veronica Campbell-Brown won bronze. Fraser-Pryce also won silver over 200 meters, Campbell-Brown came fourth. The women's 100-meter relay also won silver, while the 400-meter relay won bronze. Kaliese Spencer was fourth over the 400 meter hurdles , Novlene Williams-Mills came fifth over 400 meters and Rosemarie Whyte was eighth. Kimberly Williams finished sixth in the triple jump and Trecia Smith seventh. Swimmer Alia Atkinson came fourth in the 100 meter chest. A Taekwondoin from Jamaica started in London for the first time.

In 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, a Jamaican gymnast was used for the first time. In Rio, the result from Beijing 2008 was topped again. The athletes won six gold medals. Three of them went to Usain Bolt over 100 and 200 meters as well as with the 100 meter relay. With eight Olympic victories, Bolt is the third most successful athlete in Olympic history, behind the American Carl Lewis and the Finn Paavo Nurmi with nine Olympic victories each. Omar McLeod won the 100 meter hurdles, the men's 400 meter relay won silver. Yohan Blake was fourth over 100 meters, Annsert Whyte fifth over 400 meter hurdles. In the shot put reached O'Dayne Richards eighth, Damar Forbes in the long jump twelfth place. In the women, Elaine Thompson was double Olympic champion in the 100 and 200 meters. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won bronze over 100 meters, Christania Williams was eighth. Over 400 meters, Shericka Jackson won bronze, Stephenie Ann McPherson took sixth place. Both women's relay teams could win silver medals. Three Jamaicans made it to the final over 400 meter hurdles. Ristananna Tracey finished fifth, Leah Nugent sixth and Janieve Russell seventh. Aisha Praught reached 14th place over 3000 meters obstacle. Kimberly Williams was seventh in the triple jump. The swimmer Alia Atkinson took eighth place over 100 meters chest.

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  Crossing the finish line of the 400 meter final in 1948: Arthur Wint (122) becomes Jamaica's first Olympic champion, he wins ahead of Herb McKenley (90)

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  Una Morris in the final of the 1964 200-meter run

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  Donald Quarrie, 1976 Olympic champion, in 1972

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  Merlene Ottey in 1997, the most successful athlete with nine medals, together with Allyson Felix (USA)

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  Veronica Campbell-Brown, three-time Olympic champion in 2004 and 2008

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  Melaine Walker, 2008 Olympic champion

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  Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Olympic champion in 2008 and 2012

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  Elaine Thompson, 2016 double Olympic champion

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  With eight Olympic victories between 2008 and 2016, the third most successful athlete at the Olympics: Usain Bolt

Winter games

Ski cross rider Errol Kerr as the flag bearer of Jamaica at the 2010 opening ceremony

Jamaica's premiere at the Winter Olympics took place in Calgary in 1988. The four bobsledders Devon Harris, Chris and Dudley Stokes and Michael White were Jamaica's first winter sports enthusiasts. Director Jon Turteltaub staged the comedy Cool Runnings in 1993 - it's all a fictional story about the first appearance of the Jamaican bobsleigh team . In 1992 in Albertville Jamaica competed with three bobs (one foursome and two twos).

In 1994 in Lillehammer, the four-man bobsleigh reached 14th place. In 2010 in Vancouver a freestyle skier took part for the first time. Errol Kerr finished ninth in ski cross . In 2018, a Jamaican skeleton pilot competed for the first time. Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian and Carrie Russell were the first women in Jamaica to compete in the two-man bobsleigh . Pusher Russell came from athletics and became the 2013 women's world champion in the women's 4 x 100 meter relay.

Youth games

Youth Summer Games

Fifteen young athletes competed in the first edition of the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in athletics, badminton and swimming. The sprinter Odean Skeen won the 100-meter run. In a mixed team, he was also Olympic champion in the 100-meter relay for boys. This medal is not listed in the medal table of Jamaica, it is added to the medal table of the mixed teams. Over 110 meter hurdles, Stefan Fennell reached fourth place. In the girls' category, Shericka Jackson finished fourth in the 200-meter run and Megan Simmonds in the 100-meter hurdles. Olivia James finished sixth over 400 meters. Rochelle Farquarson was fourth in the triple jump, Janieve Russell seventh in the long jump.

In 2014 in Nanjing , 20 young people took part. Beach volleyball and fencing were new on Jamaica's Olympic program. Jaheel Hyde won the 110 meter hurdles, Martin Manley the 400 meter. Obrien Wasome won silver in the triple jump. Lushane Wilson was fifth in the high jump and Jordon Scott was fifth in the long jump. Natalliah Whyte won the girls’s race over 200 meters. Shanice Cohen finished seventh in the 400 meter hurdles.

General overview

Summer games

year	Athletes			Flag bearer	sports														Medals				rank
	total	Men	Women																			Total
1896-1936	not participated
1948	13	9	4th		10	1	2												1	2		3	20th
1952	8th	6th	2	Arthur Wint	7th			1											2	3		5	13
1956	6th	6th	0		6th
1960	Part of the West Indian Federation crew
1964	21st	17th	4th		15th	2			1	3
1968	35	20th	5		15th	3	1			5	1									1		1	39
1972	33	21st	12	Lennox Miller	21st	1		6th		3	1	1									1	1	43
1976	20th	11	9		14th	3		3											1	1		2	21st
1980	18th	12	7th		16			2													3	3	34
1984	45	31	14th	Bert Cameron	32	3	1	5			4th									1	2	3	28
1988	35	24	11	Merlene Ottey	26th	4th	1	3					1							2		2	34
1992	36	22nd	14th	Merlene Ottey	28	2		3		2			1							3	1	4th	38
1996	46	27	19th	Juliet Cuthbert	38	3				2	1		2						1	3	2	6th	39
2000	48	22nd	26th	Deon Hemmings	43					2	2			1						6th	3	9	54
2004	47	22nd	25th	Sandie Richards	41				1		4th				1				2	1	2	5	35
2008	50	23	27	Veronica Campbell-Brown	45			1			3					1			5	3	2	10	15th
2012	45	23	22nd	Usain Bolt	42						1					1	1		4th	4th	4th	12	18th
2016	56	25th	31	Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce	51						2	1						1	6th	3	2	11	16
total																			22nd	33	22nd	77	34

Winter games

year	Athletes			Flag bearer	sports			Medals
	total	Men	Women								total	rank
1924-1984	not participated
1988	4th	4th	0	Dudley Stokes	4th
1992	5	5	0	Dudley Stokes	5
1994	4th	4th	0	Chris Stokes	4th
1998	6th	6th	0	Ricky McIntosh	6th
2002	2	2	0	Winston Watts	2
2006	not participated
2010	1	1	0	Errol Kerr		1
2014	2	2	0	Marvin Dixon	2
2018	3	1	2	Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian	2		1
total								0	0	0	0	-

Youth Summer Games

year	Athletes			Flag bearer	sports					Medals
	total	m	w										total	rank
2010	15th	7th	8th	Kandese Nangle	12	1	2			1			1	50
2014	20th	11	9		15th		2	2	1	3	1		4th	23
2018	12	7th	5		11		1				1	1	2	76
total										4th	2	1	7th	41

Youth Winter Games

year	Athletes			Flag bearer	sports	Medals
	total	m	w						total	rank
2012-2016	not participated
total						0	0	0	0	-

Medals

Medals by sport

sport	gold	silver	bronze	total
athletics	22nd	33	21st	76
Cycling	0	0	1	1
total	22nd	33	22nd	77

Medal table

Olympic games

				total	rank
Olympic Summer Games	22nd	33	22nd	77	34
winter Olympics	0	0	0	0	-
total	22nd	33	22nd	77	35

Youth Olympic Games

				total	rank
Youth Olympic Summer Games	4th	1	0	5	29
Youth Olympic Winter Games	0	0	0	0	-
total	4th	1	0	5	36

Medalist

Gold medals

Surname	Games	sport	discipline
Arthur Wint	1948 London	athletics	400 meters
George Rhoden	1952 Helsinki	athletics	400 meters
Arthur Wint Leslie Laing Herb McKenley George Rhoden	1952 Helsinki	athletics	4 x 400 meter relay
Donald Quarrie	1976 Montreal	athletics	200 metres
Deon Hemmings	1996 Atlanta	athletics	400 meter hurdles
Veronica Campbell-Brown	2004 Athens	athletics	200 metres
Tayna Lawrence Sherone Simpson Aleen Bailey Veronica Campbell-Brown Beverly McDonald	2004 Athens	athletics	4 x 400 meter relay
Usain Bolt	2008 Beijing	athletics	100 meters
Usain Bolt	2008 Beijing	athletics	200 metres
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce	2008 Beijing	athletics	100 meters
Veronica Campbell-Brown	2008 Beijing	athletics	200 metres
Melaine Walker	2008 Beijing	athletics	400 meter hurdles
Usain Bolt	2012 London	athletics	100 meters
Usain Bolt	2012 London	athletics	200 metres
Nesta Carter Michael Frater Usain Bolt Yohan Blake	2012 London	athletics	4 x 100 meter relay
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce	2012 London	athletics	100 meters
Usain Bolt	2016 Rio de Janeiro	athletics	100 meters
Usain Bolt	2016 Rio de Janeiro	athletics	200 metres
Asafa Powell Yohan Blake Nickel Ashmeade Usain Bolt Kemar Bailey-Cole Jevaughn Minzie	2016 Rio de Janeiro	athletics	4 x 100 meter relay
Omar McLeod	2016 Rio de Janeiro	athletics	110 meter hurdles
Elaine Thompson	2016 Rio de Janeiro	athletics	100 meters
Elaine Thompson	2016 Rio de Janeiro	athletics	200 metres

Silver medals

Surname	Games	sport	discipline
Herb McKenley	1948 London	athletics	400 meters
Arthur Wint	1948 London	athletics	800 meters
Herb McKenley	1952 Helsinki	athletics	100 meters
Herb McKenley	1952 Helsinki	athletics	400 meters
Arthur Wint	1952 Helsinki	athletics	800 meters
Lennox Miller	1968 Mexico City	athletics	100 meters
Donald Quarrie	1976 Montreal	athletics	100 meters
Albert Lawrence Greg Meghoo Donald Quarrie Raymond Stewart	1984 Los Angeles	athletics	4 x 100 meter relay
Howard Davis Devon Morris Winthrop Graham Bert Cameron	1988 Seoul	athletics	4 x 400 meter relay
Grace Jackson	1988 Seoul	athletics	200 metres
Winthrop Graham	1992 Barcelona	athletics	400 meter hurdles
Juliet Cuthbert	1992 Barcelona	athletics	100 meters
Juliet Cuthbert	1992 Barcelona	athletics	200 metres
James Beckford	1996 Atlanta	athletics	Long jump
Merlene Ottey	1996 Atlanta	athletics	100 meters
Merlene Ottey	1996 Atlanta	athletics	200 metres
Michael Blackwood Greg Haughton Christopher Williams Danny McFarlane Sanjay Ayre Michael McDonald	2000 Sydney	athletics	4 x 400 meter relay
Lorraine Fenton	2000 Sydney	athletics	400 meters
Deon Hemmings	2000 Sydney	athletics	400 meters obstacles
Tayna Lawrence	2000 Sydney	athletics	100 meters
Merlene Frazer Tayna Lawrence Veronica Campbell-Brown Beverly McDonald Merlene Ottey	2000 Sydney	athletics	4 x 100 meter relay
Sandie Richards Catherine Scott Deon Hemmings Lorraine Fenton Charmaine Howell Michelle Burgher	2000 Sydney	athletics	4 x 400 meter relay
Danny McFarlane	2004 Athens	athletics	400 meter hurdles
Sherone Simpson	2008 Beijing	athletics	100 meters
Kerron Stewart	2008 Beijing	athletics	100 meters
Shericka Williams	2008 Beijing	athletics	400 meters
Yohan Blake	2012 London	athletics	100 meters
Yohan Blake	2012 London	athletics	200 metres
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce	2012 London	athletics	200 metres
Veronica Campbell-Brown Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Sherone Simpson Kerron Stewart	2012 London	athletics	4 x 100 meter relay
Nathon Allen Fitzroy Dunkley Javon Francis Peter Matthews Rusheen McDonald	2016 Rio de Janeiro	athletics	4 x 400 meter relay
Christania Williams Elaine Thompson Veronica Campbell-Brown Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce	2016 Rio de Janeiro	athletics	4 x 100 meter relay
Christine Day Chrisann Gordon Shericka Jackson Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby Stephenie Ann McPherson Novlene Williams-Mills	2016 Rio de Janeiro	athletics	4 x 400 meter relay

Bronze medals

Surname	Games	sport	discipline
Lennox Miller	1972 Munich	athletics	100 meters
Donald Quarrie	1980 Moscow	athletics	200 metres
David Weller	1980 Moscow	Cycling	1000 meter time trial
Merlene Ottey	1980 Moscow	athletics	200 metres
Merlene Ottey	1984 Los Angeles	athletics	100 meters
Merlene Ottey	1984 Los Angeles	athletics	200 metres
Merlene Ottey	1992 Barcelona	athletics	200 metres
Gregory Haughton Michael McDonald Roxbert Martin Davian Clarke Dennis Blake Garth Robinson	1996 Atlanta	athletics	4 x 400 meter relay
Michelle Freeman Juliet Cuthbert Nikole Mitchell Merlene Ottey Gillian Russell Andria Lloyd	1996 Atlanta	athletics	4 x 100 meter relay
Gregory Haughton	2000 Sydney	athletics	400 meters
Beverly McDonald	2000 Sydney	athletics	200 metres
Merlene Ottey	2000 Sydney	athletics	100 meters
Veronica Campbell-Brown	2004 Athens	athletics	100 meters
Ronetta Smith Novlene Williams-Mills Nadia Davy Sandie Richards Michelle Burgher	2004 Athens	athletics	4 x 400 meter relay
Kerron Stewart	2008 Beijing	athletics	200 metres
Shericka Williams Shereefa Lloyd Rosemarie Whyte Novlene Williams-Mills Bobby-Gaye Wilkins	2008 Beijing	athletics	4 x 400 meter relay
Hansle Parchment	2012 London	athletics	110 meter hurdles
Warren Weir	2012 London	athletics	200 metres
Veronica Campbell-Brown	2012 London	athletics	100 meters
Christine Day Shereefa Lloyd Rosemarie Whyte Shericka Williams Novlene Williams-Mills	2012 London	athletics	4 x 400 meter relay
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce	2016 Rio de Janeiro	athletics	100 meters
Shericka Jackson	2016 Rio de Janeiro	athletics	400 meters

Web link

• Jamaica in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )
• Jamaica on Olympic.org  - The Official website of the Olympic movement (English)
• Official website of the Jamaican NOC

Individual evidence

1. ^ Announcement in The Guardian of January 25, 2017