Tapper on target to do ‘damage’

February 01, 2024
Megan Tapper
Megan Tapper

Jamaica's most successful Olympic Games women's 100 metres hurdlerMegan Tapper is working hard to repeat the bronze medal she won at the 2020staging in Tokyo and is focused on winning at the National Championships (Trials)to secure her spot for the Paris edition this year.

The 29-year-old believes her quest to achieve her goals has been advancingsmoothly in the early stages of her preparation.

"Training has been hard. I want to stay focused and determined to do better than I did the past three years. I have been pretty unlucky, and I want everything to be aligned so that when I am unlucky, I am still lucky," she stated.

Tapper is the patron of the European Union Jamaica 5K and 10 Run, which takes place on March 10 and was launched yesterday at the European Union's headquarters on Fairway Avenue, St Andrew.

In an interview with STAR Sports, Tapper, a three-time national champion, acknowledges the difficulty of making Jamaica's Olympic Games team for Paris, but was optimistic about getting the better of the other quality athletes that the island possesses, which include World Championships winner Danielle Williams.

"I am working hard and looking forward to making the Olympic and also the World Indoor teams. I know it will not be easy, as first of all, I have to go out and do well at the National Championships, one of the most important meets of the year, as I have to make the team here first," she said.

"I always come to the Trials ready as ever. By God's will, I will be there at the Olympic Games. With three national titles, I want to add No. 4 this year and be amongst individuals like Brigitte Foster-Hylton, who has won many national titles," she shared.

The diminutive Tapper, who clocked a personal best of 12.44 seconds at last year's Trials, has done well in Olympic years after reaching the semi-finals of the 100 metres hurdle at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games in Brazil.

"Doing well in an Olympic year is not intentional. It is how the world works, and I am very grateful to do well in Olympic year. I am not unhappy about that. I am hoping for this year to be the same.

"With hard work and with the help from my various sponsors, I am confident in not only making it to the Olympic Games, but going there and making the final in my event and doing some serious damage," she said.

Other Sports Stories