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‘A downward trend’ - JOA, Racers partnership to tackle Jamaica’s decline at Olympic Games
July 11, 2025
Veteran Jamaican track and field coach Glen Mills said the new three-year partnership with the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and the Racers Track Club will help tackle the Jamaica's recent decline in performance at the Olympic Games.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mills, alongside JOA President Christopher Samuda, announced a new partnership which is geared towards the development of Jamaican athletics.
Mills, a track and field coach with decades of experience under his belt, welcomed the agreement and threw his support behind the similar initiatives.
"We at Racers are very happy to collaborate and to work with the Olympic Association," Mills said.
"As the president had pointed out, it is in the interest of our athletes. For a man who has been over 60 years working for our athletes, I am always welcome to working with anything that is progressive and beneficial towards their development."
The veteran coach said Jamaica's track and field has been experiencing a decline over the last few Olympic Games, following their decades of excellence.
Since the 2012 London Olympic Games, the nation has seen a steady decline in their medal haul, picking up a record 13 medals in 2012, 11 medals in 2016, nine in 2020, and six last year.
In fact, Jamaica only claimed one gold medal at the Paris Games, their lowest number since the 2000 Sydney Games.
To counteract the downward trend, Mills said there needs to be more emphasis on athlete development through similar programmes like their new agreement with the JOA.
"Over the last 20 years, we have seen a great bloom and we have had tremendous success.
"But, if we notice, there is a downward trend over the last series of Games. I think what has happened is that we have rested on our laurels, and we have failed to put programmes in place to support the continuation of such development."
Mills continued, "A lot depends on my colleagues at MVP, at Racers and a few other clubs. And if they're not producing, then the numbers will reduce."
JOA INVITATION
Samuda echoed Mill's sentiments, saying the door is also open for other stakeholders to approach the JOA in the interest of athlete development.
He said the association remains committed to the development of athletes and ready to provide their support wherever necessary.
"There are a myriad of activations in sports that we can pursue and therefore, this is not an exclusive agreement.
"There are several endeavours that can be pursued and we can say to other entities, we are here to partner with you in sports in the interest of our athletes, our coaches and our administrators," Samuda said.
"This is an invitation to stakeholders to come and speak with us to see how best we can make arrangements to see to the benefit of our sports."
