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The 28-year-old athlete's journey took an unexpected turn when an administrative oversight by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) left her off the list submitted to World Athletics.
Jamaica hammer thrower Nayoka Clunis has maintained a defiant stance vowing not to give up her dreams despite missing a spot at the Paris Olympics.
The 28-year-old athlete has faced a challenging period after a clerical error left her off the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association's (JAAA) list for World Athletics, thereby excluding her from the global competition.
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12:32 - 01.08.2024
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Ferdinand Omanyala will return to the Olympic stage after close to four years of putting in the work and hopes to execute the men's 100m well.
On Wednesday Clunis expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support during what she described as a challenging period.
"I’ll bounce back because I’ve seen darker days. I’ll take some time to get over this outright injustice, but until then, keep me in your prayers. Thanks to everyone that has been supportive through this ordeal. The donations or encouraging words have been very helpful," she said as quoted by Jamaica Gleaner.
In a bid to reclaim her rightful place at the Games, Clunis initiated a GoFundMe campaign, aiming to bring her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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05:41 - 01.08.2024
Paris 2024: Marileidy Paulino dares Nickisha Pryce & Natalia Kaczmarek in 400m quest for world record
Marileidy Paulino has been performing well this season ranking first globally in the 400m.
However, she hit another roadblock when the CAS ad hoc division declared it lacked jurisdiction to decide on her inclusion.
Despite these setbacks, Clunis's fighting spirit remains undeterred. She hinted at continuing her legal battle, pointing to negligence on the part of the JAAA and its staff.
"The JAAA and the staff that have been so reluctant in helping me in my pursuit to becoming an Olympian will have to answer for their negligence in not only omitting my name from the list of athletes ratified by World Athletics to compete but their lack of help in actually getting the matter resolved.
Sorry to break it to you, but I’m not done yet. I’m just getting started, so there’s no getting rid of me or leaving my name off any more lists that I’ve earned," she asserted.
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06:24 - 01.08.2024
Three athletes who can stop Faith Kipyegon from writing history at Paris Olympic Games
The women's 1500m will see more than five women including Gudaf Tsegay, Diribe Welteji, Jessica Hull, and Sifan Hassan out to stop Faith Kipyegon's dominance at the Paris Olympic Games.
The timing of the Olympics, with track and field events like the 20km walk commencing on Thursday serves as a poignant reminder of what could have been a celebratory occasion for Clunis.
"I can’t begin to express how devastated I am and how heartbroken I’ve been over the last three weeks. The pain that I’ve been feeling honestly cannot be put into words," she shared, conveying the emotional toll of the ordeal.
2024 has been a remarkable year for Clunis despite the Olympic disappointment.
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13:14 - 01.08.2024
Paris 2024: Questions on Kishane Thompson's form dispelled by coach Stephen Francis ahead of 100m heats
Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson faces high expectations at the Paris Olympics aiming to capture gold in his major debut.
In May, she set a new national record with a throw of 71.83 meters at the University of Arizona.
Although she did not finish on the podium in that event, her performance established her as the only Jamaican among the top 32 hammer throwers in the world this year.
She automatically qualified for the Paris Olympics because her career-best throw of 66.63 meters secured her second place in a crucial contest earlier this year.
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