Jamaica waited decades for this moment. Not a sprint. Not a relay. But a 70-meter discus throw sent shockwaves through the Paris 2024 Olympics. Then came a 22-meter blast in the shot put that landed another first for the island. For once, the glory wasn’t on the track; it was in the field. The men behind the magic? Two Proud Track and Field Jamaicans! But just as the celebration began, the joy faded almost instantly.

Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell didn’t just win medals. They redefined what was possible for Jamaican athletics. Stona’s Olympic gold and record-breaking 70.00m throw made him the first Jamaican to ever top the podium in a throwing event. He wasn’t just a surprise winner; he became a national icon, even named 2024 Sportsman of the Year. Campbell followed suit with a powerful bronze in the shot put, launching Jamaica’s first field medal of the Games. He later set the national record at 22.31m, showing that his breakthrough was no fluke. But just when it felt like Jamaica had cracked open a new era in athletics… it collapsed.

Thursday’s deadline to stay under the Jamaican flag came and went. No paperwork. No return. It’s official: Stona and Campbell have switched allegiance to Turkey. For the next three years, they’re off the roster. That means no World Championships in Tokyo, no 2028 Olympics, and no Jamaica. In exchange, they’ve received US$500,000 signing bonuses, monthly stipends, and massive medal incentives. And this might be just the start; sources say a top long jumper and triple jumper could be next to leave. But why did they leave the Jamaican track and field? Well, it might be because of the disrespect.

It’s no mystery why Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell felt pushed away; both athletes have been vocal about the lack of recognition and resources from Jamaica. “We don’t feel the appreciation coming out of Jamaica,” Campbell admitted in a candid 2024 interview on Out D Blocks after clinching bronze in shot put at the Paris Olympics. Stona, who made history with Jamaica’s first Olympic gold in discus, had already lit the fire months earlier: “The track gets a lot of attention but the field events have been on the rise and we should get more support.”

That quote echoed loudly across social media, but the response back home? Silence. By January, Campbell doubled down: “The same success we have on the track, we can have in the field… but field athletes don’t get that same support.” From making history to making headlines, their decision has left fans stunned and the federation scrambling. The medals may still shine, but the future of Jamaica’s field event program suddenly looks a lot dimmer. And track and field fans? Hear from them.

Gold for the gram, support for the track but what about the field?

“NAH WAIT… STONA & CAMPBELL GONE TURKISH?? WHO LET THIS HAPPEN?” Another track and field fan gasped, “WHAT!!!! OH TEAM JAMAICA IS IT THAT BAD FOR THE FIELD COMPETITORS?” And someone else chimed in with a chilling reminder: “The ancestors watching y’all like 👀 Excuse me?” The reactions hit hard because these two weren’t just fringe athletes; they were medal-caliber talents raised on Jamaican soil and sharpened in U.S. college systems, only to be claimed by a different flag in 2025.

Roje Stona, a Montego Bay native, launched his throwing career at Rusea’s High before transferring to track powerhouse St. Jago. He made his name in the U.S. collegiate circuit, first at Clemson, then thriving under Coach Shawn Cobey at Arkansas, where he trained alongside legends like Ryan Crouser. His NCAA and SEC exploits included a massive 68.64m discus meet record and multiple U23 titles. Rajindra Campbell, born in Ocho Rios, followed a similar arc—shining at Ferncourt and Kingston College before excelling in the U.S. at Cloud County CC and Missouri Southern, where he became an All-American and school record-breaker.

But despite their elite status, both faced the same uphill grind that many Jamaican field athletes do: minimal funding, sprint-centric sponsorships, and endless bureaucracy. A recent J$250 million Olympic prep plan sounds nice, but the money hasn’t reached athletes’ pockets yet. In that reality, Turkey’s offer wasn’t just tempting; it was practical. Fast-tracked citizenship, a full-time training base, and a clear path to LA 2028 qualification sealed the deal. And their story isn’t unique. Around the world, athletes are flipping flags for more than medals—some for financial security (see Bahrain, Qatar), others to escape stacked national rosters or build lives in countries where they trained or married. As long as powerhouse nations dangle support systems that smaller federations can’t match, stories like Stona and Campbell’s won’t stop anytime soon.

“Jamaica y’all better fix up… sprinting ain’t the whole sport. Our throwers and jumpers matter too.” Another track and field fan hit hard with, “Shocked but not surprised. The talent is there, the support clearly isn’t.” And just to top off the emotional spiral, someone else added, “nah im cryinggg 💀💀💀 not them.” The switch wasn’t just emotional; it exposed a deeper, long-ignored wound in Jamaican athletics. So, how did this all go down?

It started with behind-the-scenes negotiations led by a major American agent known for brokering international athletics deals. With Turkey’s federation stepping up with multi-million-dollar offers, including $500K signing bonuses, monthly stipends, and six-figure incentives for medals, this was a lifeline. The final straw? Both these track and field athletes missed the official paperwork deadline to stay eligible for Jamaica. And honestly, can anyone blame them? Stona and Campbell had been grinding through side jobs, GoFundMe campaigns, and media pleas just to afford physio and travel.

Campbell’s struggles were public for months, and Stona made it clear last season: “Field events should get more attention.” Türkiye’s offer included elite coaching, full medical support, top-tier facilities, and even visas for their entire support teams. For them, this wasn’t a betrayal; it was survival.