Famous Jamaican Sportspersons

One of the greatest athletes ever, Usain Bolt is popular by the nickname ‘Lightning Bolt’. He holds the world record for 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay and is the only sprinter to win Olympic 100 m and 200 m titles at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012 and 2016).

Patrick Ewing is a Jamaican-American former basketball player who played for popular NBA teams like New York Knicks and Seattle SuperSonics. He also won gold medals at the 1984 and 1992 Olympic Games as part of the US men's national basketball teams. In 2008, Patrick Ewing was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame for his individual career.

Known as the most capped West Indian player in international cricket, Chris Gayle is also the only player with a triple hundred in Tests, a double century in ODIs, and a century in T20Is. Breaking Brian Lara's record of 10,348 runs, he became the leading West Indian ODI run-scorer.

Yohan Blake is a Jamaican sprinter who became the youngest 100 meters world champion when he won a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in 2011. He also won gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games as part of the Jamaican relay team. Yohan Blake is the second-fastest man in both 100 meters and 200 meters events.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a Jamaican sprinter who achieved international recognition in 2008 when she won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing. She then went on to win gold medals at the 2012 and 2020 Olympic Games. Counted among the greatest sprinters of all time, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also has many World Championship gold medals under her belt.

Shawn Rhoden was a Jamaican-American professional bodybuilder best remembered for winning the 2018 Mr. Olympia contest. He defeated the seven-time champion Phil Heath and became the oldest bodybuilder to win the prestigious title at the age of 43. Shawn Rhoden suffered a fatal heart attack in 2021.

Courtney Walsh is a Jamaican former cricketer who played for the West Indies cricket team from 1984 to 2001. Considered one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, Walsh became the first bowler to take 500 Test wickets before finishing his career with 519 wickets. Walsh was made an inductee of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2010.

Roy Hibbert is a Jamaican-American retired basketball player best known for his achievements in the NBA. A two-time NBA All-Star, Hibbert has played for popular teams like Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets. In the 2013-14 NBA season, Roy Hibbert was the runner-up for the prestigious NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Wes Morgan is a former football player who played as a defender for teams like Leicester City Football Club, Nottingham Forest, and the Jamaican national team. He also captained Leicester City for nine years till his retirement in 2021. Morgan was a successful captain, leading his team to a Championship title, Premier League title, and their first FA Cup win.

Patrick Chung is a Jamaican-American retired professional football player best known for his association with the New England Patriots. He played in the NFL for 12 seasons, during which he won three Super Bowls for New England. Patrick Chung also played for the Philadelphia Eagles for a season during his 12-year career.

Asafa Powell is a Jamaican sprinter who set the 100 metres world record on two occasions between 2005 and 2008. He achieved international prominence in 2016 when he won a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Asafa Powell has also won a couple of gold medals at the World Championships.

Donovan Ruddock is a Jamaican-born Canadian retired boxer. Renowned for his exceptionally heavy punching, Ruddock was featured on The Ring magazine's 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time list. Donovan Ruddock is also known for his famous fights against Mike Tyson in 1991 and Lennox Lewis in 1992.

Darren Moore is a football manager who is currently managing Sheffield Wednesday Football Club which plays in the English Football League One. A former player, Moore played as a centre-back for teams like Torquay United and Bradford City. In April and September 2018, Moore was named Premier League Manager of the Month and EFL Championship Manager of the Month respectively. 

Trevor Berbick was a Jamaican boxer known for participating in historical bouts, such as Muhammad Ali's last fight in 1981, which Ali lost. He also held the WBC heavyweight title in 1986 before losing the title to Mike Tyson the same year. He is also remembered for earning Jamaica a bronze medal at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico.

Dustin Brown is a German tennis player best known for defeating Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal in the second round of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. Renowned for his speed, technique, and entertaining playing style, Dustin Brown is also famous for his dreadlocked hairstyle, which has earned him the nickname Dreddy.

Merlene Ottey is a Jamaican-Slovenian retired track and field sprinter. She represented Jamaica in international events for 24 years before representing Slovenia for 10 years. In 1993, she clocked 21.87 seconds to set the world indoor record for 200 metres; she has been holding that record ever since. Merlene Ottey is also known for winning several medals at Olympic Games. 

Steve Bucknor is a Jamaican former cricket umpire who officiated in 181 ODIs including five successive Cricket World Cup finals between 1992 and 2007. He has also officiated in a record 128 Test matches from 1989 to 2009. In 2007, Steve Bucknor was honored with the prestigious Order of Jamaica for services to cricket.

Ricardo Fuller is a Jamaican former football player best known for his association with the Stoke City Football Club. He helped the club gain promotion to the English Premier League in 2008. He also helped them reach the FA Cup Final in 2011. Ricardo Fuller represented his national team in 77 international matches between 1999 and 2012.

Richard Grant is a Jamaican-born American retired boxer. He is the former EBA Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion. He is best known for his 2001 nationally-televised bout against James Butler. After losing the match to Grant, Butler met an unsuspecting Grant in the middle of the ring and landed a right hook to the jaw; Grant received 26 stitches.

Luther Blissett is a Jamaican-born former footballer who represented the England national team as a striker. Blissett is best known for his association with the Watford Football Club; he helped the team gain promotion to the First Division from the Fourth Division. Luther Blissett appeared in 503 matches and scored 186 goals for Watford during his playing career.

Jermie Dwayne Lynch is a Jamaican football player who made his senior career debut with Harbour View Football Club. He then went on to represent other teams like Saint Louis FC and Hải Phòng and is currently playing for the Binh Dinh Football Club.

Veronica Campbell-Brown is a Jamaican retired track and field sprinter who won eight Olympic medals, including three gold medals, during her illustrious career. Veronica Campbell-Brown also won three World Championship gold medals and two gold medals at the World Indoor Championships.   

Nicholas Walters is a Jamaican boxer who held the WBA featherweight title between 2012 and 2015. He has also represented his country at the Central American and Caribbean Games where he won a bronze medal in 2006. Nicholas Walters also won gold medals at the 2005 and 2006 Caribbean Championships.

Chili Davis is a Jamaican-American retired baseball player who played for popular MLB teams like the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, and California Angels. After retiring as a player, Chili Davis took up coaching positions and worked with teams like the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs.

Glen Johnson is a Jamaican retired boxer who held the Ring magazine, IBO, and IBF light heavyweight titles. In 2004, The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year. Glen Johnson had a successful career and gained reputation for his relentless pressure fighting style.

Darren Mattocks is a Jamaican football player best known for his performance in the 2014 Caribbean Cup, where he scored thrice to help Jamaica win the prestigious tournament for the sixth time. Darren Mattocks has also played as a forward for clubs like Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Portland Timbers. He is currently playing for Phoenix Rising.

Mike McCallum is a Jamaican retired boxer who held three world championship titles between 1984 and 1995. From 1984 to 1988, he held the WBA super welterweight title. A hard-hitting boxer, Mike McCallum was made an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.

Rodolph Austin is a Jamaican football player and the current captain of the national football team. He has won three CONCACAF Gold Cups as well as three Caribbean Cups for his country. Rodolph Austin also won the 2008 CFU Club Championship title and two Jamaica National Premier League titles while playing for Portmore United.

Frank Worrell was a Jamaican cricket player who played for the West Indies cricket team as a batsman. He achieved popularity in the 1950s when he became the second black captain of the Windies. Frank Worrell was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.

Kwame Harris is a Jamaican-born retired American football player who played six seasons in the NFL, including four seasons for the San Francisco 49ers. Kwame Harris is best known for his time with the Stanford Cardinal football program, during which he won the prestigious Morris Trophy.

Samardo Samuels is a Jamaican basketball player best known for winning the gold medal at the 2009 CBC Championship final for Jamaica. He has also played for popular NBA teams like Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls.

Devon Harris is a Jamaican former military officer and bobsledder. A founding member of the national bobsled team that participated in the 1988 Winter Olympics, Harris went on to represent his country in the 1992 and 1998 Olympics. Also a humanitarian, Harris is credited with founding the Keep on Pushing Foundation in 2006, which supports children's education in disadvantaged communities.   

Donovan Ricketts is a Jamaican retired football player who played as a goalkeeper in over 100 games for Bradford City. He also played in more than 100 matches in Major League Soccer where he was twice named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. He also earned 100 caps for his country and won the 2005 and 2008 Caribbean Cup.

Orlando Franklin is a Jamaican-born retired American football player who played as an offensive lineman in the National Football League. He announced his retirement in 2018 after playing for teams like the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Redskins. 

London-born heavyweight boxer Alex Stewart represented Jamaica in boxing. He not only participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics but also won a bronze at the 1983 Pan American Games held in Caracas. He was also a National Golden Gloves silver medal winner. Post-retirement, he worked for a liquor distributor.

Jerome Jordan is a Jamaican basketball player who has played for the Jamaica national team in various international competitions. In 2006, Jerome Jordan helped his team win the gold medal at the FIBA CBC Championship in Kingston.

Danusia Francis is a British-born artistic gymnast who has represented the United Kingdom in the past. She currently represents Jamaica; she participated in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo where she represented Jamaica. However, she could not participate in many events like the floor exercise, the vault, and the balance beam as she tore her anterior cruciate ligament before the event.

Jamaican-born British boxer Gary Mason had a 10-year career, with only 1 loss. The heavyweight boxer had a short rugby career too and was also interested in soccer. He died in a tragic crash with a van while cycling in a south London at age 48.

Nevin Lawson is a Jamaican-born American footballer best known for his association with the Detroit Lions for which he played from 2014 to 2018. Nevin Lawson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 and is currently a free agent.

Jamaican bobsledder Dudley Stokes has been part of the Olympics 4 times. Also known as Tal, he was a founding member of the Jamaican bobsleigh team and later also worked as a coach. He is an entrepreneur, too. He was portrayed by actor John Candy in the film Cool Runnings.

Jamaican cricket sensation Odean Smith is not just a talented batsman, but also a skilled all-rounder. While he began his career with the Jamaican team, he later also represented the Trinidad and Tobago national team. He was selected for the IPL team Punjab Kings, too.

Legendary Jamaican sprinter Herb McKenley not only won an Olympic gold medal but also had 3 Olympic silvers in his kitty. He remains the only person to have ever made the final rounds of the 100m, 200m, and 400m Olympic events. He had also won 3 Pan American Games bronze medals.

Jamaican-American boxer Alicia Ashley scripted history when, at age 48, she made a Guinness record for being the world’s oldest boxing champion. Nicknamed Slick, the Super Bantamweight champion had a 22-year illustrious career in the boxing world and is now a boxing trainer based in China.

Jamaican-born boxer Morlon Greenwood had moved to the US with his parents at age 11. Though he initially excelled in wrestling and track and field, he eventually chose football as a career option. He has played for teams such as the Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans and now owns a non-profit foundation.

Jamaican bobsledder Winston Watts is a 4-time Olympian. He has played in teams that included icons such as Dudley Stokes and Nelson Stokes. Though his run at the 2014 Sochi Olympics was funded by Jamaica, he decided to raise more money through crowdfunding platforms such as Crowtilt.

Nelson Christian Stokes, also known as Chris Stokes, has been part of the Jamaican bobsleigh team since the formation of the team. Though he and his team did not win any medals at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, the struggle and efforts of the team inspired the film Cool Runnings.

Retired American footballer Craig Bingham scripted history by being the first Jamaican to be part of the National Football League. Starting his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he later also played for the San Diego Chargers. He also almost had his career ended by a knee injury but recovered later.

Jamaican-Canadian footballer Vaughn Martin began his senior career with the San Diego Chargers and then represented teams such as the Detroit Lions and the Miami Dolphins. Following his retirement in 2016, he launched Fire & Flower Cannabis Co. and then joined the board of a digital marketing company.

Alf Valentine made history when he became the first West Indian cricketer to take 100 Test wickets. He grew up playing without a proper coach and found one only at age 17. He also suffered from weak eyesight but ended up beating all adversities to become a world-renowned cricketer.