Richards strikes Gold in Canada at Pan Am Games

Photo: O’Dayne Richards launches the Shot Putt to a personal best and national record of 21.69m at the Pan Am Games in Ontario, Canada. (AP)

O’Dayne Richards was the first Jamaican to strike gold at the 2015 Pan American Games in Ontario, Canada when he won the Men’s Shot Putt in a new personal best and national record, throwing a distance of 21.69m. Richards got the distance on his second throw in an impressive sequence as he continues to improve his international status.

The Commonwealth Champion complained earlier this year of not being relaxed enough in competition, which had seen him off the form that had helped him to claim his first global title last year in Glasgow Scotland. Richards has clearly found a way to relax and this has seen him to another championship crown, in what is still a fairly young career.

Fred as he is affectionately called, has gotten his act together at the right time, with the World Championships just over a month away. The distance thrown makes him third best at the event this season.

His gold will also bring a smile to the face of many Jamaicans who are still coming to terms with the news that some of his training partners from the MVP Track Club have switched their allegiance to Bahrain.