Jamaican Olympian returns to alma mater after winning bronze medal in Paris

JOPLIN, MO — Jamaican Olympian Rajindra Campbell returned to Joplin with some special hardware in hand, his bronze medal.

“They say I should get a safe for it, but I think I like sleeping next to it,” Campbell said laughing.

Becoming the first Jamaican to medal in the men’s shot put, Campbell earned third place with his throw of 22.15m in the second round. The Missouri Southern alum said the emotion got to him when he was at the podium. At 28-years-old, he was a winner for his country in front of the world.

“I did shed a few tears,” said Campbell.

“I realized ‘wow, I did it!’ I was very happy. I got a lot of phone calls as well, and I didn’t get much sleep in the hours that followed either.”

But the mission has not yet been accomplished for Campbell. His journey through the sport of track and field is about something bigger. Campbell said, traditionally, field events are not as sought after in Jamaica. Campbell and gold medal discuss winner, Roje Stona, are looking to change the narrative.

“In a sense, the events that don’t traditionally go as well for Jamaica really shined at the Paris Olympics,” said Campbell.

“I think now [they’re] more receptive to invest in the field events which is something I’ve been talking about for quite a while.”

And with a bronze in hand, and a lot of hard work to show for it, Campbell hopes many will join him in his next Olympic journey, but not before he breaks the shot put throwing record.

“I think for the next Olympics, I’m aiming for the record, and that’ll be the icing on the cake.”

Campbell said he does plan to compete in a few events in the near future, but is currently working as a volunteer coach at Missouri Southern.

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