Track and field never ceases to astonish its fans; it is a sport where minute details can separate moments of glory from heart-wrenching disappointment.
Jamaican discus thrower Roje Stona experienced this firsthand.
As he approached the discus circle for his fourth attempt during the men’s final at the Paris Olympics, he never anticipated that a mere three centimeters (approximately 1.2 inches) would present a delightful dilemma regarding his future career path.
Stona, who placed 19th at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and was ranked 12th before competing in Paris, made history by becoming the first Jamaican to win gold in a throwing event. His throw of 70 meters shattered the Olympic record set just minutes earlier by Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna, a favorite heading into the Games.
‘Winning was something I had envisioned, but being in that moment felt entirely different,” Stona told CNN Sport, reflecting on his triumph at the Stade de France. “It was incredible because I created a significant piece of history and realized I had accomplished more than I initially thought.’
Now, at 25, Stona is contemplating a switch to a completely different sport after participating in rookie training camps with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints.
Although he lacks experience in football, having only worn a helmet for the first time during his initial training session, he is willing to risk his promising athletic career for a chance to secure a spot on an NFL roster.
‘If there’s a 99 percent chance of making a team, I’d obviously go for it. But if it’s only one or two percent, I have to be realistic,’ he said.
Inspired by Legends
Stona was just nine years old when his compatriot Usain Bolt won his first Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008. Although soccer was his first love, witnessing the world’s greatest sprinter succeed at the Olympics significantly influenced his decision to pursue a career in track and field.
After experimenting with various athletic disciplines, he ultimately chose discus in high school.
‘I gave it a yank, and it dropped right out at 20 meters,’ Stona recalled of his first experience with a discus.
After progressing through youth competitions, Stona moved to the U.S. to study at Clemson University and later the University of Arkansas.
In Fayetteville, he crossed paths with Ryan Crouser, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and the Olympic record holder in shot put who joined the Razorbacks’ athletics staff as a volunteer in 2019.
Having mentorship from “one of the best” during his final year of college instilled confidence in Stona. He absorbed Crouser’s insights while striving to emulate his success.
The Journey to Glory
Stona’s Olympic journey began with a standout performance, a 69-meter throw in April during the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational, securing him a spot in Paris.
With ambitious goals in mind, he aimed to ‘at least finish in the top three in Paris, not wanting to spend another summer wondering, “What if?’
As the competition unfolded, everything appeared to follow a predetermined narrative: Alekna broke his father Virgilijus’ Olympic record from 2004, seeming on track for gold.
But Stona had other plans; his fourth attempt soared 70 meters, breaking the Olympic record set mere minutes earlier and creating one of the most significant upsets of the Games.
“When Mykolas broke the record, I thought, ‘Alright that was expected.’ I respected him because we are throwers; I watched Alekna’s dad when I started throwing discus,” he said.
“From the way I held the discus to the angle at which I caught it in my power position, and the speed of my right arm coming around, that’s something I’ve aimed for, and I feel blessed that it came together at the right moment,’ Stona reflected on his time in the spotlight. ‘Everyone is unique in their way, and that throw was one of my best ever.’
Stona practiced his celebrations during downtime in the Olympic Village, and when the moment came, he fully embraced it. He executed both Yusuf Dikec’s viral shooting pose and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham’s iconic celebration to mark his achievement.
Learning a New Language
In the lead-up to the biggest moment of his career, Stona briefly paused discuss training to attend two NFL rookie camps with the Packers and Saints over the summer.
Having fallen in love with football while studying at Clemson, he was one of the few track athletes invited to showcase his abilities in a sport he had never played.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein described Stona as ‘a track standout with an NFL body type and traits, who possesses explosive hips and above-average core strength to go along with very long arms and large hands.’ His invitation to the camps came as no surprise.
Trying out as a defensive end and tight end, Stona described his first camp in Green Bay as ‘a different world,’ akin to “learning a new language” as he transitioned from a fan to a student of the game.
“The coaches aren’t going to say, ‘Oh, he’s new to football; let’s break it down for him.’ They’re testing every rookie, and I’m just one of the trial guys, so they’re not making it easy,’ he explained. ‘I observed the guys ahead of me and tried to mimic their actions while being coachable.’
Although the current NFL season is in progress, it seems unlikely that Stona will be signed mid-season. He stated that he wants to focus on rest and recovery after a long athletics season but expressed curiosity about what he could accomplish with a helmet and shoulder pads.
“Everywhere I go, people don’t ask, ‘Hey, are you a discus thrower?’ No, people ask, ‘Do you play football? Stona remarked. “Once I receive advice from agents and coaches, I’ll be in a better position to make an informed decision about whether it’s worth pursuing.’
“If this journey leads me to the NFL, I’ll give it my all because it’s now or never. I’m eager to see what I can do on the field, and if I manage to play in the NFL, that would be part of my legacy, I would love to do that.’
As for his promising athletics career, Stona intends to seize every opportunity to compete at a high level and aims to participate in every major championship over the next two seasons.
His gold medal in Paris has given him ‘a new level of confidence to continue from where he left off. He finished second in his Diamond League debut in Rome, and with a remarkable victory in Paris, he is poised to establish himself among the elite in discus throwing for the foreseeable future.
‘Having thrown 70 meters, I’m getting accustomed to that distance, I understand what it takes to achieve it,’ Stona noted. ‘So there’s definitely a chance I can continue competing at a high level.