Ackera Nugent opens up about why she considered hanging up her spikes early on in her career.
Jamaican sprint sensation Ackera Nugent has gained world recognition since coming to the limelight in 2021.
Nugent, 22, was the 2021 would U-20 100m hurdles champion, clocking a time of 12.95 seconds in Nairobi.
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From an early age, Nugent aspired to do great things and demonstrate to the next generation that they could aim for the sky and not think about limitations. She set a world U20 60m hurdles record of 7.92 in March 2021 before joining the professional ranks in 2023, signing with Adidas.
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A year later, Nugent was at a crossroads, with her track and field future hanging in the balance. She explained why she considered quitting despite her career being on the infancy.
“Last year, I was losing the love for the sport,” she told World Athletics. “I wasn’t feeling the sport and didn’t want to do it anymore. I didn’t belong."
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She added that after stepping back for a moment and upon careful reflection, she saw the lens of life, which came down to two important days – the day you were born and the day you discovered why.
“Nowadays, I am starting to put myself first and am figuring out who I am outside of the sport. I am growing in faith and living by my motto that my God will accelerate my dreams, and that’s what keeps me grounded and going,” Nugent observes.
Paris Olympics setback
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Unbeknown to many, Nugent arrived at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games having tweaked a nerve in her back, which prevented her from training for four days as there was no movement.
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“My first hurdles practice was the heats,” she explained. “After crashing out, I wasn’t mad, sad or depressed about the Olympics. Although I was in good shape, it just didn’t happen, and I realised it was not my time. I have 15 more years to go.”
Following Paris, Nugent salvaged her season on the Diamond League circuit. There, she started chopping her times until she became the world leader and her country’s national record-holder with an astonishing 12.24 clocking in Rome that made her the fourth-fastest woman of all time.