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Jamaican Olympic medalists switch allegiance to Turkey for massive financial incentives, sparking debate and support from a legendary track star.
Once a battle where national pride ruled supreme, daggers are drawn again in the world of track and field—not over medals, but over flags.
The recent decisions of Jamaican athletes Rajindra Campbell and Roje Stona to switch their national allegiance to Turkey have sent shockwaves across the Caribbean nation.
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These athletes, who earned Olympic glory for Jamaica at the 2024 Paris Games, are now at the center of a heated conversation about loyalty, financial security, and career longevity.
Among those weighing in is American sprint legend Justin Gatlin. Never one to hold back his opinion, Gatlin took to social media to express support for Campbell and Stona, stating plainly what many whisper behind closed doors.
“Money talks + one career = Opportunity,” wrote Gatlin in an Instagram story, responding to a news post detailing the reported financial incentives luring Jamaican talent to Turkish soil.
According to reports, the duo was offered a staggering $500,000 to make the switch, along with monthly stipends of $30,000 and performance-based bonuses reaching up to $1 million. It is a deal hard to ignore, especially in a sport where post-retirement financial security is almost non-existent.
A Growing Trend in the Athletics Arena
Campbell, who claimed bronze in the shot put event, and Stona, who took gold in the discus throw, aren’t the first Jamaican athletes to change allegiances.
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As early as 2015, sprinters Jak Ali Harvey and Emre Zafer Barnes made similar moves, representing Turkey in international competitions. But this latest shift—sparked by significant financial offers—is rekindling debate over the motivations behind such transitions.
While some critics label the moves as unpatriotic, Gatlin, a former Olympic and World Champion himself, offered a grounded perspective.
On his podcast Ready Set Go, Gatlin previously explained why many athletes continue competing well beyond their peak.
“Lot of spectators are probably wondering why is this person still running? They're getting seventh and eighth and fifth and sixth and things like that,” Gatlin said in an earlier episode.
“Audience, you have to understand that, this is quick money. This is good money. They still may be having somewhat of a contract or base that they are getting paid seasonally, which is almost annually, that they get a lump sum of money that they get to train and practice.”
Financial Survival in a Sport Without Retirement Safety Nets
For Gatlin, the core issue isn’t national loyalty—it's financial survival. As someone who retired in 2022 with five Olympic medals and four World Championship titles, Gatlin knows first-hand the challenges of life after elite competition.
“And, to be honest, I am half and half on it rightfully so, because first of all, we get no retirement fund, we get no 401K, we get no pension, we get none of that,” he added.
“So, go ahead and keep making your money until you get your pockets where you need to be or they close the door on you as a sport, period.”
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Gatlin’s candid support of Campbell and Stona offers a rare insider’s view into the economic pressures athletes face—and why, for some, changing flags might be the only path to long-term stability.
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