‘Smart Decision on My End’ - Olympics Champion Justifies Controversial Nationality Switch from Jamaica to Turkey

Olympics discus champion Roje Stona has annoyed Jamaicans further after defending his big-money change of nationality to Turkey over poor treatment back home.

Olympics discus throw champion Roje Stona has risked the wrath of Jamaicans by insisting his decision to ditch the country and take up Turkish citizenship is the best thing he ever did.

Stona was among four Jamaican athletes who shocked the world last month when it emerged that they had decided to take up a big-money offer from Turkey to change nationalities, the others being Olympic shot put bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell, Olympic long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock, and Olympic triple jump finalist Jaydon Hibbert.

The athletes were reportedly offered a US$500,000 signing bonus each, monthly stipends, and multimillion-dollar bonuses for medals won at major championships and Stona says he has nothing to explain as he went through a lot in Jamaica that left him on the brink of quitting the sport.

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“I think it was a smart decision on my end. The offer came up and, based on how my career is going, I think it was the smartest decision so far in my career,” Stona told The Inside Lane as quoted by the Jamaican Observer.

“I got to think about it as a professional — as I’m a professional — so I just took up the offer when it came to me.”

Stona Had Started Transitioning to NFL Before Turkey Offer

Stona won Olympics gold in Paris last year in a new record of 70.00 metres but was contemplating quitting discus throw for American football, the NFL, soon after as his Olympics success did not change his life.

As his financial struggles continued, he expressed a desire to switch sports to the more lucrative NFL but the offer from Turkey changed his mind.

“It wasn’t really that hard because it wasn’t anything personal — it’s just on a professional level,” added Stona.

“I indulged in a little bit of [American] football this year as well, and that’s one of the reasons I started my season late. I was likely [[to] sign with a team in the NFL and not throw for Jamaica anymore. I was fully committed to football this year in the off season.”

The 26-year-old will, however, have to wait for three years before representing his adopted country at major championships as per World Athletics rules, meaning the earliest he will turn out for Turkey is at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but that does not bother him.

Stona featured at the London Diamond League last Saturday and managed fifth place with a throw of 64.71 metres, falling below his season’s best of 67.19 metres recorded at the BFK Games in the Netherlands in June.