Paris, France: Olympic diver Yona Knight-Wisdom's decision in 2012 to represent Jamaica would prove a life-changing one. Now, after three Olympic Games, he prepares for his final dive, determined to make a splash while paving the way for the future of Jamaican diving.
Since qualifying for his first Olympics in 2016, Knight-Wisdom has become a symbol of diving excellence for Jamaica. His decision to step away from the sport he embraced in 2004 is driven by a desire to leave on his own terms, and on the grand stage where he made history. He became the first Jamaican male diver at the Olympics, and the first from any Caribbean nation.
"I was trying to figure out whether I should call it a day or keep going," Knight-Wisdom told The Gleaner. "But when I qualified for the Olympics, I knew it felt right. I've always wanted to retire from diving at the highest level, on my own terms, and this is the best opportunity for that."
He adds: "It feels good to have made that decision so that I can soak everything in, absorb it and truly enjoy every single moment. People say it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but fortunately for me, it's been three times in a lifetime."
The years since his Olympic debut have seen Knight-Wisdom secure a Pan American Games silver medal in the one-metre springboard. He acknowledges the challenging nature of his favoured event, the three-metre springboard, and the strength of the competitors:
"It's tough to qualify for this. There are 25 divers starting, compared to the 75 that began at the World Championships. It's the pinnacle of diving in the world, and doing it three times isn't easy. There are many talented divers who haven't qualified for the Games."
Each qualification has marked a distinct phase in his journey: the euphoria of Rio 2016, the Tokyo Games of 2021, and the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now in 2024, recovering from a knee injury, Knight-Wisdom remains motivated to deliver a memorable final performance.
"My standards haven't dropped. I take it very seriously. I want to do well for myself, and I'm never satisfied with my performances," he says.
"It's been three very different scenarios. It's never been easy or straightforward. So I'm incredibly grateful to be here."