Thomas-Dodd makes breakthrough

IN 2019, Danniel Thomas-Dodd threw big. But it was never measured. It was adjudged a foul, and the decorated Jamaican shot put star has never recovered.

That is until now.

Speaking after she earned a silver medal, bested by the final throw of Canada’s Sarah Mitton yesterday, Thomas-Dodd says she has finally broken through.

“I’m starting to feel like myself again,” said Thomas-Dodd.

“I struggled a lot mentally after Doha you know. I would get big throws and then, you know, it would be called a foul. So over the past couple of seasons I have been very cautious, being scared of, essentially, fouling them,” she said.

Thomas-Dodd threw 18.98 on her third throw in the final of the shot put in Birmingham in a bid to attempt to defend the title she won in 2018 but was bettered by Mitton, who used her sixth effort to land a mark of 19.03.

New Zealand’s Maddison-Lee Wesche picked up the bronze medal, her throw of 18.94 much better than Thomas-Dodd’s teammate, Lloydricia Cameron, whose 17.62 left her outside of the medals.

Thomas-Dodd believes she has made a big leap, mentally.

While a big throw did not come because, Thomas-Dodd says, she got into her rhythm too late, she isn’t afraid anymore.

“Up until this point, I wasn’t over it,” Thomas-Dodd said.

“Fear is a hell of a thing. It kinda cripples you. I think today, the competition kinda made me feel like the old Danniel, like I can be aggressive again, try to chase a throw without the fear of being called for a foul,” said Thomas-Dodd.

Dodd’s silver marked the second event the Jamaicans were finishing second in, with Ebony Drysdale accounting for the Caribbean island’s first podium finish of the games.

Drysdale, competing in the 70kg category, was outpointed by Australia’s Aoife Caughlan in the golden score round after the competitors failed to be separated after four minutes.