The first English speaking Caribbean and Jamaican female athlete to receive a gold medal at the Olympics, Deon Hemmings, will be the motivational speaker at the launch of the 36th MILO Western Relays which is scheduled for Wednesday January 22 at The Wexford Hotel in Montego Bay, St. James. This she did in 1996 at the Atlanta Games where she broke the Olympic record twice in the 400m Hurdles.
Her achievement on the track is extensive having received medals of all colours at the highest levels. Her medals include World Champs Bronze 1995, Olympic Gold 1996, World Champs Silver 1997, World Champs Bronze medal 1999 and Olympic Silver 2000.
She served as captain of the Jamaica Olympic team in 2000, was the national champion from 1991 to 2000 and athlete of the year from1996 to 2000.
She has been recognized for her achievements including Athlete of the Year in the Caribbean in 2000 and received the Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence in 2006. In 1997 she received the Order of Distinction.
She has given back to the sport in various capacities including manager of Team Jamaica to the Penn Relays in 2003 and 2004, director of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), chairman of the Central Junior Schools Classic Track and Field Meet, volunteer coach, executive member – Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA’s), international ambassador – Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association and member of the Athletes’ Commission – International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) 2003 – 2007.
Hemmings attended York Castle and Vere Technical High Schools before taking up a scholarship at Central State University in the USA where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
When she is not giving back to the sport she serves as a real estate consultant in Mandeville.
