The Coventry student is aiming to be Jamaica’s first male Olympic badminton player

A COVENTRY student is aiming to make history as Jamaica’s first male Olympic badminton player.

The Caribbean country, renowned for its athletics prowess at the Olympics, may soon witness a historic moment in a different sporting arena.

Sam Ricketts, an up-and-coming talent living in the city and attending the University of Warwick, is on a mission to put his country on the map on the badminton court.

Born and raised in Jamaica, he discovered his passion for the sport at the age of seven and competed in his first international competition at the age of 10.

His journey in the sport quickly gained momentum with a string of achievements including a bronze medal at the Pan American Games and gold and silver medals at junior competitions.

In 2022, Sam represented Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he demonstrated his skills by reaching the quarter-finals.

He currently benefits from a specialist bursary program at the Sports and Wellness Hub, providing crucial support from strength and conditioning training to financial assistance for equipment and competitions.

Sam is now setting his sights on qualifying for the Paris Olympics in July and August, with the ambition of making his name in Jamaican sporting history.

Reflecting on his journey and aspirations, he expressed his enthusiasm and determination, highlighting the profound personal growth that comes with pursuing this lifelong dream.

“The Olympics is probably one of the biggest events any athlete can compete in, so it’s been an amazing journey so far in my push towards this lifelong goal.

“It was exciting, exhausting and challenging, but I learned so much about myself, my identity, my game and practiced how to bring together all the dimensions of the world and environment to perform with joy and tenacity.

“I’m learning and growing so much, so I’m looking forward to continuing to train and work to make this lifelong childhood dream a reality.”