Hansle Parchment believes that Jamaica’s one-three finish in the men’s 110-metre hurdles final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games on Wednesday is only the beginning of what is to come from the tiny island in the event.

Parchment clocked a season’s best 13.04s in victory, beating American Grant Holloway (13.09s) into second with the other Jamaican Ronald Levy finishing third in 13.10s.

In his post-race interview, Parchment, 31, said too much focus was being placed on the sprint events when defining the future of Jamaica’s male performers since the retirement of Usain Bolt in 2017.

However, he believes the superb achievement by himself and Levy should now change the conversation.

“I am very happy, very happy for Levy as well, he still has a lot of years in front of him and I think we Jamaica will be copping a lot of medals in the hurdles,” Parchment said shortly after the race.

“This is something that we needed. I think we are too focused on the sprints, the 100m and 200m; so it’s time to branch off a little bit to some of the other events.

“This is the first step. I think we are doing a pretty good job so far and we are seeing it at home where other guys want to become hurdlers and make it to the big league like this. We also see it in other events as well; long jump, high jump and so on,” he added.

Parchment’s winning time was his fastest in six years, as he overcame a lengthy battle with injury to become the second Jamaican Olympic gold medallist in the event. 

And one could say it was long in coming for Parchment, given his number of accomplishments in the obstacle event, paving the way for Omar McLeod and others to follow.

Parchment was the first Jamaican to clock a sub-12 second time and was also the first Olympic and World Championship medallist in the event.

He expected last evening’s win.

“No, it wasn’t a surprise for me. I had it in mind to win and I just maintained my composure. It was a decent start and I just ran through to the line,” said Parchment, who won bronze at the 2012 Games in London and silver at the Beijing World Championships in 2015.

“I think a lot of people don’t think I was able to win but the main thing for me was to maintain my focus. I wasn’t really worried.

“My coach Mr [Fitz] Coleman was a little worried because he wasn’t able to get me to do all the work that he wanted us to do but I told him not to worry about that. I am doing my part. I am in the pool almost every day trying to get [my] fitness up because I wasn’t able to put pound on the leg and it turned out really well,” he added, as he reflected on his journey to the top of the podium.

It was also sweet redemption for Parchment, who made the necessary adjustments to ensure he got it right against the fast-starting Holloway on the third occasion. 

He lost both the heat and semi-final to Holloway, who went into the final as the overwhelming favourite.

“I don’t think I have all the words to describe it right now and I am very happy and elated.

“It’s been a long season, a tough season and I didn’t have that many races but I think I was able to put all that was needed together to get this win against a fire line-up — some of the best hurdlers in the world.

“It’s just unfortunate Omar couldn’t be here, but hopefully down the line we can get a Jamaica 1-2-3 in the hurdles,” Parchment noted.

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