With several of Jamaica's top female athletes not performing at their peak this year, the spotlight has turned to 20-year-old Brianna Lyston as a potential medalist for the upcoming Olympics. However, recent cryptic Instagram posts from Lyston have raised concerns about her future, with some wondering if she is considering abandoning her Jamaican heritage.
Lyston, currently the fastest Jamaican woman in the 100m this year, surprised many when she posted “Thank you 2024, Breezy signing out” on Instagram. This unexpected announcement has left fans and fellow athletes bewildered, especially since it comes just before the Jamaican National Championships, scheduled for June 27-30 at the National Stadium in Kingston.
To date, Lyston has not issued any official statement beyond her Instagram posts, leaving her followers and supporters in a state of uncertainty. The young sprinter made her announcement after competing in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, marking the end of an impressive second college season for the former St. Jago and Hydel High star.
Lyston’s recent performances have been outstanding. She completed an impeccable indoor season, remaining unbeaten in eight 60m races from January 27 to March 9. She clinched titles at both the SEC Indoor Championships and the NCAA Indoor Championships, setting a personal best of 7.03 seconds at the latter. During the outdoor season, she achieved wind-aided times of 10.87 and 10.84 seconds in her first two 100m races of the season on March 30 and April 20, respectively, at the Battle on the Bayou and the LSU Alumni Gold. At the SEC Championships a month later, she recorded a personal best of 10.91 seconds to win the 100m title and 22.37 seconds to finish fourth in the 200m.
Despite her success, Lyston's career has not been without injury. Speculation suggests that she might be choosing to sit out the rest of the year to safeguard her future in athletics. Many Jamaicans, who have watched her develop on the track, are eager for a clear explanation for her abrupt decision. Further fuelling the speculation, Lyston continued to post cryptic messages on Instagram after sports commentator Oral Tracy and several vloggers insinuated that she might be seeking to represent the USA instead of Jamaica. Should this be the case, she would need approval from the original national federations and meet other regulatory requirements.
While there is a general consensus that Lyston should release an official statement, it is important to remember that she is only 20 years old, navigating her career in the age of social media. The pressures and expectations placed on young athletes can be immense. Regardless of the path she chooses, we extend our best wishes to Brianna Lyston and hope she remains healthy and well.
