In a surprise move, Jamaican 400-metre hurdler Jaheel Hyde has announced his retirement from athletics at the age of 28.
The 2023 Pan-American Games 400m champion made the announcement on Instagram on Sunday morning, citing a sense of gratitude and fulfillment.
“When I started doing sports, my goal was to become the best, to reach the top, and to inspire a generation of athletes coming up behind me,” Hyde wrote in his Instagram post. “I was blessed with the talent to excel in both track and football, but the Lord guided me toward track, and I never looked back.”
Hyde’s illustrious career has seen him win numerous medals, including the 2014 World Junior Championship in the 400 metres hurdles, and the 2013 world youth championship in the 110 metres hurdles. He also won Commonwealth Games silver in the 400 metres hurdles in 2022.
He has a personal best of 48.03 seconds in his pet event.
In his retirement post, Hyde expressed his gratitude to his coaches, family, friends, and fans, who he said “fueled me through every high and low.” He also thanked PUMA for their support throughout his career.
“Though I’m closing this chapter of my competitive career, my love for the sport will never fade,” Hyde wrote. “I hope my journey has inspired young athletes to chase their dreams with everything they have.”
He has also copped several national titles in the 400-metre hurdles, but he has failed to won a senior medal in the event at the Olympics or World Championships.
Hyde has also played for the Jamaican junior football team and scored a hat-trick against Bermuda in an under-17s international match in 2012.
