‘I wanted to give up’
Tina Clayton speaks on mother’s support during low point in career; eyeing loftier ambition for the future
Published:Monday | September 15, 2025 | 12:10 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
TOKYO, Japan:
While celebrating her first-ever global medal in the women’s 100 metres at the Tokyo World Athletes Championships yesterday, Jamaica’s Tina Clayton revealed she would have quit the sport last year if not for the support of her mother.
Clayton, the reigning Jamaican national champion, added to her growing list of accolades as she ran a new personal-best 10.76 seconds to finish second in the women’s 100m.
Team USA’s Melissa Jefferson-Wooden took the title in a new championships record 10.61, while St Lucia’s Julien Alfred was third in 10.84.
However, her triumph is a story of resilience and unwavering support, as Clayton explained that during an injury-riddled season last year, she had debated on whether she should step away from the sport.
She said if not for the support of her mother, Tishawna Pinnock, who continues to be her inspiration, she would have given up on her dream.
“I’m very grateful,” she said.
“I remember last year dealing with injuries and medical things. I had a little doubt with everything going on. I wanted to give up because I thought this was never going to work out,” she recalled.
“But shout out to my mother, she’s always behind me and speaks life into me. Probably if it wasn’t for her, I would have given up already.
“But it’s all designed. She was in the stands to witness so I’m very grateful. This is now a stepping stone for me to achieve bigger goals.”
HUNGRY FOR MORE
With her mind set on glory, Clayton had enjoyed an amazing 2025 season which was capped off with her first senior global silverware.
She won her first national title, toppling a field of more established and experienced athletes, before once again taking on the world on her way to a silver medal.
With all these accomplishments, she said now is not the time to relax, as she has to continue to climb up the ladder to achieve even more success.
“Now is the time to get more hungry,” she said. “It is not the time to get complacent, not just because I won the silver medal.
“It is the time to be hungry for more. When you’re on top, they’re coming for you, so you have to stay hungry and put in the same amount of work that you’ve put in to reach the top, if you want to stay on top.”
Those thoughts echoed her sentiments which she had shared before the start of the championships, when she explained that her tag of national champion was just a stepping stone for the World Athletics Championships.
“When I accomplished being a national champion, I did not let it get to me, and I didn’t get complacent and be, like, ‘I’ve already achieved’,” she told The Gleaner at the time.
“That’s the not the mindset, because you have bigger things to achieve.”
The next target for Clayton will be the women’s 4x100m relay, where she stands a strong chance of claiming further silverware.
The heats for the relays are set for the penultimate day of the championships, with the final set for the last day of competition.