Fedrick Dacres continued Jamaica’s fine showing in the field events at the 2019 edition of the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar when he became the first Jamaican to win a silver medal in the discus throw with a mark of 66.94m.
His silver medal follows Saturday’s historic performance from Tajay Gayle who bagged the long jump gold medal as Jamaica continues its outstanding performances in the field at a global event.
Dacres has now added a senior global medal to an impressive resume that includes numerous gold medals at the junior level. He also has a Commonwealth gold medal.
Below are 10 things to know about Fedrick Dacres:
1. Dacres attended Calabar High School where he started throwing both the discus and shot put and, along with other accomplished throwers such as Chad Wright and Traves Smikle, came under the guidance of former Calabar athlete coach Julian Robinson.
2. The big Jamaican is 25-years-old. He was born on February 28, 1994. He stands 1.91m tall and tips the scales at 104 kg.
3. Dacres has won numerous medals at the youth level. He won gold at the 2011 World Youth Championships, becoming the first Jamaican discus thrower to do so. In 2012, he became the first Jamaican to win gold in the event at the World Junior Championships.
4. The Calabar old boy is the holder of the Jamaican national record with a throw of 70.78m which he achieved on June 16, 2019 at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rabat.
5. Dacres’ national record is also a Commonwealth record, an IAAF Diamond League record and the first throw beyond 70 metres on African soil.
6. Dacres is the Pan American gold medallist from 2015 and 2019. He won Commonwealth gold in 2018.
7. Dacres sits second on the 2019 world list with his national record 70.78m.
8. Dacres inflicted a rare defeat on the Doha gold medallist Daniel Stahl at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rabat in June.
9. Dacres is the 2018 National Sportsman of the Year. He is only the second-ever field event athlete to claim the Sportsman of the Year accolade. Three-time winner James Beckford, a long jumper, is the first.
10. Dacres is a devoted Christian.
