Antonio Watson
Watson at the 2023 World Athletics Championships | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 11 September 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home town | Trelawny, Jamaica | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Jamaica | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event | Sprinting | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Racers Track Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Glen Mills | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 400 m: 44.13 200 m: 20.49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Antonio Watson (born 11 September 2001) is a Jamaican sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres event.
Biography
Antonio hails from Duncan's in Trelawny, Jamaica. After careful planning by his primary school coach and others, he went to Petersfield High School in Westmoreland, where he excelled despite few resources. Subsequent to graduation, he skipped college in favor of the professional league. [1]
Career
He won the gold medal in the boys' 400 metres event at the 2017 World Youth Championships in Athletics held in Nairobi, Kenya.[2][3]
At the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships in 2018, he won the 200m (20.50) and 400m (47.08) double, and the 4x400m relay. [4] Also in 2018, he won the silver medal in the boys' 200 metres event at the Summer Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.[5]
He won the 200 m bronze medal and the gold in the 4 × 100 relay in the 2021 NACAC U23 Championships.[6] The same year 2021, he mined a gold medal in the 200 metres in 20.74 at the 2021 ISSA Boys and Girls Championships in Kingston ahead of Bryan Levell. [7]
Watson won gold in 44.22 in the 400 m at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The first medal in 40 years in this event for Jamaica at the World Championships. [8]
For 2024, lingering injuries resulted in a stagnant season and prevented him from competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. [9]
At the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, the defending champion was eliminated in heats of the 400 metres to every one's surprise. [10]
In March 2026, he competed at Velocity Fest 18 in Kingston where he clocked 20.59 in the 200 metres. [11] And then in April, he again raced the 200 metres in 20.82 at the Velocity Fest 19. [12]
Watson won a silver medal in the mixed 4 × 400 metres relay at the 2026 World Athletics Relays Championships in Gaborone, Botswana. [13]
References
- ^ "World champion Watson no longer flying under the radar". Retrieved 2026-05-14.
- ^ "Boy's 400 metres" (PDF). 2017 World Youth Championships in Athletics – IAAF. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- ^ Pavitt, Michael (14 July 2017). "Jamaica enjoy double sprint success at World Under-18 Athletics Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- ^ "I expected Champs double - Watson by Raymond Graham March 26, 2018". Retrieved 2026-05-14.
- ^ Pavitt, Michael (16 October 2018). "World under-20 champions enhance reputations with triple jump golds at Buenos Aires 2018". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- ^ Reid, Paula (15 July 2021). "Former western Jamaica-based athletes cop nine medals at NACAC Championships". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "Stay focused, son' - Antonio Watson's grandparents say sprinter has strong church background by Kavarly Arnold - STAR Writer May 21, 2021". Retrieved 2026-05-14.
- ^ "Watson stuns to get 400m gold 40 years after Cameron's triumph". Retrieved 2026-05-14.
- ^ "Antonio Watson Hoping To Shine At Racers Grand Prix Mary Johnson May 2 2025". Retrieved 2026-05-14.
- ^ "THE CURIOUS CASE OF ANTONIO WATSON". Retrieved 2026-05-14.
- ^ "400m Hurdler Roshawn Clarke Upsets Sprint Stars in 200m Thriller". Retrieved 2026-05-14.
- ^ "Velocity Fest #19 National Stadium, Kingston (JAM) 19 APR 2026". Retrieved 2026-05-14.
- ^ "USA smash competition record in mixed 4x400m in gaborone". Retrieved 2026-05-14.
External links
- Antonio Watson at World Athletics
- Antonio Watson at Olympics.com
- Antonio Watson at Olympedia
- Antonio Watson at InterSportStats