Lately, we’ve seen a number of Nationwide Soccer League (NFL) stars step into the world of monitor and area, but it surely’s uncommon for a outstanding monitor and area athlete to make the soar to soccer. The reigning Olympic champion within the males’s discus, Jamaica’s Roje Stona, will reportedly swap sports activities and check out for the NFL via its Worldwide Participant Pathway (IPP) program.
Based on an interview with ESPN, the 25-year-old feels he’s completed every little thing he needed to within the discus, and will likely be attempting out as a defensive finish and tight finish within the IPP camp, which begins in January 2025 in Florida.
“After the Olympics, [the IPP] reached out once more. I used to be like, ‘Yo, the door’s open once more,’” Stona advised ESPN. “After all, I used to be going to take it.”
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Stona arrived on the Paris Olympics as an underdog within the males’s discus throw, as, earlier within the season, Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna had damaged the long-standing males’s world file with a throw of 74.35m. Within the ultimate, Stona ousted Alekna by three centimetres for gold, setting a brand new Olympic file of 70.00m. He gained Jamaica’s solely gold medal in athletics at Paris 2024.
Stona’s love for soccer began when he attended Clemson College, the place he started his collegiate monitor and area profession earlier than transferring to the College of Arkansas. Stona will look to change into the second presently lively monitor and area athlete to hitch the NFL, following within the footsteps of American dash hurdler Devon Allen, a member of the Philadelphia Eagles apply squad for 2 seasons.
If Stona is profitable within the IPP program, he’ll earn a spot on an NFL roster. There are presently 5 IPP gamers on lively rosters: Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles/Australia), Efe Obada (Washington Commanders/U.Okay.), Sammis Reyes (Minnesota Vikings/Chile), Thomas Odukoya (Tennessee Titans/Netherlands) and David Bada (Detroit Lions/Germany).
The discus thrower will likely be joined by 14 different worldwide athletes attempting out for the NFL from Australia, Fiji, France, Germany, Eire, New Zealand, South Africa, the U.Okay. and Zimbabwe.