October finds Djimon Gumbs training to ensure he can compete at the highest level against some of the finest discus throwers at the Pan American Games in Chile.

He is part of a four-person contingent proudly representing the British Virgin Islands in this monumental athletic event in Santiago.

With more than 700 athletes from North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, all are looking to see who will break records and who will medal.

As the anticipation builds up for his event on October 30, Gumbs shared his thoughts and ambitions and gave an insight into his journey so far with jahphixtelevsion.com.

“I think that my preparation has been more than enough,” Gumbs confidently said.
“One of the things that will be most interesting is to see how far I throw while under load. I have been lifting heavy weights, and doing a normal offseason workout, and to compete in November is a little odd but nevertheless the mission remains the same.”

Indeed Gumbs is no stranger to facing challenges head-on. The PanAm Games in Chile marks the second biggest meet of his career, and he is fully aware of the tough competition he faces.

“Facing off against some of the people I usually watch on TV will be amazing, but I think that I am confident enough that I will go in there and shake some things up,” he emphasised.

One of the key elements in Gumbs’ journey is the unwavering support and guidance of his coach Mike. “Staying relaxed and trusting yourself, as well as your coaching, is the most important thing. Thankfully, my coach, Coach Mike, is here, so it makes things a lot better,” Gumbs shared.
For the territory’s current top discus thrower, the upcoming competition holds significant personal value. “I know that the 30th will be special. I’m not sure how yet, but win, lose, or draw, I know that I will once again be a part of history, and just having my name out there with the greats is just another accomplishment for me.”

Gumbs revealed that he doesn’t “usually set goals because if I do set goals, then that’s all I focus on, and then it creates a domino effect of problems, so my only goal is to go out there, have fun, execute, and see how far that takes us. Take 3 big swings (throws) and hope we get 3 more. Anything that comes after that I’ll take.”

Gumbs’ journey is particularly inspirational. He is an islander who remains steadfast in his commitment to hard work in order to reach the pinnacle of his field.

“Being from such a small island, it kinda makes you feel like you are inferior to the athletes that are representing their respective countries, but one thing I have learned is that once you make it into meets like these, it means that your work goes unnoticed, and you have the potential to do so much more.”

He also acknowledged the responsibility he feels to inspire the younger generation in the BVI. “Being from a small island, and knowing that my generation is up next makes me hungrier than ever, and it is important that I decide to stay hungry to meet the goals that are set out for not just me but for my country.”

Gumbs expressed his gratitude to those who have supported him on this incredible journey. “First and foremost, all praises and thanks go to God Almighty for blessing me with these talents and to go out there to represent my country to its fullest potential,” he said. “I can never forget my loving parents, siblings, family, and friends. Earlier in the year, I was really struggling in track and field, and without them, I don’t think that I would be here in Chile right now.”

Djimon Gumbs believes that the PanAm Games symbolise the diversity and unity of athletes from around the world. “There are literally millions of athletes in the world, and coming to a games like this, it makes you realise that there are people from all over the world who want this just as bad as you, or even more.”

When it comes to his mental preparation, Gumbs highlighted the importance of simplicity. “So mentally, I just try not to do too much. Me and my coach go through a little talking. Most of it is from a technical standpoint, how we want the throw to look, and what we think will make it into finals, and little stuff like that. After that, it’s have fun and let your body take care of the rest.”

As he prepares to step into the discus ring, Gumbs relies on self-assurance and confidence. “Confidence starts from the warmup. You have to believe that you feel good, even when you don’t, because the mind is a powerful thing. That sets the tone for warmups, straight into the end of the competition.”

To those who aspire to follow in his footsteps, Gumbs has some words of wisdom. “My advice to the younger ones who are looking up to me would be to trust in yourself, and believe that the path you are on will drive you to greatness. Always remember to stay determined and always challenge yourself to become the best version of yourself.”

In terms of his strategy for the competition, Gumbs explained, “I have no strategy, as I said before, we look at it as three swings to throw as far as we could. From there, it can go really well, or really bad. Obviously, you will hope that this day will be your day when you are in peak form.”

He is filled with pride and gratitude. “Getting the chance to wear BVI on my chest is one of the best feelings I could ever feel. Knowing that this is what I wanted to do from young and it is now coming into fruition is sometimes a surreal feeling for me, but I know that I have been putting in the work, so I do deserve to be here as well.”

“Let’s be the best we can be, and go BVI!,” Gumbs added.