Jacko Gill

EVENT: Athletics: Men's Shot Put

Jacko Gill is all set for a third successive Olympic appearance, in the mood to better his ninth place finishes in the men's shot final in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

A gifted age-group performer, Jacko claimed back-to-back victories at both the 2010 and 2012 World U20 Championships as well as snaring gold at the 2011 World U18 Championships.

Coached by Dale Stevenson, Jacko has since gone on to enjoy an accomplished record as a senior athlete, memorably winning a silver medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games behind his team-mate Tom Walsh.

The Auckland-based athlete set his lifetime best of 22.12m last year and achieved his best ever finish at a senior global event when fifth at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March.

Back in 2017 Jacko suffered from myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, which threatened to derail his career but thankfully he has made a full recovery.