Smith hoping to make best of Olympic leap

PARIS, France:

Ackelia Smith may be evolving as a seasoned campaigner in her third major global senior championships, but she still cherishes the experiences like a first-timer. In her Olympic debut, Smith is not only excited, but eager to show what she has learnt over the past years.

Smith will compete in group A of the women's triple jump qualification round at 11:15 a.m., the first event of her triple jump/long jump double at the Games. The 22-year-old will be competing in her third straight major global championships, but notes that she is learning to not get lost in the moment.

"In terms of it being the Olympics it is massive. But it is just another competition. I am here to compete and I will do my absolute best," Smith told The Weekend Star.

Smith failed to qualify for the final at the World Championships in Budapest last year amidst controversy over a jump that was deemed a foul, which otherwise would have sent her to the final. Smith said that she has learnt the lessons and will not leave anything to chance.

"It definitely taught me to get my good jumps out of the way earlier. I try not to think about the other negative aspects of it and I say just compete early and get it out of the way and if anything happens just look past it and continue jumping," Smith said.

Having recovered from an injury earlier in the season, Smith believes that she is hitting her marks at the right time. Her season's best in the triple jump this year is 14.54 metres in June, making her the 10th best jumper in the world this year.

"I did get injured early in the season so some of the ones (jumps) that I really wanted for indoors I didn't really get. But for outdoors I see them slowly coming back again. I am so happy because now I can finally get where I want to be," Smith said.

She wants to be competitive while enjoying the process.

"Once you love what you do it feels like you can never get bored of it. So each time I come out here I get to a big competition I'm excited for it and it feels like my first time," Smith said.