Experience increases Williams' self-belief

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

LONDON, England:

Kimberly Williams did not win the medal she was hoping to leave London with in the women's triple jump.

What she actually gained from her Olympic experience is a new degree of self-confidence, heading into the back-end of the season.

A fifth-place finisher at the IAAF World Indoor Championships earlier this year, Williams is buoyed by her performances at the Olympic Games and is moving on with renewed vigour heading into the remainder of the season and ahead of next year's IAAF World Championships of Athletics in Moscow.

"I'm not that satisfied, but it happens. I am motivated and encouraged to do better," said Williams, who will end her season with a couple more meets before returning to the island to vacation.

"Honestly, I don't feel that disappointed because I made the top eight and I was in the Olympic finals," Williams noted. "A lot of people are out there wanting to be in an Olympic final and can't do it, so I am happy that I was able to make an Olympic final, and next year and the other years to come, I will be looking to push it one step further."

HOPING TO IMPROVE MORE

Williams, who improved her personal best to 14.53m in the qualifying round, had two fouls throughout her series in the final, and achieved a best mark of 14.48m on her third attempt.

The gold medal was won by Olga Rypakova from Kazakhstan, with a mark of 14.98m, with Colombian Caterine Ibarguen, 14.80m, taking the silver and Ukrainian Olha Saladuha, 14.79m, claiming bronze.

The former Vere Technical student says she was hoping to improve her personal best in the final and is now focused on closing what has been a break-out season.

"I was hoping to improve on my personal best. Every time that you make it over your PB, then you can say that you did your best. But I didn't get it today, so on to the next one," said Williams.

"I think I have two more meets. I don't know where yet, but two more meets then I shut it down and head back to Jamaica to my family and enjoy my off season," she added.