At just 19 years old, Jamaican born 3x3 Basketball player Makayla Williams is already showing the world what determination looks like. She joined her Special Olympics program two years ago, driven by her love for basketball and the joy of competing alongside her teammates.
After last year’s devastating hurricane Melissa, everything slowed down including practices, trainings, and the support systems around the team. “Some of our coaches and our basketball association were really affected,” shared Makyla. “It was hard, and things got pretty slow for us. We’re only now starting to get back on track.” Her resilience mirrors the stories of many athletes around the globe who overcome adversity simply to step onto the court.
This trip to Puerto Rico for the Cup marks Makayla’s first time on the island, and it’s already left an impression on her. “My experience so far has been really great. I've really enjoyed the country and the energy here,” she said with a smile. The atmosphere of San Juan, full of energy and passion, has become the perfect backdrop for the Jamaican to represent her nation on the global stage for the first time.
As for her expectations, she keeps it simple and grounded in team spirit: “I expect my team to improve. That’s it. I just want us to get better as we play against other teams.”
Her story reflects the heart of every athlete and basketball player, rising above challenges to have the opportunity to play and compete. Today, in Puerto Rico, she is not just representing Jamaica; she is representing resilience itself.
Yesterday, Jamaica lost their matches on their group stage competition to Egypt, Angola & Puerto Rico but today they won their final division 4 game to Saudi Arabia 8-1.
