"It was my destiny" – Nugent's path to the world indoor podium

Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. The 22-year-old’s drive and determination was demonstrated again at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25, where she claimed 60m hurdles bronze in a race of record depth.

Fuelled with desire, Nugent had arrived in China as one of the title favourites. A few days later she stood alongside winner Devynne Charlton and silver medallist Ditaji Kambundji on the podium – a remarkable achievement considering the dramatic circumstances that led to Nugent’s qualification for the final.  

The Jamaican record-holder had averted disaster in the semifinals as she managed to stay on her feet despite hitting the final hurdle hard – so much so that the top of the barrier came completely away from the frame. 

“I hit the second and fifth hurdles and still stayed up straight,” she reflected. “Most people would have gone down or given up, but I held my composure. To know I was able to put it together in the final was a great feeling. I have a lot of faith in God; all I needed to do was trust the process. It was my destiny.”

While attending Excelsior High School, her primary focus was food management as she wanted to become a chef. Track took over but Nugent did not enjoy an easy passage to the top. Before leaving high school, she committed to getting a solid education while excelling in athletics.

“Growing up in Jamaica was never easy,” she said. “I grew up in a single-parent home, and my inspiration was to go to college. When I saw my mom crying because she did not have the money to afford my airfare, I decided that I would never put her in that position again. After passing my SATs, I arrived at college after my mom got assistance from others. I honestly didn’t enjoy college life because I was more focused on not wasting the money invested in me and, more importantly, making my mom proud.”

But the young Jamaican proved that academics and athletics can be a successful marriage. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in communication and media studies. The three-time NCAA champion had previously spent her first two years in college at Baylor University.  

From an early age, Nugent aspired to do great things and demonstrate to the next generation that they could aim for the sky and not think about limitations. She set a world U20 60m hurdles record of 7.92 in March 2021 and became the world U20 100m hurdles champion in Nairobi a few months later. She joined the professional ranks in 2023, signing with Adidas.

A year later, Nugent was at a crossroads, with her track and field future hanging in the balance. 

“Last year, I was losing the love for the sport,” she revealed. “I wasn’t feeling the sport and didn’t want to do it anymore. I didn’t belong.” 

She added that after stepping back for a moment and upon careful reflection, she saw the lens of life, which came down to two important days – the day you were born and the day you discovered why. 

“Nowadays, I am starting to put myself first and am figuring out who I am outside of the sport,” she continued. “I am growing in faith and living by my motto that my God will accelerate my dreams, and that’s what keeps me grounded and going.”

Unbeknown to many, Nugent arrived at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games having tweaked a nerve in her back, which prevented her from training for four days as there was no movement. 

“My first hurdles practice was the heats,” she explained. “After crashing out, I wasn’t mad, sad or depressed about the Olympics. Although I was in good shape, it just didn’t happen, and I realised it was not my time. I have 15 more years to go.” 

Following Paris, Nugent salvaged her season on the Diamond League circuit. There, she started chopping her times until she became the world leader and her country’s national record-holder with an astonishing 12.24 clocking in Rome that made her the fourth-fastest woman of all time.

Her achievements have not gone unnoticed.

Nugent recalled how, at the Grand Slam Track launch in Los Angeles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had walked over to her and said: ‘Hi Ackera, I’m so proud of you.’ 

“I cried,” said Nugent, who explained that she was unaware that McLaughlin-Levrone, the world 400m hurdles record-holder, had taken notice of her performances over the years and likewise admired her passion and abilities. “I was so surprised, and I said: ‘You know me?’ She hugged me, and I cried more.”

Just like McLaughlin-Levrone, Nugent is a multi-talented athlete who can seamlessly switch to other events outside of her signature discipline. One such event is the 100m, for which she has a PB of 11.09. As a result, she relishes the opportunity provided by the Grand Slam Track series to compete over the 100m as well as in the 100m hurdles. 

“I loved the 100m since high school, but I guess I was better at the hurdles,” she said. “I do look forward to doing both events.”  

She opened her outdoor season in front of a home crowd at the Kingston leg of the Grand Slam Track series and was pleased with her effort. “It was my first race over 10 hurdles this season, so running 12.7 is a really good start for me,” she explained.

Already a world U20 champion and senior world indoor medallist, Nugent has her sights set on becoming an outdoor global champion at senior level. She knows it is not an easy road, but her unrelenting determination to succeed has led to her dreaming of overcoming all obstacles along the way. 

“I believe to become a world or Olympic champion, I must do two things,” she said. “The first is to learn how to control my speed between the hurdles. Once I tweak some things to get the required control, it’s over because I have great top-end speed. The second is finding my happy place in the sport again.” 

Nugent, who turns 23 later this month, is not someone to walk in fear and trepidation. Her competitive nature does not allow that mindset. She takes on each challenge with gusto, verve and enthusiasm. 

“I have been doing this since I was 15 and have held world records at a very young age,” she said. “This is a platform that I’ve been at; there’s nobody that has done what I’ve done at my age, and I can only get better. I have to believe that for myself.” 

Noel Francis for World Athletics