JAGERS III Reggie

General
LEFT-HANDED DISADVANTAGE
He feels that weather conditions place him at a disadvantage as a left-handed discus thrower. "When right-handers don't have a good wind to their liking, they just won't throw far because mentally they feel like without that great wind they can't go far. Being left-handed, I've been in deficit winds all my career so I just know whenever there's a comparable wind, equal wind or anything like that, I'm definitely going to win. I know when it's a right-handed wind I've just got to throw a little bit harder to get that victory. I wish there were wind legal throws in the discus - I would be number one in the world for sure. It's just crazy how much the wind can affect you. If I'm going against a good right-handed thrower in their wind and I'm still beating them, it just shows that you've got to be really locked in and ready to compete at your best, highest level." (trackandfieldnews.com, 01 Jul 2018)

INSPIRATION FROM FATHER
His father, who was also called Reggie, has provided inspiration for his athletics career throughout his life. He outlined the different reasons in an online open letter following his father's death from blood cancer in 2019. "You were a very good local athlete, who played football and baseball and ran track. I wanted my shoes to be bigger than yours. I wanted to train harder and be better. You introduced me to sports at six years old, coached my football team and encouraged me to pursue athletics. But after mum remarried when I was 12, you were in and out of my life and I channeled that hurt into my athletics career. Now I have let go of the resentment, and every time I compete I look up and pray to you. I was competing in a tournament on Father's Day, and I thought of you during my final throw and finished with a throw that was in the world's top four. While you had your faults, I want our name to represent a warrior - someone who was battle-tested and persevered. I am not only working hard to be the best version of me, I am striving to be the best version of you." (theunsealed.com, 23 Jun 2020)