1. Early Life and Background
Jarrin Solomon's personal history is rooted in a strong athletic lineage and a bicultural upbringing.
1.1. Birth and Family
Jarrin Solomon was born on January 11, 1986, in Trinidad and Tobago. He is also a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. His father, Mike Solomon, was also a prominent 400 metres sprinter who represented Trinidad and Tobago internationally, including at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where he was a finalist in the 400m. Mike Solomon's personal best in the 400m was 45.55 seconds, set in 1980. His father's career included a 6th-place finish in the 4x400m relay at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, 4th in the 400m and 5th in the 4x400m relay at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, and reaching the semifinals of the 800m at the 1983 Helsinki World Championships. This familial connection provided Jarrin Solomon with a strong foundation in athletics.
1.2. Education
Solomon pursued his education in the United States. He attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and later continued his academic and athletic career at the University of New Mexico.
2. Athletic Career
Jarrin Solomon's professional track and field career was marked by consistent performance and notable achievements, particularly in the 400 meters and the 4x400m relay.
2.1. Early Career and International Debut
Solomon began to make his mark on the international stage in the late 2000s. His early appearances included the 2007 NACAC Championships in San Salvador, where he competed in the 400m, and the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, participating in the 4x400m relay. He also made his debut at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, competing in the 4x400m relay. By the 2009 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Havana, he was competing in both the individual 400m and the 4x400m relay. In 2010, he competed in the 400m at the World Indoor Championships in Doha and won a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayagüez.
2.2. Major International Achievements
Solomon's career saw him secure numerous medals at major international competitions, prominently in the 4x400m relay.
In March 2012, at the Istanbul World Indoor Championships, Solomon ran the anchor leg for the Trinidad and Tobago 4x400m relay team, which included Lalonde Gordon, Renny Quow, and Jereem Richards. They secured a bronze medal with a time of 3 minutes, 6.85 seconds, setting a new Trinidad and Tobago national record at the time and marking Solomon's first medal at a world-level competition.
Later that year, at the 2012 London Olympics, Solomon made his Olympic debut, fulfilling a legacy as a second-generation Olympian. Running the second leg, his 4x400m relay team, comprising Lalonde Gordon, Ade Alleyne-Forte, and Deon Lendore, earned another bronze medal with a time of 2 minutes, 59.40 seconds, which was then a new national record for Trinidad and Tobago. This was a historic achievement for Trinidad and Tobago, being only their second medal in the 4x400m relay at the Olympics, and the first in 48 years since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
He continued his medal-winning streak at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where his 4x400m relay team once again claimed a bronze medal. The same year, at the 2014 IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas, the team won another bronze, setting a national record of 2 minutes, 58.43 seconds.
In August 2015, at the Beijing World Championships, Solomon ran the second leg in the 4x400m relay heats with Renny Quow, Deon Lendore, and Lalonde Gordon. The team qualified for the final with a time of 2 minutes, 58.67 seconds. Although Solomon only participated in the heats, the Trinidad and Tobago team finished second in the final, earning him a silver medal. Later in 2015, at the Pan American Games in Toronto, he was part of the 4x400m relay team that won a gold medal with a time of 2 minutes, 59.60 seconds.
His success extended to the 2016 Portland World Indoor Championships, where he ran the first leg of the 4x400m relay alongside Lalonde Gordon, Ade Alleyne-Forte, and Deon Lendore, securing a bronze medal with a new national indoor record of 3 minutes, 5.51 seconds.
The pinnacle of his career came in August 2017 at the London World Championships. Running the first leg of the 4x400m relay with Jereem Richards, Machel Cedenio, and Lalonde Gordon, the team achieved a monumental victory, securing a gold medal with a national record time of 2 minutes, 58.12 seconds. This marked the first gold medal for Trinidad and Tobago in the 4x400m relay at either the Olympic Games or the World Championships.
2.3. Personal Bests
Solomon's personal best times in various running disciplines are detailed below:
| Event | Time | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor | |||
| 200m | 20.90 s (+1.3) | April 6, 2013 | Albuquerque |
| 300m | 33.20 s | May 22, 2011 | Plettenberg |
| 400m | 44.98 s | July 19, 2014 | Heusden-Zolder |
| Indoor | |||
| 300m | 33.21 s | February 15, 2014 | New York |
| 400m | 46.23 s | February 8, 2013 | Albuquerque |
| 500m | 1:01.84 | February 8, 2014 | Boston |
| 600m | 1:16.19 | February 16, 2013 | New York |
2.4. Major Competition Results
A comprehensive overview of Jarrin Solomon's performance at major international competitions:
| Year | Competition | Location | Event | Result | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | NACAC Championships | San Salvador | 400m | 6th | 47.09 s | |
| Pan American Games | Rio de Janeiro | 4x400m relay | 4th | 3:03.60 (3rd leg) | ||
| World Championships | Osaka | 4x400m relay | Heats | 3:02.92 (3rd leg) | ||
| 2009 | Central American and Caribbean Championships | Havana | 400m | Heats | 46.89 s | |
| 4x400m relay | 6th | 3:05.17 (1st leg) | ||||
| 2010 | World Indoor Championships | Doha | 400m | Heats | 48.37 s | |
| Central American and Caribbean Games | Mayagüez | 4x400m relay | Bronze | 3:04.07 (4th leg) | ||
| 2011 | Central American and Caribbean Championships | Mayagüez | 4x400m relay | Silver | 3:01.65 (2nd leg) | |
| World Championships | Daegu | 4x400m relay | Heats | 3:02.47 (2nd leg) | ||
| 2012 | World Indoor Championships | Istanbul | 400m | Heats | 47.82 s | |
| 4x400m relay | Bronze | 3:06.85 (4th leg) | Then a Trinidad and Tobago national record | |||
| Olympic Games | London | 4x400m relay | Bronze | 2:59.40 (2nd leg) | Then a Trinidad and Tobago national record | |
| 2013 | Central American and Caribbean Championships | Morelia | 400m | Gold | 45.54 s | |
| 4x400m relay | Gold | 3:02.19 (4th leg) | ||||
| World Championships | Moscow | 400m | Semifinals | 45.43 s | ||
| 4x400m relay | 6th | 3:01.74 (4th leg) | ||||
| 2014 | World Indoor Championships | Sopot | 400m | Heats | 46.86 s | |
| World Relays | Nassau | 4x400m relay | Bronze | 2:58.43 (4th leg) | Trinidad and Tobago national record | |
| Commonwealth Games | Glasgow | 400m | 6th | 45.82 s | ||
| 4x400m relay | Bronze | 3:01.51 (2nd leg) | ||||
| 2015 | World Relays | Nassau | 4x400m relay | 7th | 3:03.10 (2nd leg) | |
| Pan American Games | Toronto | 400m | 5th | 45.20 s | ||
| 4x400m relay | Gold | 2:59.60 (2nd leg) | ||||
| World Championships | Beijing | 4x400m relay | Silver | 2:58.67 (2nd leg) | Qualified for final, only competed in heats | |
| 2016 | World Indoor Championships | Portland | 4x400m relay | Bronze | 3:05.51 (1st leg) | Trinidad and Tobago national record |
| Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro | 4x400m relay | Heats | DQ (1st leg) | Disqualified for lane infringement | |
| 2017 | World Relays | Nassau | 4x400m relay | 4th | 3:03.17 (3rd leg) | |
| 4x400m relay | 7th | 3:25.49 (1st leg) | Mixed gender event | |||
| World Championships | London | 4x400m relay | Gold | 2:58.12 (1st leg) | Trinidad and Tobago national record |
3. Other Activities
Beyond his primary track and field career, Jarrin Solomon has also explored other athletic endeavors. In the summer of 2018, he joined Godspeed, a flag football team primarily composed of former professional American football players. The team participated in the American Flag Football League (AFFL), where they were crowned champions among the participating professional teams. However, they were defeated in the final match by the amateur champion team.
4. Assessment and Legacy
Jarrin Solomon's athletic career leaves a significant mark on the sporting landscape of Trinidad and Tobago.
4.1. Contribution to Sports
Jarrin Solomon's numerous medal wins, especially his Olympic and World Championship successes, represent a substantial contribution to athletics in Trinidad and Tobago. His bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the 4x400m relay was particularly noteworthy, as it was the first Olympic medal for Trinidad and Tobago in that event in 48 years, signaling a resurgence of the nation's prowess in relay events. The gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics was a historic first for the country in the 4x400m relay at either the Olympics or World Championships, solidifying Trinidad and Tobago's position as a formidable force in global track and field. By consistently competing at the highest levels and achieving significant results, Solomon, along with his relay teammates, inspired a new generation of athletes and brought considerable recognition to Trinidad and Tobago's sporting achievements on the international stage. His career exemplifies dedication and excellence in sport, building upon the legacy of his father, Mike Solomon, and further elevating the profile of Trinidad and Tobago in track and field.