STUTTGART, Germany — National high jump women’s record holder Lamara Distin says winning a medal at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris is well within her reach as she aims to create history by becoming the first Jamaican to win a medal in the event at the championships.

Distin, 24, the reigning national high jump champion, will enter the championships with a season’s best of 2.00m, ranking her third in the world behind leader Yaroslava Mahuchikh from Ukraine, who holds a mark of 2.10m.

“I just need to surpass two metres because I know that two metres and above will be on that podium and so that is the goal for me,” said Distin. “It is within reach, and so I just have to go out there and execute properly. Once I do this, then I know that it is very attainable. I know that if I go there and just have fun, because every time I have fun and there is no pressure, I have always done well so that is what I am going to do.”

Distin, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion and World Championships finalist, will be competing in her first Olympic Games.

She finished fourth at the Paris Diamond League in her last competition on July 7 with a clearance of 1.95m. The event was won by Mahuchikh, who leaped 2.10m to win the competition.

The former Hydel standout said she has been very consistent in her attempts going into the championships, and emphasised that once she is able to put together a good sequence of attempts at the event, she can achieve her goal of being on the podium in Paris.

“Obviously, execution is coming together now because two weeks ago I went to a Diamond League event and I had some pretty good jumps, so I am getting back my consistency. That’s great, and my training for the past two weeks has been going great, so I am ready to go out there, do my best, and have fun,” she said.

Distin recently signed a professional contract with German sporting giant Puma after completing her studies at Texas A&M University. She said that she has prepared herself well for the championships and is looking forward to competing at her first Olympic Games.

“I am feeling great. It will be my first time competing at the Olympic Games, so it is a really great privilege. I am just going to go out there and do my best and show the world what I am made of.

“Preparation wise, I am ready. I am now just tuning up some jumps and getting ready because I am ready for anything. Physically and mentally, I am feeling great because I have done my homework, and I am feeling very positive going into the Olympic Games,” she said.