Born in 1995 through the miracle of IVF, and raised by a Barbadian mother, Grace, and Jamaican
father, Trevor, Yona Knight-Wisdom is a trailblazing athlete, making history as Jamaica’s first male
Olympic diver. Renowned for his resilience and performance-driven mindset, Yona’s story
exemplifies breaking barriers, inspiring excellence, and creating lasting impact.
Yona’s athletic journey began with swimming and gymnastics until his potential was spotted, aged nine, during a talent identification programme by Leeds Diving Club, with his dream to compete on the world stage ignited after watching the 2004 Athens Olympics.
In 2011, Yona chose to honour his father’s heritage and represent Jamaica, making him a pioneer for diving, and with the instrumental support of entrepreneur Levi Roots, Yona embarked on a groundbreaking 12-year international career taking him around the world to a myriad of prestigious events including:
- Olympic Games x3 (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024)
- Commonwealth Games x3
- Pan American Games x3
- World Aquatics Championships x7
Among the numerous accolades were four international silver medals, however, there were many moments of heartbreak, punctuated by narrowly missing the 2024 Olympic final by just 3.8 points.
Beyond his athletic career Yona demonstrated a dedication to personal growth, and empowers others to do the same. For over a decade he has coached aspiring divers and is now an AquaticsGB High-Performance Diving Coach based at the iconic London Aquatics Centre. He balanced the demands of further education by; graduating from Leeds Beckett University with a 2:1 in Sport & Exercise Science in 2016, becoming an Athlete Mentor with the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust in 2020, completing an ILM qualification in Coaching & Mentoring in 2022, and achieving an International Sports Management PGCert with Distinction from the University of London in 2023.
Yona is passionate about the growth of diving, advocating for positive change by serving on the PanAm Aquatics Athletes Committee. He has delivered two successful diving camps in Kingston through the YKW Diving Academy, and aims to nurture a new generation of Jamaican athletes by developing a multifaceted sports initiative.
Following a recent keynote to an audience of 1600 at his alma mater, The Grammar School at Leeds, Principle Sue Woodroofe expressed her pride in Yona’s accomplishments. “We were delighted to welcome Yona back to GSAL. His journey from our classrooms to the global stage is truly inspiring. He is a shining example of what can be achieved with dedication and determination. Yona’s story will no doubt inspire our pupils to aim high in their own passions and pursuits.”
