Dominican athlete Thea LaFond created history on Saturday (3rd August), as she clinched the first Olympic medal for Dominica. She won the gold medal in the women’s triple jump event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The 30-year-old athlete Thea LaFond has won one silver and one bronze at the Commonwealth Games. This year, she won the gold medal in the World Athletics Indoor Championships. Now, she has created Olympic history for her nation.
Paris 2024 Olympics: Women's Triple Jump - Thea LaFond wins gold; Dominica's first Olympic medal
During the final event of the women’s triple jump at the Paris 2024 Olympics, LaFond’s second jump proved decisive, managing a distance of 15.02m. That distance also set a new national record for Dominica, while none of the challengers managed the 15m mark on Saturday night.
It was the first Olympic medal for Dominica, and it came in gold from Thea LaFond.
The favourite Yulimar Rojas missed the Paris 2024 Olympics due to surgery
Defending champion Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas, a seven-time world champion (including three indoor) and also a world record holder, missed out on the Paris 2024 Olympics due to surgery to repair an Achilles injury.
Jamaica and the USA recorded their first Olympic medals in the women's triple jump
Meanwhile, Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts clinched the silver medal in the women’s triple jump event. Her second attempt managed the second-best jump of the night with a distance of 14.87m.
American Jasmine Moore secured the bronze medal with her season-best jump of 14.67m, which she achieved on her second attempt.
Both Jamaica and the USA recorded their respective first Olympic medals in the women’s triple jump event.
Cuban athletes Liadagmis Povea (14.64m) and Leyanis Pérez (14.62m) fought hard and closely finished in the fourth and fifth places, respectively.
