Thea LaFond Wins Gold in Triple Jump, Secures Dominica’s First Ever Olympic Medal

Thea LaFond made history for her Caribbean island nation of Dominica by winning gold in the triple jump on Saturday, claiming the country’s first-ever Olympic medal. LaFond’s outstanding performance was highlighted by her second attempt of 15.02 meters, a world best for the year, which proved unbeatable despite the challenging rainy conditions at the Stade de France.

Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts took silver with a season-best jump of 14.87 meters, while American Jasmine Moore claimed bronze with a leap of 14.67 meters.

In an interview with Reuters ahead of the final, LaFond, 30, revealed that the entire nation was holding its breath, hoping she would secure a medal. Delivering on those hopes and more, LaFond celebrated exuberantly, draped in the Dominican flag, after her historic victory.

LaFond’s win marked a memorable night for the Caribbean, as Saint Lucia also celebrated its first-ever Olympic medal when Julien Alfred stormed to gold in the 100 meters, ahead of American Sha’Carri Richardson.

The triple jump competition was notably unpredictable due to the absence of Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas, the world record holder and Tokyo gold medalist, who missed the Games due to an Achilles tendon injury.

Ricketts, who narrowly missed the podium at the Tokyo Olympics, achieved her season’s best to secure the silver medal. Moore, 23, made history as the first woman to make the U.S. Olympic team in both triple jump and long jump, and she is set to compete in the latter event on Tuesday.

Spain’s Ana Peleteiro-Compaore, the bronze medallist in Tokyo, finished sixth with a jump of 14.59 meters, visibly upset with her performance. Cuba’s world number one Leyanis Perez Hernandez came fifth with a jump of 14.62 meters.