International
Adaejah Hodge Closes Out Her First Olympics with a Strong 200m Performance
At just 18 years old, Adaejah Hodge has made a mark at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Competing in the 200m semifinals at the iconic Stade de France, Hodge clocked in at 22.70 seconds, securing 8th place in her heat and 17th overall in the semifinals. She becomes the first athlete from the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to advance to an Olympic semifinal in the 200m event.
“Before the race, I was talking to myself to get amped up, and it seemed to work because I actually lowered my time,” Hodge shared with the BVI Olympic Association, reflecting on her pre-race routine. “Just finding exercises like those to prepare me for the race is what I was doing. Throughout the race, I just trusted my training, trusted what I’ve been doing leading up to this point. I think I executed my race well. I’m only 18, so I’m looking forward to the next event, which is the U20s in Peru, and dominate there.”
Earlier in the day, she qualified through the Repechage event.
Reflecting on her Olympic experience, Hodge acknowledged the challenges of competing on such a grand stage. “It’s very hard to go out into the crowd — everyone screaming — so getting comfortable in the situation with all those fans and allowing myself to be Adaejah Hodge is something I will need to do,” she noted.
As the youngest competitor in her event at Paris 2024, she has set a high bar for future competitions.
The U20 Championships in Peru await, where Hodge is determined to build on her Olympic experience.
Dame Pereira, who hails from North Sound, Virgin Gorda, has had a distinguished legal career that began when she was called to the Bar of the Virgin Islands in 1981. Rising through the ranks of the judiciary, she became a High Court Judge in 2003 and was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2009. On October 24, 2012, she made history as the first female Chief Justice of the ECSC, a position she held with distinction until her retirement earlier this year in St. Kitts and Nevis. Her legal career has spanned over three decades, marked by numerous groundbreaking achievements and an unwavering commitment to justice.
Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley of the Virgin Islands lauded Dame Pereira’s appointment in a social media post, describing it as “well-deserved” and noting her inspirational impact on the Virgin Islands community. “Your achievements inspire us all!” Premier Wheatley declared, emphasizing the pride that her accomplishments have brought to the region.
The Privy Council appointments, officially announced on August 28, also include notable figures such as Baroness Eluned Morgan MS, the First Minister of Wales, and John Swinney MS, the First Minister of Scotland.
The Privy Council remains one of the oldest government institutions in the UK, advising the sovereign on matters of state and governance.
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo won gold in the men’s 200 meters final on Thursday, August 8, finishing with a time of 19.46 seconds, the fourth-fastest in Olympic history.
Tebogo’s victory overshadowed the struggles of American star Noah Lyles, who crossed the line in third after revealing he was battling COVID-19. Following the race, Lyles was assisted off the track in a wheelchair.
Lyles’ finish for the second consecutive Olympics left fans and competitors in shock. Despite his health struggles, Lyles managed to finish in 19.70 seconds, falling to his back in pain as he grappled with the effects of the virus that had impacted him throughout his Olympic journey.
As Lyles dealt with his medical issues, Kenny Bednarek secured silver with a time of 19.62 seconds.
Lyles’ condition became evident a night earlier when he finished second in a semifinal and headed to the medical tent without speaking to the press. Despite reassurances from his coach that he was fine, it was clear something was wrong as the final unfolded.
As the runners approached the homestretch, Lyles fell behind, unable to summon his finishing kick. What was once a reliable surge in the final stretch transformed into a push for the line, culminating in a collapse onto the purple track, marking a conclusion to his Olympic journey.
Photo: John David Mercer Photo USA Today
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.
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