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.