Thea Lafond of Dominica celebrates after winning the women's triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
PARIS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Dominican athlete Thea LaFond won gold in the women's triple jump at the Paris Games on Saturday, a historic first ever Olympic medal for the Caribbean island nation.
LaFond secured the title with a leap of 15.02m at Stade de France, edging out Jamaica's Shanieka Ricketts, who had a best jump of 14.87m.
American Jasmine Moore took bronze with 14.67m.
"It is absolutely beyond my wildest dreams," the 30-year-old said, barely able to contain her joy.
"We always said it takes one jump. Second jump at indoor worlds was the big one. Second jump outdoors at the Olympics was the big one, that's what it took. The rain was kind of in my favor, it came down as soon as I was done with that second jump.
"Here we are, Olympic champ. Dominica's first medal, it's gold. Indoor was the first medal, it was gold. What a year, what a life. Wow."
LaFond said she was relishing the opportunity to participate at the Olympics.
"It was very unique going down the water [at the Opening Ceremony]. It was worth getting soaked in the rain for hours," she said.
"At this point, every time I step on the track is an honor, bearing the flag is an honor, being Dominican is an honor. Representing a country with only 70,000 people and being out here and getting their first medal, a gold, is an honor.
"I'm tired, I'm dehydrated, but I'm Olympic champion so who cares? What's a little dehydration, what's a little cramp? It's a party, let's go." ■
Thea Lafond of Dominica celebrates after winning the women's triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Thea Lafond of Dominica celebrates after winning the women's triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Leyanis Perez Hernandez of Cuba reacts after the women's triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Thea Lafond (C) of Dominica competes during the women's triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Thea Lafond (C) of Dominica and Shanieka Ricketts (L) of Jamaica and Jasmine Moore of the United States celebrate after the women's triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Jasmine Moore of the United States competes during the women's triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Thea Lafond of Dominica celebrates after the women's triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Leyanis Perez Hernandez of Cuba competes during the women's triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Thea Lafond (C) of Dominica, Shanieka Ricketts (L) of Jamaica and Jasmine Moore of the United States celebrate after the women's triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Jasmine Moore of the United States reacts after the women's triple jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
