“This One Is for My People”: Thea LaFond Becomes Voice of Another Caribbean Island on World Athletics Map

The 2024 World Indoor Championships are all set to draw its curtains. The athletes have buckled up to vie for the most coveted titles on the last day. We’ve had a couple of world champs making waves in Glasgow, but an unsung country, Dominica, proved every nation wrong, boasting its best track star Thea LaFond as the world leader.

Thea LaFond, the 29-year-old triple jumper hailing from the Caribbean country, has tried her hand in the Olympics but failed. But her recent triple jump performance may book her seat in Paris. Let’s take a look at how she feels after cementing her status.

Thea LaFond stands atop her game at the World Indoor Championships

The X post of the World Athletics reads, “I am the only athlete here from my country, so to be able to come out and get the best possible outcome and put this little island on the map is a privilege. This one is for my people. Dominica’s Thea Lafond is the indoor triple jump world champ”. On her second attempt, she soared 15.01 meters and finished with the world-leading time this year. Standing in silver is Cuba’s Leyanis Perez Hernandez, who leaped 14.90, while Spanish Ana Peleteiro-Compaore leaped 14.75. To whom the victory was “absolutely surreal”, has taken her nation to great heights.

 “We’re just a little island with a population of 70,000 people, so this one is for my people, all of my people”, she said. In another interview with the Athletics Weekly, the 29-year-old Dominica native brought out her patriotic side in full form. The X post quoted LaFond, “I am so proud to be from this small and beautiful country in the Caribbean. I really hope today is just an inspiration and I love my people so much.” This was not the only instance where LaFond unfurled her victory flags. Let’s have a look at her storied career and how she always brought a good name upon her beloved Dominica.

LaFond’s three-coloured purse

The 29-year-old wanted to have a shot at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the women’s triple jump. Clocking in at 12.82 meters wasn’t enough of a qualifying time for her to move to the finals. Moreover, she also went on to represent Dominica at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. At that event, she walked home with a triple jump bronze from the Commonwealth Games, thus making history becoming the first Dominican medal winner.

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At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, she soared to silver in the women’s triple jump event. She also stepped foot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but couldn’t make a significant mark in the Japan capital. In the 2022 Paris Diamond League, she won the gold in the triple jump. The Glasgow event was a strong start to her athletic year. So, let’s see how she maintains her streak at the Paris Olympics.

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