Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Girls’s 100m Remaining – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 03, 2024. Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia crosses the end line to win the ultimate. REUTERS/Phil Noble TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
St Lucian Julien Alfred and Dominican Thea La Fond magical performances on the Paris Olympics to ship historic gold medals for his or her respective nations.
The 23-year-old Alfred surprised reigning World champion Sha’Carri Richardson of america within the 100-meter last, clocking a brand new nationwide document of 10.72 seconds, securing St Lucia’s first-ever medal at an Olympiad.
Whereas celebrations had been ongoing, 30-year-old La Fond produced a brand new nationwide document of 15.02 metres within the ladies’s triple bounce, to additionally clinch her nation’s maiden medal at an Olympic Video games in Roseau.
The historic achievements by Alfred and La Fond marked two of 5 medals for the Caribbean.
Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts measured a season-best 14.87 to complete with silver within the triple bounce whereas her teammate Rajindra Campbell took bronze within the males’s shot put with a mark of twenty-two.15 metres. Grenadian Lindon Victor additionally clinched bronze within the males’s decathlon with 8711 factors.
It was Alfred’s triumph within the ladies’s 100-meter sprint that first grabbed consideration.
Lining up in lane six with Richardson in seven, Alfred, at her first ever Olympics, asserted management over the primary 30 meters, with Swiss sprinter Mujinga Kambundji additionally threatening from lane two and Richardson struggling to stick with the chief.
The final 50 meters belonged solely to Alfred pulling away imperiously to cross the road with out a severe challenger.
“It feels wonderful, to be trustworthy. After waking up this morning, I wrote it down: Julien Alfred, Olympic champion,” Alfred instructed reporters. “So I believe simply believing in myself and trusting that I might do it’s what actually issues to me. … I’m going via the motions proper now—it hasn’t sunk in but. I needed to go on the market, belief myself, belief my coach, and most significantly, belief God.”
Richardson clocked 10.87 to clinch silver, whereas fellow American Melissa Jefferson took the bronze spot the rostrum with 10.92.
There was main disappointment for veteran and former World and Olympic champion, 37-year-old sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as she was pressured to withdraw from the semifinal as a consequence of damage.
La Fond, in the meantime, produced her successful leap on her second try, including to her triumph on the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow earlier this yr.
American Jasmine Moore measured 14.67 to take bronze.
La Fond and Ricketts, who afterward spoke of their shut friendship, celebrated collectively.
“This season wasn’t simple, however we did it when it mattered, and that’s what counts,” La Fond stated as she embraced Ricketts, who added, “All that issues is what occurred tonight.”
