Thea LaFond of Dominica celebrates together with her nationwide flag after successful gold within the Ladies’s Triple Leap Last – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – Aug. 03, 2024..
REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
Per week after Grenada threw an enormous social gathering, motorcade and presentation of presents for 3 medalists on the just-concluded Paris Olympics, fellow Jap Caribbean island nation of Dominica on Sunday did likewise for triple jumper Thea La Fond-Gadson who introduced the primary ever Olympic medal to the Emerald Island.
La Fond-Gadson, her husband and coach Aaron in addition to different members of the family rode in a state car and motorcade from the primary airport at Portsmouth within the north to Roseau within the capital as 1000’s of Dominicans lined the streets, waving flags and congratulating her on not solely successful the island nation’s first medal, however a gold within the triple soar.
Wearing a tracksuit of native colours, Thea used crutches to help herself as a result of she not too long ago underwent surgical procedure for a difficult proper knee that had began performing up earlier this 12 months. She mentioned that she had had no intention of lacking Paris so she labored via the ache barrier till bagging the gold medal.
“The physician mentioned you may cease leaping for 3 months and miss the Olympics. I didn’t cry. I understand we might handle. We persevered and we received. I will probably be tremendous in a pair months. I’m one week post-surgery,” she instructed an enormous crowd to loud applause at an out of doors rally attended by Prime Minister Roosvelt Skerrit and 1000’s of locals. She reminded the viewers that she might have medaled within the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 however her successful soar was dominated as a foul.
This time “we did it, we did it. I’ve to acknowledge all of you who greeted us via the solar and rain. Dominica’s best useful resource is its individuals. My mother and father raised me with a mentality that we don’t cry, we strive. I took this mentality and I ran with it. I carry all of you in my coronary heart. I’ve you with me all the time. I’ll all the time have Dominica, all the time. My mother and father supported all my endeavors. To my expensive husband, my coach extraordinaire. He’s the mastermind behind all of it. Thanks, my love. All that I do is to make us look good, make us proud and ensure they know my identify and nation,” she mentioned.
Talking after the brand new nationwide hero, Prime Minister Skerrit introduced a money reward to the US equal of $148,000, the award of a diplomatic passport for her and her husband, 7,459 sq. ft of land to construct a house in a classy new sub improvement and the nation’s highest award. Cash has already been discovered, and land allotted, to assemble a brand new artificial monitor for native athletes. The stadium will bear her identify. Three different Dominicans who had met qualifying standards for the Olympics however didn’t medal will every obtain roughly $7,000 every.
“We prolong our deepest gratitude. This victory is yours as a lot as it’s hers. We honor you right now for energy, dedication and resilience and for lifting the identify of Dominica on the worldwide stage. Your journey to this second was not a simple one. As your nationwide anthem was performed each Dominica nationwide’s coronary heart was swollen with pleasure. In that second you embodied the easiest of us,” Skerrit mentioned as bands performed patriotic songs.
“Dominica is a nation of champions. It’s a place the place goals can come via if we’re prepared to make it occur. This will probably be your best legacy to encourage our individuals to dream large. Your triumph is a strong reminder of the significance of investing in our youths. We’re proud to name you our personal and can ceaselessly cherish this second in historical past. You might be our golden woman.”
