Dominica is pulling out all the stops to celebrate its first-ever Olympic medalist, Thea LaFond Gadson, who made history by winning gold in the triple jump at the recently concluded Paris Olympics. Thea’s victory not only marks the first Olympic medal for the tiny Caribbean island of approximately 50,000 people but also follows her earlier achievement of winning Dominica’s first global medal—a gold in the triple jump at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow this March.
In recognition of her historic accomplishments, Dominica’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth, Culture, Sports, and Community, Oscar George, has announced a series of celebratory events set to take place from August 24 to September 4, 2024, to honour Thea and her fellow Olympians Dennick Luke, Warren Lawrence, and Jasmine Scofield, who also represented the nation in Paris.
The celebrations will kick off on Saturday, August 24, with Thea’s arrival at Douglas Charles Airport at 2 pm. A welcome ceremony will be held at the VIP Lounge, where government officials, dignitaries, and family members will gather to greet the Olympic champion. This event will set the tone for the days of festivities to follow, as the island nation comes together to honour their national hero.
On Sunday, August 25, the festivities continue with a motorcade starting at 1:30 pm in Portsmouth, traveling along the scenic west coast to Rousseau. This event will offer the public a chance to show their appreciation for Thea as she makes her way to the capital city. The day will culminate in a grand celebration ceremony and concert at Windsor Park Stadium in Forecourt at 4 pm, featuring speeches from government and sports officials, as well as musical performances. The public is warmly invited to attend and participate in the celebration of Thea’s historic achievement.
Thea’s week of honour will also include a courtesy call to the Honourable Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt on Tuesday, August 27. An official cocktail reception in her honour is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, August 28 at the State House Conference Centre.
Throughout her stay in Dominica, Thea will visit various primary and secondary schools, as well as the Dominica State College, where she will engage with students and inspire the next generation of athletes and leaders. Her presence and words of encouragement are expected to leave a lasting impact on the youth of Dominica, motivating them to pursue their dreams with the same determination and dedication that led Thea to Olympic gold.
Minister George expressed the nation’s pride and joy in Thea’s achievements, stating, "The government and people of Dominica look forward to celebrating Thea’s remarkable success at the Paris Olympics, an achievement that has brought immense pride and joy to our nation."
As the island prepares to welcome Thea LaFond Gadson home, the celebrations promise to be a fitting tribute to an athlete who has not only made history but has also united a nation in pride and admiration.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Alfred grateful for continued recognition after Olympic success in Paris
St. Lucian Olympic champion Julien Alfred is grateful to continue to receive recognition for her historic achievements at the Paris Olympics in August.
On Wednesday, the 23-year-old took home the award of best female athlete of Paris 2024 at the Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOC) Awards ceremony held in Cascais, Portugal.
Alfred stormed to a historic 100m gold medal in Paris, the first Olympic medal in St. Lucia’s history.
“It’s truly an amazing feeling getting the love and support. I was not expecting so many praises, tonight especially, but it’s an amazing feeling knowing that my sacrifices and hard work are being celebrated and I’m truly grateful for it,” Alfred said after receiving her award.
She also spoke of her status as a role model for youngsters in St. Lucia and the importance of making them feel like nothing is impossible once you work towards it.
“It’s truly inspiring. Growing up, I looked at Usain Bolt and Levern Spencer, one of my countrywomen, but to be able to be standing here inspiring the youth is something that I’ve always dreamt of and it makes me feel like all my hard work is paying off,” she said.
“Now it’s time to continue to inspire the nation and the youth that no matter where you’re from, you can always work towards your dream,” she added.
Another history maker, Botswana’s 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, took home the award for best male athlete at Paris 2024.
The award for best male team went to Denmark Handball while the best female team went to Italy Volleyball.
The best male team in individual sports award went to Japan Artistic Gymnastics while the female award went to Great Britain Track Cycling.
Austria’s Lukas Mahr and Lara Vadlau took home the award for best mixed team while Chinese six-time Olympic Table Tennis champion Ma Long and New Zealand’s eight-time Olympic gold medallist in canoeing Lisa Carrington took home the male and female outstanding career awards, respectively.
Julien Alfred named Best Female Athlete of Paris 2024 by ANOC
St Lucia’s sprint sensation Julien Alfred has been awarded the prestigious Best Female Athlete of the Paris 2024 Olympics by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). Alfred, who dominated the 100m event with a lifetime-best 10.72 seconds, was present to receive the accolade at a grand ceremony in Cascais, Portugal, honoring standout athletes from the 2024 Olympic Games.
Alfred, 23, delivered a spectacular performance at the Paris Games, capturing gold in the women’s 100m final and securing a silver in the 200m with a time of 22.08 seconds. Her 100m victory, marked by a personal best, cemented her place as one of the fastest women in the world and brought home an Olympic gold medal for St. Lucia, a historic achievement for the Caribbean nation.
The St Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) congratulated Alfred on her win, expressing pride in her accomplishments and the impact she continues to have on young athletes across the island. “We extend heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Julien Alfred on being awarded this remarkable accolade. We hope her continued successes inspire present and future athletes,” the SLOC stated, emphasizing Alfred’s role in representing St. Lucia on the global stage.
With this award, Alfred joins an elite group of Olympic athletes celebrated for their dedication and excellence, marking a significant moment for her career and St. Lucian sports. Her achievements in Paris underscore her status as one of the brightest stars in athletics, inspiring fans worldwide and leaving an indelible mark on the history of the Games.
Jaydon Hibbert’s 17.66m ratified as World U20 triple jump record
World Athletics has officially ratified Jaydon Hibbert’s world U20 triple jump record of 17.66m, achieved on July 21, 2023, at the Herculis meet in Monaco. The Jamaican standout set the record at just 18 years old, surpassing his previous best of 17.54m set in Albuquerque earlier that year on March 11.
Notably, Hibbert's mark of 17.87m set at the SEC Championships in May 2023, was not the mark ratified by World Athletics.
Hibbert’s leap of 17.66m was one of three U20 world records recently ratified by World Athletics, alongside impressive marks in the women’s 5000m and javelin events. Medina Eisa of Ethiopia set the world U20 record in the 5000m with a time of 14:21.89 at the Diamond League final in Brussels on September 14, 2024, finishing second to Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet. Eisa’s time shattered the previous record of 14:30.88 held by Tirunesh Dibaba since 2004. Meanwhile, China’s Yan Ziyi set a world U20 javelin record of 64.41m, also on September 14, in Quzhou, improving on her earlier record of 64.28m from April.
Hibbert, a former youth star from Jamaica, has been steadily rising in the international athletics scene, with his performance in Monaco marking a breakthrough moment. His achievements have raised expectations for his potential as he continues to develop in the discipline.
Alongside these U20 achievements, World Athletics also ratified Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s world high jump record of 2.10m, achieved in Paris in July. The Ukrainian star surpassed one of the longest-standing records in the sport, set by Stefka Kostadinova in 1987. Mahuchikh’s historic jump of 2.10m was part of a spectacular season, as she went on to win Olympic gold in Paris in August.
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