Vincentian 800m record holder Shafiqua Maloney has a dream to represent her country at the Olympic Games in Paris and KFC St. Vincent has partnered with her to make that dream a reality.
The fast food chain and the University of Arkansas alum announced the partnership in a joint social media post on Saturday.
“KFC St. Vincent is pleased to announce our support for Vincentian athlete Shafiqua Maloney as she journeys to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.”
“As you know it hasn’t been easy for me but I just want to thank you for your love and support. It has meant a lot,” Maloney expressed in the post.
The fast food chain has already donated ECD$5000 to Maloney’s Olympic fund and will donate ECD$1 with every purchase of two meals from the Maloney-inspired ‘800m Menu,’ the ‘Olympic Dream Meal’ and the ‘800m Warrior Wrap.’
That menu will be available at all KFC St. Vincent restaurants from Monday, April 22.
Maloney, 25, garnered significant attention during her recent appearance on the SportsMax Zone in February, where she revealed that she experienced homelessness for several months in the past year and has been unable to compensate her coaches for an extended period of time.
She also shared that her departure from the United States would result in her being barred from reentry until her application for an O-1 visa is approved. This visa application carries a price tag of $8,500.
“Thank you, KFC and thank you in advance St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I hope that you will help support this cause. Paris 2024, I’ll be there!” Maloney said.
On the track, Maloney has had an excellent start to her 2024 season.
She went unbeaten indoors in three races in the 800m, including establishing a new national record 1:58.69 at the Tyson Invitational on February 10.
Outdoors, Maloney set a new meet record 2:00.25 to win the 800m at the Texas Relays on March 28.
She then established a new national record in the 600m at the Miramar Invitational on April 6 with 1:23.80.
A week later, she ran 1:59.97 for victory at the Tom Jones Invitational in Gainesville.
Most recently, she secured the 800m and 1500m double at the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville on April 19.