Eastern Caribbean Olympians, celebrated for their historic achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympics, have been named “Persons of the Year” by the popular Caribbean-American magazine Everybody’s.
Herman Hall, the Grenadian-born publisher of the 47-year-old Brooklyn, New York-based magazine, announced that readers chose St Lucia’s Julien Alfred, Dominica’s Thea LaFond-Gadson, and Shafiqua Maloney of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, along with Grenada’s trio of Lindon Victor, Anderson Peters, and Kirani James, for their outstanding display in Paris.
Alfred, 23, enjoyed a superb 2024 campaign, which she capped by topping the 100 metres with a national record time of 10.72 seconds. It was her country’s first-ever Olympic medal, and she followed it up with silver in the 200m final. Prior to that, Alfred copped the 60m gold medal at the World Indoor Championships.
Like Alfred, LaFond-Gadson also had an impressive season in which she also became her nation’s first Olympic medalist, winning gold in the triple jump. The 30-year-old also claimed the 2024 World Indoor triple jump title.
Victor earned bronze in the decathlon at the Paris Olympics and is a two-time Commonwealth Games champion (2018, 2022), while 27-year-old Peters secured bronze in the men’s javelin in Paris and previously won the World Championship in 2019 and 2022.
While James, who is Grenada’s first Olympic medalist, placed fifth in the men’s 400m final in Paris, he has always been a fan favorite, and the fact that he has amassed a full set of Olympic medals in the 400 meters—gold (2012 London), silver (2016 Rio), and bronze (2020 Tokyo)—continues to resonate with readers. He is the first athlete to achieve that medal feat in the centennial annals of the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Maloney, 25, who endured a series of highs and lows in the build up to the Paris Games, placed fourth in the 800m final and holds national records in the event for both indoor and outdoor competition.
Since launching its “Person of the Year” award in 1978, Everybody’s magazine has celebrated individuals and groups making significant contributions to the Caribbean and its diaspora.
This year, the magazine also extended recognition to Jamaica’s 2024 Olympians for their outstanding performances on the global stage.
The accomplishments of these athletes highlight the strength and talent of the Eastern Caribbean, bringing pride and inspiration to the region and its diaspora.