Reigning World Indoor and Olympic triple jump champion Thea LaFond-Gadson is already in China ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships, despite entering the competition as an ‘unqualified’ athlete, according to Dominica Amateur Athletics Association President Brendan Williams.

LaFond-Gadson, who made history in March 2024 by becoming Dominica’s first-ever global track and field champion with a stunning lifetime best of 15.01m, was not automatically qualified for the event because she has not competed during the indoor season to date. The Cuban jumper Leyanis Pérez Hernandez, with a mark of 14.62m, is the only Caribbean athlete to meet the automatic qualification standard of 14.35m.

As a result, Williams had to formally request permission from World Athletics’ technical delegates to allow LaFond-Gadson to compete and defend her title.

“She actually went in as an unqualified athlete, so I had to write to the technical delegates to allow her to compete,” Williams confirmed to Sportsmax.TV.

LaFond-Gadson, who also secured Olympic gold at the Paris Games in August 2024, arrived in China early to acclimatize and prepare for the championships, despite missing the entire 2025 indoor season while recovering from a minor surgery following an injury sustained during the Olympics.

“She looks in good form, even though she has not competed indoors this season,” Williams added. “The goal is for her to defend her title, and we expect great things from her in Nanjing.”

LaFond remains Dominica’s sole representative at the March 21-23 championships, where she will attempt to add another global medal to her remarkable resume.