Dominica’s Thea LaFond etched herself in her country’s history books forever by winning Olympic gold in the women’s triple jump final at the Paris Olympics at the Stade de France on Saturday.
The 30-year-old produced a personal best and national record 15.02m in the second round to claim her country’s first ever Olympic medal.
She opened her competition with 14.32m in the first round before producing her gold medal-winning effort a few minutes later. From rounds three to five, the reigning World Indoor champion produced distances of 14.46m, 14.12m and 14.43m before passing on her final effort with gold already secured.
Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts secured silver, her country’s first ever Olympic medal in the event, with a best distance of 14.87m, her best jump of the season.
The 32-year-old had three legal jumps in her series, 14.61m in round one, 14.87m in round two and 14.73m in the final round.
American Jasmine Moore took bronze with a season’s best 14.67m.