Paris 2024 athletics: All results, as Thea LaFond wins historic first Olympic gold for Dominica in women’s triple jump
The women’s triple jump at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, held on Saturday, 3 August at the Stade de France, saw a completely new podium with Dominica’s Thea LaFond earning the Olympic gold with a national record jump of 15.02m. Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts claimed silver by jumping her season’s best of 14.87m and Team USA’s Jasmine Moore took bronze, also jumping a season best of 14.67m.
LaFond’s win marks a historic first Olympic medal for the Caribbean island nation of Dominica.
The competition saw LaFond earn her winning jump on the third round, becoming the only woman in the competition to hit the 15-metre mark. Ricketts and Moore also earned their tops scores in this round before rain began showering down on the stadium, making for difficult conditions.
As conditions improved in the sixth round, Ricketts made a final attempt to better her silver medal but was unable to overtake LaFond, walking away from the pit with a smile on her face.
LaFond passed on her final jump, running to the stands to celebrate with her family, followed by LaFond and Ricketts embracing in tears.
The celebration ended with LaFond ringing the ceremonial bell at the Stade de France. One can imagine that the streets of Dominica are also ringing with cheers for LaFond as she puts her island country on the Olympic medal table for the first time in history and the national anthem of Dominica rings out for the first time at the upcoming podium ceremony.
LaFond said that this win was “absolutely beyond my wildest dreams”.
She added: “We always said it takes one jump. Second jump at Indoor Worlds was the big one. Second jump outdoors at the Olympics was the big one, that’s what it took.
"The rain was kind of in my favour, it came down as soon as I was done with that second jump - thank you God for working with me.”
The ecstatic champion shared her pride at being Dominica’s first Olympic medallist, saying: “At this point, every time I step on the track is an honour, bearing the flag is an honour, being Dominican is an honour. Representing a country with only 70,000 people and being out here and getting their first medal, a gold, is an honour. In all things, give thanks.”
Ricketts was equally thrilled at her silver medal, saying: “It went spectacular. This is a dream come true. I’m just grateful and I feel like I have a lot of gratitude for everything I’ve achieved.”
She spoke to the support she has received from her husband and coach, Kerrylee Ricketts, saying: “I think he wanted this medal more than I did. Not that I wasn’t passionate, but he worked so hard over the year. We missed the medal in Tokyo [Ricketts finished fourth at Tokyo 2020] and this is just redemption from the last Olympic Games.”
Team USA's Moore took a victory lap to greet her cheering section and said: “Just to see my family, see my parents... my whole family’s out here and it’s definitely a lot different from Tokyo. I’m just super thankful, it was just super special tonight.
“I’m just so overwhelmed with emotion. I’m just very thankful for this medal, it’s my first one.”
Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas was not able to defend her triple jump crown at Paris 2024. The reigning Olympic gold medallist, world record holder and seven-time world champion announced that she would miss these Olympic Games after suffering an injury to her Achilles tendon.
Athletics: Women’s triple jump podium
Gold: Thea Lafond, Dominica
Silver: Shanieka Ricketts, Jamaica
Bronze: Jasmine Moore, USA
See all the results on Olympics.com