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Thea LaFond is certainly not the most famous athlete from Montgomery County at the Paris Olympics but she may have the best story.
LaFond was born in Dominica, a Caribbean island nation, then moved to Silver Spring with her family at the age of 7. She attended Kennedy High School and the University of Maryland. She was later a special education teacher at Kennedy High School while honing her skills as a word-class athlete.
She is currently the top-ranked triple jumper in the world and will be representing Dominica at the Olympics for the third time. She did not win a medal in her two previous attempts.
LaFond told MCM she knows exactly what’s at stake in Paris and hopes that the third time will be the charm.
MCM’s full documentary on LaFond airs on channels 21 and 995 on cable or watch below: