Former MCPS teacher, Silver Spring resident and graduate of John F. Kennedy High School Thea LaFond took gold in the women’s triple jump Saturday, winning the Caribbean island nation of Dominica its first ever Olympic medal.
Thea LaFond just secured Dominica their first ever Olympic medal, and it's GOLD! 🇩🇲🥇 pic.twitter.com/7JcPOXUP3t
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 3, 2024
LaFond secured her gold medal with her second jump of 15.02 meters, the best mark in the world in 2024. The jump proved insurmountable for her competitors, especially as rain made the event an increasingly slippery affair for the athletes.
LaFond, who came into the Olympics as one of the favorites in the event after her gold medal-winning performance at Worlds, celebrated her victory draped in her country’s flag.
Despite competing under the Dominican flag, LaFond carries deep Montgomery County ties. She moved with her family to Silver Spring at the age of seven and, after her graduation from Kennedy High School and the University of Maryland, worked as a special education teacher at Kennedy High School.
To watch her journey to Olympic Gold, click here or watch below:
Photo courtesy Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit X account.
