The small Caribbean country of Dominica has now become the smallest nation in terms of population to ever bag an Olympic gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Stade de France followed by Grenada and coming in third is St. Lucia, another Caribbean country.
All three nations have earned one medal in the Olympics with Thea LaFond clinching the gold medal for the Caribbean Island nation of Dominica for the first time ever with a second-round national record of 15.02m in triple jump.
“Sometimes you wonder if being from a small country means you have less access to resources, but we’ve been really big on just having quality over quantity. Just executing and I hope my country is just proud. I think it’s a big deal for them.”
Thea LaFond’s Record-Breaking Performance
LaFond, from a country with a population of about 72,000 people – a population that could fit into the Olympics stadium with seats to spare – won the gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow with a national record of 15.01m in March 2024.
Since concentrating on triple jump in 2016, LaFond has won bronze and silver at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games respectively, and earning the 2022 Diamond League title.
Pride and Recognition
According to World Athletics, LaFond, who studied at the University of Maryland, said: “Here we are, Olympic champ! Dominica’s first medal, it’s gold. Indoor was the first medal, it was gold. What a year, what a life, oh my God, wow.
“We’ll start with the basics, we’re not Dominican Republic. We’re about 70,000 people. It is a gorgeous gem in the Caribbean. Our neighbours also include St Lucia, Barbados, our primary language is English, and now we have an Olympic gold medal.
“Considering how my phone is going off right now, I feel it’s an understatement to say it’s a really big deal. In the indoors (championship) season we made history. Here I’m the only female representing anything in athletics for my country, and we’re leading with gold.
“Sometimes you wonder if being from a small country means you have less access to resources, but we’ve been really big on just having quality over quantity. Just executing and I hope my country is just proud. I think it’s a big deal for them.”
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Call for Better Athletic Facilities
Campaigning for the government officials in Dominica to build an athletic track in order to help the next generation of athletics, LaFond said: “
“There is a stadium in Dominica, there is no track,” she said. “To be clear, Dominica does have an entire track blueprint that’s been set for years. There is a programme that brings facilities to countries in need. The biggest issue is getting the land allocation for this track. What I’m really hoping is this medal lights a fire under all government officials to get that one.
“I want a place where the next generation doesn’t have to go overseas to even start. I want there to be interest where the kids can just go on to the track and race each other for the fun of it. The genuine, innocent intrigue in the sport is really needed. Small nations, big hearts, and big athletic talent.”
Personal Background
With a full name, Thea Noeliva LaFond, is a Dominican Track and Field athlete was born on April 5, 1994, who emigrated from Dominica to the United States as a young child. LaFond is a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she returned to her alma mater as a special education teacher and fitness and health substitute teacher.
LaFond, who is also an assistant cross country and track and field coach at Northwest High School, is married to Aaron Gadson, who doubles as her coach.
