The small Caribbean islands of Dominica and Saint Lucia achieved a historic milestone for their sport on Saturday by entering the Olympic medal count. They did this on a date when Cuba has not yet secured any medals in this edition of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
"Neither Saint Lucia nor Dominica had ever won an Olympic medal before, and they made a great debut in athletics and in two emblematic events," recalled the agency France 24.
At 23 years old, the Saint Lucian Julien Alfred became the queen of the fastest event in athletics, the 100 meters, with a time of 10 seconds and 72 hundredths, relegating the American and pre-competition favorite Sha'Carri Richardson (10.87) to silver. The bronze went to Melissa Jefferson (10.92).
"I don't want to start crying. I just went out to run as fast as I could. This means a lot to me, a lot for my country," said the sprinter from Saint Lucia.
In Castries, the capital of Saint Lucia, its residents watched the competition on a giant screen located somewhere in the city and celebrated the victory of their athlete.
For her part, Thea Lafond from Dominica dominated the triple jump competition, an event in which many missed the Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas, champion from the last edition of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, who was absent in Paris due to an injury.
At the Saint-Denis stadium in Paris, the jumper not only gave Dominica its first Olympic medal but also set the national record for her country with a jump of 15.02 meters.
The silver went to Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts, who jumped 14.67 meters, and the bronze to Jasmine Moore from the United States, with a record of 14.67 meters.
In this competition, the Cubans Leyanis Pérez (14.68) and Liadagmis Povea (14.39) finished in fourth and fifth positions, respectively, denying Cuba the opportunity to still enter the medal table at Paris 2024.
Although boxers Erislandy Álvarez (63.5 kg) and Arlen López (80 kg) have already secured a medal in their sport, it is still unknown what color it will be and whether it will be confirmed for the island's delegation, which woke up this Saturday to the news of the resignation of rower Yariulvis Cobas.
What do you think?
COMMENTFiled under: