The small Caribbean islands of Dominica and Saint Lucia achieved a historic milestone in sports on Saturday by earning their first-ever medals in the Olympic Games. This historic moment comes as Cuba has yet to secure any medals in the current edition of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
"Neither Saint Lucia nor Dominica had ever won an Olympic medal before, and they made their debut in grand style, in athletics and in two iconic events," reported France 24.
At 23 years old, Saint Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred became the queen of the fastest event in athletics, the 100 meters, clocking in at 10.72 seconds. She outpaced the American pre-competition favorite Sha'Carri Richardson (10.87 seconds), who took silver. The bronze went to Melissa Jefferson (10.92 seconds).
"I don't want to cry. I just went out there and ran as fast as I could. This means a lot to me, a lot to my country," Alfred said.
In Castries, the capital of Saint Lucia, residents watched the competition on a giant screen set up in a city location and celebrated their athlete's triumph.
Meanwhile, Thea Lafond of Dominica dominated the triple jump competition, an event missing the presence of Venezuelan champion Yulimar Rojas, who was absent due to an injury. At the Saint-Denis stadium in Paris, Lafond not only won Dominica's first Olympic medal but also set a national record with a jump of 15.02 meters.
The silver medal went to Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts, who jumped 14.67 meters, while the bronze went to Jasmine Moore of the United States, who also jumped 14.67 meters.
In this competition, Cuban athletes Leyanis Pérez (14.68 meters) and Liadagmis Povea (14.39 meters) finished in fourth and fifth positions, respectively, denying Cuba a spot on the medal table at Paris 2024 thus far.
Although boxers Erislandy Álvarez (63.5 kg) and Arlen López (80 kg) have already secured medals in their sport, the final color and confirmation for the Cuban delegation are still pending. This news comes on the same day that Cuban rower Yariulvis Cobas announced her withdrawal from the competition.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Key Highlights and Questions
As Dominica and Saint Lucia celebrate their historic wins, and Cuba still awaits its first medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, here are some relevant questions and answers about the current situation.
What events did Dominica and Saint Lucia win their first Olympic medals in?
Dominica won its first Olympic medal in the triple jump, while Saint Lucia earned its first in the 100 meters sprint.
Who are the athletes that secured the first Olympic medals for Dominica and Saint Lucia?
Thea Lafond secured Dominica's first Olympic medal in the triple jump, and Julien Alfred won Saint Lucia's first medal in the 100 meters sprint.
How have Cuban athletes performed so far in Paris 2024?
Cuban athletes Leyanis Pérez and Liadagmis Povea finished fourth and fifth in the triple jump, respectively. Boxers Erislandy Álvarez and Arlen López have secured medals, but the final color is yet to be determined.
Why is Cuban rower Yariulvis Cobas not competing in Paris 2024?
Yariulvis Cobas has withdrawn from the competition, as announced on the same day that Dominica and Saint Lucia won their historic medals.