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Thea LaFond made history for the Caribbean island nation of the Dominican Republic when she won gold in the triple jump in Paris on Saturday, giving the country its first-ever Olympic medal.
Shanieka Ricketts of Jamaica won silver and Jasmine Moore of the United States won bronze. Lavonde’s second attempt of 15.02 meters became the world’s best this year, and it proved impossible for her to break the record again, and the rain also made the conditions more difficult for the triple jumpers.
Lavonde told Reuters before the final that the country waited with bated breath for her to win a medal, and after that and more she celebrated with a huge ceremony at the Stade de France, which was decked out with Dominican flags.
The race is made even more unpredictable by the absence of world record holder and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela with an Achilles tendon injury.
Ricketts won the silver medal with a season-best of 14.87 meters, and Moore took third place with 14.67 meters.
Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Ana Peleteiro of Spain (14.59) was clearly unhappy with her performance, unable to match Lavonde’s jump and finished sixth.
The world’s No. 1 Cuban athlete Leanis Perez Hernandez finished fifth with a score of 14.62 meters. (CNA)
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