Former Maryland track & field standout Thea LaFond made history Saturday when she took home the gold medal for triple jump at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
She did so representing Dominica, the small Caribbean country where LaFond was born. It’s the first Olympic medal in the country’s history, and the first gold medal for a former Terp student-athlete since 1988.
Thea LaFond, what a story:
- Born in Dominica
- Moved to Maryland at 7
- Started track in high school
- 2015 B1G Field Athlete of the Year
- Taught in Montgomery County Schools to support her dream
Now, she's her country's first-ever Olympic gold medalist.