SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Track and field fans are used to seeing Jamaican athletes on the medal stand at the Olympics. In Paris, other Caribbean nations have introduced themselves and their countries to the world.
“It was just our turn, man,” said Thea LaFond, a Montgomery County teacher and University of Maryland athlete whose gold in the triple jump was the first Olympic medal for her island, Dominica. “It kind of becomes like truly a family. When we say one Caribbean, one love; one Caribbean, one love.”
Sure, Jamaica has six medals — most of them for its unexpected field success — but the medals this time have also come from St. Lucia, Dominica and Grenada.
And the Caribbean athletes in track and field definitely have a kinship.
“You know, ‘One Caribbean always,’” Julien Alfred of St. Lucia said. “When one Caribbean athlete wins, the whole Caribbean celebrates.”
Alfred got things started by upsetting American favorite Sha’carri Richardson in the 100 meters to earn St. Lucia’s first Olympic medal on the same night of LaFond’s victory. Then she added a silver in the 200.
The latest Caribbean success came from Marileidy Paulino, who won gold in the 400 meters Friday to become the first woman from the Dominican Republic to win gold in any Olympic sport.
“We have been developing and showing that this is not just for the developed countries,” Paulino said. “The Dominican Republic is having a rebirth.”
It was the Dominican Republic’s first gold since Felix Sánchez won the 400 hurdles in 2012.
The island nations and the athletes often support each other during frequent hurricanes.
A month ago, Hurricane Beryl decimated Barbados and Jamaica, with a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines almost destroyed.
“We actually got lucky. That’s probably one of the first hurricanes that did not touch Dominica,” LaFond said. “But your heart always goes out to St. Vincent the Grenadines and all the other islands that were affected, especially Jamaica. That was quite scary.”
When the hurricane hit, LaFond, a graduate of and teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, quickly checked on fellow triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts of Jamaica, who took silver in Paris.
“It’s in those times that you realize how strong the Caribbean really is, how quick we are to aid each other in moments of need,” said LaFond, whose brother, Chreign, plays defensive end for the Naval Academy. “It puts things in perspective, right? Maybe a hard workout or a bad meet isn’t so bad when you’re concerned about the well-being of your loved ones. We’re tough people.”
Ricketts was supposed to fly to Europe the day after Beryl hit Jamaica for a pre-Olympics training camp in Paris.
“We had to cancel plans and wait until the hurricane passed,” Ricketts said, adding that she flew over about a week later.
So, a week of training lost?
Not quite.
“I have like a little makeshift gym in the garage. So that’s what we used during that time,” Ricketts said.
Grenada, another Caribbean country, has won two bronzes: Anderson Peters in javelin and Lindon Victor in decathlon.
