The Hope of It All: 3 Countries Win Their First-Ever Olympic Gold
Winning an Olympic medal is the epitome of dreams come true for any athlete, the ultimate culmination of their tremendous hard work paying off through global recognition. For their countries, the fact that they are representing them in the Olympics is an honor in itself - so to be decorated as the best is an even bigger national pride. However, not every country has had the chance to celebrate that, until now. Paris 2024 has seen the rise of new stars bringing the gold back to their countries for the first time in history, and here are their stories.
Thea LaFond for Dominica
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Thea’s win wasn’t just the first gold medal for her country, it was Dominica’s first Olympic medal ever, making her record-breaking win in the triple jump even more special. With a new national record of 15.02 meters, she managed to finally earn a spot on the podium after having come close in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. The impact of this successful moment wasn’t lost on LaFond, as she acknowledged after her win.
“At this point, every time I step on the track is an honor, bearing the flag is an honor, being Dominican is an honor. Representing a country with only 70,000 people and being out here and getting their first medal, a gold, is an honor. In all things, give thanks.”
Adriana Ruano Oliva for Guatemala
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Adriana’s story is one of true resilience, as she began her athletic journey at a very young age with ballet and gymnastics. After displaying impressive talent in the latter and winning youth championships, her London 2012 aspirations were cut short due to a spinal injury. Restricted to continue on her gymnastics path, she found a new passion in sports shooting. The switch has proved to be the correct one, as she is bringing back home the first gold medal ever for Guatemala. As her government applauded her achievement, they also recognized the example she is setting for athletes everywhere: “Her story is a testament that with determination it is possible to overcome any obstacle and reach new heights. Her legacy as an athlete and nutritionist will continue to inspire future generations to pursue their dreams and never give up, no matter the adversity.”
Julien Alfred for St. Lucia
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Just like Thea, Julien is also bringing home the gold to give Saint Lucia its first Olympic medal ever. The 23-year-old sprinter also broke a national record in the 100-meter race with a time of 10.72 seconds, making her accomplishment a trail-blazing moment for a nation as small as Saint Lucia.
“Growing up, I used to be on the field struggling, with no shoes, running barefoot, running in my school uniform, running all over the place," Alfred commented after her historic win. Alfred's win is filled with hope that this win will bring about a change in how sports are supported in her home country.