President of the Dominica Olympic Committee (DOC) Billy Doctrove has congratulated Dominican Triple Jumper Thea Lafond on her “monumental achievement” at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday.
Lafond created history when she became the first Dominican to win a gold medal at the global athletics competition.
She needed just two attempts to win gold in the women’s triple jump at that competition.
Lafond managed a best of 15.01 meters in her second effort and she was the sole competitor to go over the 15-meter mark, making it the best jump in the world this year.
“I want to just take this opportunity to congratulate Thea on her monumental achievement,” Doctrove said during a live interview on State-Owned Radio DBS on Monday. “This goal medal should never be underestimated and it will be written in the annals of Dominica’s history.”
He said this shows that hard work pays off.
“When we met Thea in the Tokyo Olympics and we had discussions with her she said that one of the ways she believes that she can improve and challenge the world is for her to be doing it full time,” Doctrove explained. “And when we came down, we sat down as a Dominica Olympics Committee executive and took the decision to increase her sponsorship by 100 percent and that enabled her to stop working and focus on her preparation.”
He continued, “She always said from that moment her preparation improved and you could see the results.”
Doctrove further explained that when the DOC took that decision, they were heavily criticized for giving her too much support.
“But we were confident that with the additional support, that she could do it,” he stated.
He believes she has the talent, “and we are so happy that hard work has paid off and Thea has now become the best in the world at the championship in Glasgow and every Dominican is proud of that.”
Doctrove went on to state that no activity can give Dominica the kind of promotion and publicity that sports can give Dominica when an athlete excels.
“And when a sportsperson from Dominica can become the best in the world then we have to embrace that person, embrace the opportunity,” he noted.
He indicated that the DOC is looking forward to her performance at the Olympic Games in Paris.
“We are confident that Thea can go and do well and we commit ourselves in the Dominica Olympics Committee to continue providing here with the support that she needs,” Doctrove noted.
He thanked the Dominica Athletics Association for working closely with her to ensure that she gets the support and encouragement that she needs.
“I congratulate her, I congratulate her coach for the work he has done with her and we are looking forward to great things from Thea in the Olympic Games in Paris,” he said.
well done Thea and congratulations.
Doctrove further explained that when the DOC took that decision, they were heavily criticized for giving her too much support.
“But we were confident that with the additional support, that she could do it,” he stated.
Bros enough! Well Done Thea!
#OLD
Doctrove i thought you would have taken the opportunity to give us some information about the athletic/synthetic track at Pointe Round i once heard about. Why are you so MOO MOO about it? This is the main focal point for young home grown athletes to showcase their athletic talent and skills. While you celebrate Thea’s success, thousands of talented athletes can’t realise their dreams here, because of the lack of facilities, and most won’t get sporting scholarships. Are you not ashamed that Dominica is probably the only OECS country without a synthetic track? OMG!
You all are a set of dam square pegs in round holes! What are you all being paid to do? Is it NOTHING?