WATCH: Navy football player has ecstatic reaction as sister Thea Lafond bags gold medal in 2024 Summer Olympics

Navy Midshipmen football player Chreign LaFond was overwhelmed with joy upon discovering that his sister, Thea LaFond, clinched a gold medal in the women's triple jump at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. This victory is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first Olympic medal ever won by an athlete from Dominica.

Navy Football shared his emotional response to his sister’s victory in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Thea LaFond made a truly amazing 15.02 meters jump, becoming the first national athlete to set such a record in her birthplace, the Caribbean island nation of Dominica. Her winning leap in the third round made her the only competitor to surpass the 15-meter mark.

Despite the challenging rainy conditions in Paris, she triumphed over her competitors, including Jamaica's Shanieka Ricketts, who won the silver medal with a 14.87-meter jump and American Jasmine Moore, who took the bronze medal.

Chreign LaFond, listed as hailing from Silver Spring, Maryland, on the Navy roster, played in seven games for the Midshipmen last season. He recorded two tackles in 2023, including 0.5 for loss, and achieved one quarterback hurry.

---

Thea LaFond secures historic gold for Dominica in women's triple jump at Paris 2024

Thea LaFond's remarkable win in the women's triple jump at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris marks a historic first for Dominica, earning the island nation its first Olympic medal.

As the weather improved by the sixth round, Ricketts made a final, spirited attempt to claim the gold but couldn't surpass LaFond's mark. Ricketts left the pit smiling despite the conditions, having secured the silver medal.

In a celebratory gesture, LaFond rang the ceremonial bell at the Stade de France, a moment symbolic of her historic achievement. LaFond expressed her amazement at the victory, saying,

"This win was absolutely beyond my wildest dreams."

Reflecting on her journey, LaFond added (per On3),

“We always said it takes one jump. The second jump at Indoor Worlds was the big one. The second jump outdoors at the Olympics was the big one, that’s what it took. The rain was kind of in my favor; it came down as soon as I was done with that second jump—thank you God for working with me.”

LaFond proudly acknowledged her role as Dominica’s first Olympic medalist, sharing,

“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 getting their first medal, a gold, is an honor. In all things, give thanks.”

LaFond is a distinguished track and field athlete during her time at the University of Maryland from 2012 to 2016. Thea LaFond had also competed in the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Olympics but did not win any medals.