Thea Lafond-Gadson won gold in Croatia with a record-breaking 15.25m triple jump, setting a new Dominican record and leading the 2026 world rankings.
Dominica: Olympic Gold medallist Thea Lafond Gadson has delivered a historic performance at the World Athletics Continental Tour (WACT) Golden Meeting in Croatia, winning Gold in the Women’s Triple Jump. On Friday, June 26, 2026, the athlete secured first place with a leap of 15.25 metres, a performance that enabled her to set a new national record for Dominica while recording one of the top 10 jumps in the history of Women’s Triple Jump.
Lafond Gadson achieved the 15.25 metre jump on her sixth and final attempt, which has surpassed her previous record of 15.02 metres set at the 2024 Summer Olympics. The jump is currently ranking 1st in the world for the 2026 season.
With this performance, she has not only set a new personal best but also cemented her place among the world’s top performers, with the 9th best jump in Women’s Triple Jump history.
The Dominica Athletics Association (DAA) has shared this remarkable achievement on social media, underscoring another significant victory for the athlete and Dominica. The DAA congratulated Thea for winning 1st place and for cementing her status as one of world’s premier triple jump athletes.
In its post, the Association shared, “Huge congratulations to Thea Lafond-Gadson! She just absolutely crushed it at the Zagreb Golden Meet in Croatia, taking 1st Place in the Women's Triple Jump! Not only did she win, but she also shattered records with an incredible 15.25m jump!”
The Government of Dominica has also extended its congratulatory message to the Olympic champion. Taking to Facebook, the Government shared her record-breaking achievement with the caption, “NEW Record on the books! Congrats to Thea!”
Citizens have expressed immense pride in Thea for continuing to represent the country with excellence on the international stage.
In the comment section, a user under Barbara Bully-Thomas wrote, “You're making history Thea! Congratulations on your phenomenal achievement and inspiring us all. Dominica is very proud!”
Another user, Jennifer Orr, also commented, “Thea, you’re a tremendous athlete and a role model for girls and young women who aspire to showcase Dominica’s talent. Go Thea!”