Lafond & Luke to represent Dominica in Tokyo Olympics

Dominica: Dominica Olympic Committee has confirmed that they will send two athletes (one male & one female ) to the upcoming Tokyo Olympics to represent the commonwealth of Dominica. Notably, Ms. Thea Lafond, who comes from the community of Mahaut and is based in the USA, will represent Dominica in the discipline of Triple Jump & she will join by Mr. Dennick Luke, who hails from Portsmouth and is currently finishing his tertiary education in Jamaica. Ms. Thea secured qualification in the discipline of Triple Jump with a personal best of 14.33 meters in February 2020. Apart from several achievements, qualifications for Olympics, there were a bit uncertain in order to make assure, she continued to persevere. She achieved another personal best this year with a distance of 14.54m. Ms. Lafond is currently ranked number 12 in the world among her fellow Triple Jump competitors also will be the 1st female Dominican athlete to compete in two consecutive Olympic Games. Mr. Luke secured a universality placement in the discipline of 800m. Despite not achieving the qualification mark, the International Olympic Committee Games regulations, which promote the development of participation of all National Olympic Committees, permits for the placement of at least one Athletics athlete in each gender if none are able to achieve the qualification mark, which is referred to as the Universality Placement. Notably, the Tokyo Olympics schedule reshuffled due to the coronavirus pandemic; notwithstanding the adversities, Dominican athletes both locally and abroad were able to recommence training throughout 2020 to 2021. Additionally, Dominica Olympic Committee and the Dominica Amateur Athletics Association, guided by the rules of the World Athletics organisation, Mr. Luke was determined the most suitably qualified candidate for the Universality placement given his ranking in the 800m by the World Athletics body, his vastly improved performance over the past 12 months which saw him not only achieve a personal best but also consistently maintain this mark, along with other factors. Mr. Luke will be the country’s first 800m runner competing at the Olympic Games since 1996. DOC noted that The Dominica team would be led by Chef de Mission and Covid Liaison Officer Mr. Woody Lawrence, accompanied by: Coach Aaron Gadson, Press Attaché, Garvin Richards, and Physiotherapist, Kala Flagg. Mr. Billy Doctrove, President of the Dominica Olympic Committee and Mr. Brendan Williams, present Athlete Representative & Acting Secretary general at the Olympic Games, will complete the team. Moreover, The Olympic Games will commence with an Opening Ceremony on July 23 and officially complete on August 8th 2021. According to Dominica Olympic Committee, both athletes are supposed to compete in the 1st round of their events on July 31st; also, more details will be given in due course as to how the general public can view their performances.

Lafond & Luke to represent Dominica in Tokyo Olympics

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