Alumna Shanieka Ricketts wins silver at the Paris Olympics

SDSU Hall of Famer Shanieka Ricketts (Thomas) is only the second-ever Aztec women’s track and field alumni to win a medal at the Olympic Games.

By GoAztecs
Saturday, August 3, 2024
Silver medalist Shanieka Ricketts, wearing her Team Jamaica uniform, celebrates on the track following the Women's Triple Jump Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France in Paris, France.
Silver medalist Shanieka Ricketts of Team Jamaica, celebrates following the Women's Triple Jump Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 03, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Shanieka Ricketts (Thomas) won silver in triple jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday afternoon. It is the first Olympic Games medal for the SDSU Hall of Famer.

She is the second Aztec women’s track and field alumni medal at the Olympic Games – Lynn Kanuka won bronze in the 3,000m run in 1984.

Gold medalist Thea Lafond of Team Dominica and Silver medalist Shanieka Ricketts of Team Jamaica celebrates following the Women's Triple Jump Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 03, 2024 in Paris, France. Open the image full screen.
Gold medalist Thea Lafond of Team Dominica and Silver medalist Shanieka Ricketts of Team Jamaica celebrates following the Women's Triple Jump Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 03, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
On her first jump of the afternoon, Ricketts leapt 14.61m (-0.1), ranking as the second-best mark through the field’s first round of jumps. Her second time on the runway saw a huge improvement to 14.87m (-0.7) and secured her spot in the top eight for three more attempts. On her sixth and final jump, she went 14.73m (-0.7) having already secured a spot on the podium.

Her 14.87m jump is a season best for Ricketts and represents her best jump at any of her three Olympic Games appearances.

Olympic Triple Jump Results (medalists)
Gold: Thea Lafond – Dominica (15.02m)
Silver: Shanieka Ricketts – Jamaica (14.87m)
Bronze: Jasmine Moore – United States (14.67m)

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