Commonwealth Gold Medalist Levern Spencer returned home to Saint Lucia on April 19, after making history by winning the island’s first gold medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

On April 14, Spencer struck gold in the high jump at the XXI Commonwealth Games. Spencer, twice a bronze-medalist at the Commonwealth Games, leapt 1.95m to win the gold for Saint Lucia.

In welcoming her home at a press conference held at Hewanorra Airport, acting Prime Minister Hon. Stephenson King congratulated the athlete on her outstanding achievements and thanked her for being a shining example to all Saint Lucian youth.

“You continue to be that model, that icon, that person who every young person looks for as an example and as a role model in our society,” he said. “So on behalf of the government and people of Saint Lucia, the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet of Ministers, and all of those in government, I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate you, to wish you the very best, to encourage you to continue beyond the limits that you have reached to date, and to maintain that level and that standard which you have attained today. I do hope that every other young person will recognise you and be motivated to follow your path—the trend of not giving up when they fail but to continue and make every attempt on every occasion, every time the opportunity is given.”

Spencer also delivered a short address, where she discussed the emotional tidal wave she had been feeling since her triumph.

“I remember at a special ceremony held within my community in Babonneau after winning the Pan Am Gold Medal three years ago, I said I was happy to receive my flowers whilst I was still alive. But then I went on to say that it was not expected to be my last set of flowers because there was more of those to achieve and more dreams to be realized. Well I am glad that one my big sporting dreams has now been realized. In that after two previous bronze medals in 2010 and 2014, I brought home a Commonwealth Games gold medal—something I will forever cherish.”

After leaving the airport, the athlete received congratulations from Saint Lucians and well-wishers alike at an activity held on the Derek Walcott Square in Castries.