Olympian Dr. Cynthia Thompson has died.

The 96-year-old passed away on Friday afternoon at the University Hospital of the West Indies after a brief illness.

Minister of Sport in Jamaica, Olivia Grange, has expressed sadness at the passing of Thompson.

“I am very sad at the passing of Dr. Cynthia Thompson. On this day (Friday) when we celebrated our women (on International Women’s Day) and their achievement, Cynthia Thompson was in our hearts,” said Grange.

She added that “over the course of her remarkable, long and successful life, this wonderful woman served us in many ways.”

Dr. Thompson was the first Jamaican woman to make an Olympic Games 100 meter final and the first Jamaican woman to break an Olympic record.

Grange noted that Dr. Thompson came to prominence as a trailblazer in women’s sport when she represented Jamaica at the 1948 Olympics and made the finals of the 100 meters.

“She finished 6th, but she won a bigger prize — that of inspiring countless Jamaican athletes who followed that they could do as much and more,” Grange said.

The retired pediatrician was a regular spectator at track and field events but was ailing in recent times.

Yvad billings, Readers Bureau, Fellow

Edited by Jesus Chan

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