Megan Tapper back in Jamaica
Published:Friday | August 6, 2021 | 12:11 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
After securing bronze in the Women’s 100m Hurdles, Olympian Megan Tapper says that she feels she has taken a major step in her career.
Tapper, 27, arrived last night at the Norman Manley International Airport still basking in the glow of her historic achievement, the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic medal in the event.
Tapper crossed the line in a time of 12.55 seconds behind American Kendra Harrison who took silver in 12.52 seconds. Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the Olympic title in 12.37 seconds.
Tapper’s success this season has been part of her own journey as an athlete when she started at the high-school level at St Andrew’s High School for Girls, having dreams of excelling on the biggest stage. Tapper says that her bronze-medal performance has got her one step closer to her goal of being not only the best hurdler in the world, but an Olympic champion in the future.
“It’s almost like a dream come true even though I didn’t win the gold,” Tapper said. “I mean, getting on that podium was a feat in itself, and I did that. [But] we want more,” Tapper said. “We definitely want more, but I am so grateful.”
SEAMLESS TRANSITION
The journey has faced several obstacles as well as a leap of faith when she left MVP Track Club to be coached by her husband, Mathue Tapper. Tapper said that it made the moment more special and has credited him for making the transition seamless.
“It was a pretty smooth changeover. I am so grateful for Matheu,” she said. “He has been more than just a husband and a coach. He has been filling every single role that needs to be filled since leaving MVP.”
While confessing that his celebrations of his wife’s success went a bit overboard, he was pleased with her achievement as well as her growth as an athlete.
“It was kind of embarrassing, but we are grateful for it. These experiences come once in a lifetime sometimes. So I think I experienced it to the fullest,” Matheu said.