MEAWW.COM / NEWS / SPORTS

Who is Jasmine Camacho-Quinn? Puerto Rican athlete beats Keni Harrison to win 100m Olympic gold

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn beat record-holder Keni Harrison to win Puerto Rico's second-ever gold at the Olympics this year in Tokyo

On Sunday, August 1, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn became only the second Puerto Rican in history to win gold for her country, this time in the women's 100m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics. The first gold was won by tennis player Monica Puig at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Camacho-Quinn, who had set an Olympic record of 12.26 seconds in the semifinals, claimed her first major title with 12.37 seconds, beating opponent Kendra 'Keni' Harrison and Megan Tapper who came second and third respectively.  

Her technically successful run saw her defeat the American for the fourth time since she and Harrison met each other. On a historic day for the US territory, Camacho-Quinn's Olympic victory makes her the first Puerto Rican to ever win gold in athletics for her country, during this year's Olympics in Tokyo.

RELATED ARTICLES

Tokyo Olympics: 10 hottest women of track and field from Alica Schmidt to Allyson Felix

Tokyo Olympics: Gabby Thomas to Grant Holloway, top 10 track and field athletes to watch

Japan went ahead with this year's Olympics, even as games-related Covid-19 cases continue to rise, leading to several athletes pulling out of the event. With Tokyo facing a triple health threat, the Summer Games were very close to being canceled last minute. However, the Games were on the cards, and what a day it has been for Camacho-Quinn. Here's all you need to know about the athlete. 

Who is Jasmine Camacho-Quinn?

Born on August 21, 1996, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn is a Puerto Rican-American track and field athlete who specializes in the 100m hurdles. She was born in Charleston, South Carolina, but decided to represent Puerto Rico in international competition, according to OC Register. She participated at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the 100m hurdles event where she made it to the semi-finals, where, aged only 19 at the time, she tripped and fell over a hurdle during the event, thus disqualifying her. Daily Mail reported Camacho-Quinn as saying: "For me waking up this morning there was adrenaline, I was like "let's get it". I was working off 6 hours sleep, I didn't care, I had a goal and came here and accomplished that."

She added, "It's amazing. The first gold in track and field and the second gold ever. I don't know how to explain it right now but it does mean a lot. It really means a lot to me. 2016 everybody knows what happened in the semi finals. I believed I would have medalled that year. I wasn't going to let that determine my future. I have won a gold medal and it means so much," she said. 

Her parents are athletes 

James Quinn and Mara Milagros Camacho are her parents, who both happen to be athletes as well. Both participated in athletics at Baptist College, now Charleston Southern University, in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Her mother was a sprint runner and long jumper, while her father participated in hurdles. Camacho-Quinn, who was born in the United States, is entitled to represent Puerto Rico because her mother is from Trujillo Alto. “I'm 100 percent Puerto Rican,” she said, according to OC Register. She was the Southeast Region runner of the year in 2016 and 2018. She also ran for the University of Kentucky, according to Chicago Tribune.

Her brother is an NFL player

Camacho-Quinn, 24, also has another sportsperson in her family. National Football League (NFL) player Robert Quinn is her brother. Quinn plays outside linebacker for Chicago Bears. Quinn is in his second season with the Bears at the age of 31, according to Chicago Sun-Times.

After successful stints with the Rams, Dolphins and Cowboys, he inked a five-year, $70M contract with the Bears. After a sluggish start last season, Bears coach Matt Nagy indicated this week that he was happy with Quinn's work thus far in training camp. His sister's win garnered some love on social media from the NFL's Chicago Bears. "LET'S GO, @JCamachoQuinn!" the Chicago bears official Twitter handle posted on Sunday. 

The great athletic genes definitely paid off as Camacho-Quinn burned the field in the women's 100-meter hurdles finals on Sunday night, breaking an Olympic record in the semi-finals and finishing first with a timing of 12.37 seconds. Camacho-Quinn's victory in Tokyo's Olympic Stadium also gives Puerto Rico its second-ever Olympic gold medal and her record achievement came after the 24-year-old wowed onlookers by finishing the event in 12.26 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in history.