Olivia Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, has congratulated Alana Walker for making history as the first Jamaican to win a medal for Gymnastics at an international competition.

Alana placed third in the Junior Pan American Championships which ended in Mexico last weekend.

“A fantastic feat by Alana, breaking new ground for Jamaica. I am so proud of her bronze medal performance at the Junior Pan American Championships,”Grange said.

READ: Jamaican gymnast Danusia Francis praises Alana Walker’s historic Pan Am success

The 14-year-old Alana, born to Jamaican parents in the United States, decided that she wanted to represent the country of her parents’ birth despite winning the US Nationals at Level 10 and being added to the USA development squad in May 2021. Her mother is from Kingston and her father from St Mary.

By winning the bronze medal, Alana automatically qualifies for the Junior Pan Am Championships in Colombia later this year.

“I wish Alana all the best as she pursues further accomplishments in gymnastics, and at the same time I wish to commend the Jamaica Gymnastics Association for its continued efforts to develop the sport in Jamaica,” Grange said.