TOKYO (KLFY) — Team USA took home the gold medal for women’s pole vaulting this morning, but unfortunately for Acadiana residents, former UL-Lafayette vaulter Morgann Leleux Romero wasn’t the one claiming the victory.
Romero, who admitted earlier this week she was competing with a partially-torn Achilles tendon, was unable to cross the 4.50-meter mark in three attempts this morning.
“I really felt fine during the beginning but the rain delay and coming back made it very painful,” stated Romero on Instagram earlier in the week. “But no way am I letting this stop my Olympic Dream. Thursdays weather looks promising. And we have a great treatment plan in place. I feel very confident and soo dang grateful.”
Romero’s teammate, Katie Nageotte, claimed the gold medal with a jump of 4.9 meters.
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 05: The nails of Morgann Leleux Romero of Team United States are pictured during the Women’s Pole Vault Final on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 05, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) 
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 05: Morgann Leleux Romero of Team USA competes in the Women’s Pole Vault Final on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 05, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) 
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 05: Morgann Leleux Romero of Team USA competes in the Women’s Pole Vault Final on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 05, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) 
USA’s Morgann Leleux Romero competes in the women’s pole vault final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 5, 2021. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) 
USA’s Morgann Leleux Romero competes in the women’s pole vault final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 5, 2021. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 05: Morgann Leleux Romero of Team United States looks on during the Women’s Pole Vault on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 05, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) 
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 05: Morgann Leleux Romero of Team United States competes in the Women’s Pole Vault on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 05, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)