Staff report
The daughter of a retired Air Force chief master sergeant won the bronze medal Wednesday in the long jump at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Janay DeLoach jumped 6.89 meters at Olympic Stadium to place third behind Russia’s Elena Sokolova and U.S. teammate Brittney Reese.
MORE ON THE OLYMPICS: After Action blog
DeLoach is the daughter of retired Chief Master Sgt. William DeLoach, whose last assignment was as Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., where he now works as a contractor with the 416th Flight Test Squadron, according to a news release.
“My dad’s here with me, cheering me on,” DeLoach said in the release. “He’s been there the whole way through. … He’s always supported me in all my endeavors.”
Janay DeLoach’s career began at 13 while her father was stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
“I didn’t get too many meets in, but you know, it set the stage for where I am now,” said DeLoach in the release, about her time in Alaska.
DeLoach is the second Air Force daughter to medal in the Olympic games, with gymnast Gabby Douglas, daughter of Virginia Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Timothy Douglas, winning two gold medals in London.
