The Olympics may be over, but one Lakeland family is still celebrating

LAKELAND, Fla. — When Lakeland native Monae’ Nichols competed in the long jump finals, her friends and family gathered around the TV at her grandparents house.

She may have been more than 4,500 miles away in Paris, but her hometown support system made it feel like they were right there with her.

Her Auburndale High School coach was there. She’s got lots of memories stored on her phone, from the very beginning of Monae’s track career.

“Monae’, she still has the long jump record, the long and the triple jump record at Auburndale High School,” Sheryl Covington-Thomas said. “So you know, just from the very beginning, I just knew she was destined for greatness.”

That greatness landed her in Paris in her first Olympics. Her Nana, Audrey Nichols, watched the qualifying competition on her phone and when Monae’ clinched a spot on the U.S. Olympic team on her final jump, Nana couldn’t contain her excitement.

“I was like, ‘Yes, yes, yes, she made it, she made it,’” Audrey Nichols said.

That’s what the Olympics does. It brings out all the feels, especially when it’s a loved one going for the gold. These family members have been watching Monae’s journey from the very beginning.

“We have watched Monae grow, and she has come a long way,” her grandfather, Byron Nichols, said. “From running in school to No. 6 or 7 in the Olympics, that is a great achievement.”

Monae finished sixth, missing out on a medal at her first Olympics. But that didn’t damper the party. The Nichols celebration had it all. Food, faith and family. Most of all, family.

This is a tight-knit group that sweated out each approach and cheered every jump. And a family that still sees Monae’ as their golden girl.

“It’s just a wonderful, wonderful experience,” Byron said. “It’s a little nerve-wracking because of course all the Olympians family want their family to come in first. But we are so grateful and it’s so wonderful to see the winners and those who will try again. That gives us hope.”