Maelle David! Remember that name, folks! Haiti’s Olympics team got cited as one of the Olympics Opening Ceremony’s Top 3 Best Dressed by a Yahoo style writer. Maelle Figaro David is the fashion designer behind the team’s much-discussed style.

Here are some things you should know about her.

1. Maelle David was born in Port-au-Prince Haiti and currently operates out of Petionville.

Above: Team Haiti at Rio, sporting the get-ups created by Maelle Figaro David. Photo Credit: AFP

2. The designer is a graduate of Centre D’etudes Secondaires, a school based in Haiti.

3. She previously dressed former beauty queen Anedie Azael for the Miss Haiti Universe pageant. David designed a traditional costume for the one-time-Miss-turned-entrepreneur.

4. David initially launched her company Maelle David Creations in the late 1990s, and celebrated her 17th year in the fashion design business this past February.

5. She designed a line of clothes for curvy women that she exhibited at Runway Haiti, Haiti Fashion Week, and Islands of the World Fashion Week.

We’re sure that having a spotlight on her for such a global event will bring this designer even more business and notoriety.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE OF THIS DESIGNER’S WORK!

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT OTHER FIGURES EMERGING OUT OF HAITI!

University of Chicago swimmer Naomy Grand’Pierre represented Haiti at the Olympics this year. She didn’t win a first-place medal, but she represented Haiti with class, determination and dignity. For this, she can be declared a winner!

Photo Credit: Brian Cassella

What’s next for her? She’s a sophomore at the University, and she will continue taking classes towards the completion of her degree.

She was quite visible at the Olympics, and received lots and lots of press. I hope she gets approached with a sponsorship deal or two!

Prior to the Olympics, Naomy had revealed that her interest in swimming started after one of her cousins drowned. This –incident, needless to say, changed her life. In other interviews that she’s given following the Olympics, Naomy shows concern for young non-swimmers in Haiti, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she decided to create a non-profit to that effect. Perhaps, she’ll team up with the University of Chicago’s swimming team and create a swimming camp. She and her teammates can travel to Haiti during the summer and teach summer classes. Maybe they can get funding for this from a crowd-funding campaign (that folks like me can contribute to), or from an existing grant.

Naomy Grand Pierre’s story will inspire many people. She had less than two months to prepare for the Olympics, though some would say that the Canada-born, Atlanta-raised college student has had her whole life to prepare. Will she give the Olympics another try in another four years? In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, she indicated that she’s already training. I can’t wait to see what she does next!

KEEP UP WITH NAOMY ON TWITTER HERE!

Do you know the names and the categories for all the athletes representing Haiti at this year’s Olympics in Rio, Brazil? Here’s the rundown.

1. Naomy Grand’Pierre
Category: Swimming

She thought it imperative to learn how to swim when one of her cousins drowned. And now, she’s such a pro at swimming that she’s hoping to win the medal for Haiti on August 12 at Rio. Born in Montreal, Canada, Naomy was raised in the USA. She’s currently a student at the University of Chicago, and was initially approached to represent Haiti by the Haitian Swimming Federation.

Watch this video of Naomy prior to her being qualified to represent Haiti.

Inspiring. Ain’t she?

2. Aniya Louissaint.
Category: Martial Arts/Taekwando

Her name is pronounced Ah-nah-yah by the way…not Ah-nee-Yah! She’s only been at this taekwando stuff for four years in her hometown of Powder Springs, Georgia! She was so devoted to Taekwando that she enrolled in Georgia Cyber Academy to complete her classes. She trained at Style United in Connecticut for the Olympics. Oh, and Aniya is just eighteen!

You can watch her in action below! Don’t forget to visit her website by going here!

Photo Credit: James Koevin

3. Richardson Hitchins
Category: Boxing
Date Competing: Aug 10, Wed

Growing up in Brooklyn, Richardson was surrounded by violence and gangs. He actually witnessed a murder when he was just twelve. He decided to create an outlet to save kids like himself in Brooklyn, and created Cops and Kids Boxing Club, and now…the Olympics it is.

Photo Credit: Globo Esporte

4. Josue Deprez
Category: Boxing
Date Competing: Aug 8, Mon
Born in Haiti, Josue Deprez took up judo early on. He immigrated to the United States and graduated with a degree from the University of Florida.

Photo Credit: Dieu Nalo Chery/AP

5. Mike Dorsainvil
Category: Swimming
Date Competing: Aug 11, Thurs

Mike Dorsainvil, better known as Frantz Mike Itelord Dorsainvil started swimming about six years ago, and due to his diligence and hard work, he’s now Olympics material. He teaches swimming in Haiti.

6. Asnage Castelly
Category: Wrestling
Asnage Castelly is going down in history as the first known wrestler to represent Haiti at the Olympics. He was born in Haiti and came to Haiti when he was nine. He’s actually a wrestling coach at a community college in Massachussetts.

You can watch a newscast segment with Asnage Castelly below:

7. Darrell Wesh
Category: Track

He’s the little brother of Marlene Wesh, also an athlete. Darrell attended Virginia Tech and is a past Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Watch Darrel in action below!

8. Jeffrey Julmis
Category: Hurdle

Jeffrey Julmis actually represented Haiti at the 2012 Olympics. He’s a Kansas resident!

Watch a past interview with Jeffrey below!

9. Edouard Joseph
Category: Weight Lifting

Edouard Joseph was born in Haiti, and has been one of the least visible .

10. Mulern Jean
Category: Hurdles

Originally from South Florida, Mulern has already earned an undergraduate degree. She’s currently enrolled at Florida State, where’s she’s pursuing a Master’s Degree.

There you have it, Kreyolicious readers!