Triple jump

Recap

ROJAS' AND DÍAZ' WINNING RHYTHM

Yulimar Rojas (VEN) warmed up for her final competition at Letzigrund Stadium with a little bit of salsa dancing. Rhythm comes naturally to her, as the triple jump world record holder demonstrated in her second attempt. She jumped 15.28m defeating all other finalists, including European champion Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (UKR/14.96m), who later also lined up in the long jump and became sixth in that competition.   

While Rojas had managed to hold her opponents at bay, world and European champion Pedro Pichardo (POR/17.67m) could not defend his title. Cuban Andy Díaz Hernández, who lives in Italy, beat him by seven centimetres. He won with 17.70m and dethroned Pichardo, who was born in Cuba himself. A third Cuban exile, Jordan Alejandro Díaz Fortun (17.60m) placed third.

Preview

YULIMAR ROJAS‘ SHOW

Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas (26) likes to fans to a great show. The sport’s preeminent athlete is an Olympic champion, a three-time world champion and the current world record holder. At the world championships in Eugene, she won by 58cm; in Tokyo, the margin had even been 66m. Rojas, who is coached by Cuba’s long jump legend Iván Pedroso, won a diamond in Zurich last year already – in the third-best jump of her career. And clearly, she is not done yet.

Cuban-born Pedro Pichardo enjoys a similar status in the men’s event: The Portuguese is an Olympic, world and European champion and the current world leader. He, too, is ready to grab another Diamond Trophy.

Stats

Olympic Champion: Yulimar ROJAS (VEN) 15.67

World Champion: Yulimar ROJAS (VEN) 15.47

European Champion: Maryna BEKH-ROMANCHUK (UKR) 15.02

World Lead: Yulimar ROJAS (VEN) 15.47

Olympic Champion: Pedro PICHARDO (POR) 17.98

World Champion: Pedro PICHARDO (POR) 17.95

European Champion: Pedro PICHARDO (POR) 17.50

World Lead: Pedro PICHARDO (POR) 17.95