Yulimar Rojas takes gold and smashes world record in Tokyo
She came to Tokyo already established as one of the star's of women's track and field but Yulimar Rojas' performance in the Olympic triple jump final where she took gold with a record breaking leap of 15.67m only serves to confirm here status.
The Venezuela and Barça athlete set her stall out early with a first round jump of 15.41m to virtually put an end to the competition. However, she saved her best until last and in the sixth and final round she pulled out a jump of 15.67m to add 17 centimetres to the women's triple jump world record previously set by Ukrainian Inessa Kravets back in 1995.
¡Esto se llama felicidad!
— Yulimar Rojas (@TeamRojas45) August 1, 2021
🥇 Campeona Olímpica @tokyo2020
📝WR 1️⃣5️⃣. 6️⃣7️⃣
📝 OR #JuegosOlimpicos 🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/Qe3OImBXXk
Second place went to Portuguese athlete Patricia Mamona with Spain's Ana Peleteiro taking bronze.
A career linked to Barça
At 25 years of age, Yulimar Rojas has been linked to FC Barcelona for various seasons, joining the Club after claiming a silver medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The Venezuelan latest achievement can be added to her two outdoor and two indoor world titles.