Athletics-Venezuela’s Rojas smashes women’s triple jump world record to take gold

TOKYO, Aug 1 (Reuters) – Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas soared out to fifteen.67 metres on Sunday to smash the world report together with her remaining try, as she grew to become the primary girl Olympic champion in her nation’s historical past.

A charismatic presence all through, Rojas started with a superb soar of 15.41m that took her 2cm past the Olympic report set by Cameroon’s Francoise Mbango in 2008 in Beijing.

However the world finest mark of 15.50m, set by Ukraine’s Inessa Kravets in 1995, was the principle goal in her sights.

“I used to be searching for it, I knew we had that distance in my legs to get it at the moment. I used to be failing a bit within the technical facet however the final soar was one to offer every thing, and it was like that,” she stated.

Rojas, who gained silver 5 years in the past in Rio, held the smattering of individuals within the stands, a part of Olympic delegations who possible got here to see the 100m remaining later within the night, enthralled.

The 25-year outdated raised her palms and clapped, inspiring a call-and-response with the viewers, and roared and muttered to herself earlier than her jumps.

“I centered on giving my finest… It makes me glad. I’ve to get pleasure from it now, and reside the expertise,” she stated.

Rojas has been the dominant pressure within the sport because the final Olympics, profitable the world title a yr later and repeating the feat in Doha in 2019.

Now she has added an Olympic title. “I am unable to describe this sense and this second…Wow. It’s a unbelievable night time,” she stated.

Patricia Mamona of Portugal gained silver with 15.01m, a nationwide report. The bronze went to Spain’s Ana Peleteiro with 14.87, additionally a nationwide report.

Mamona, who caught COVID-19 in January and needed to take just a few weeks out from coaching, stated profitable an Olympic medal had made 20 years of laborious coaching all price it.

“I am within the clouds proper now. …I dreamed about it,” she stated. “I knew that I needed to work extremely laborious to realize one thing like this.”

Of Rojas’ report, she stated it spurred her on. “I took a few of her power myself,” Mamona stated.

Peleteiro stated her medal had given her peace of thoughts.

“I labored laborious to realize this, as a result of irrespective of how blessed you’re, you aren’t getting something if you don’t work,” the 25-year outdated stated.

There was no repeat for defending champion, Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen. She completed in tenth, however stated was particular being a part of Tokyo 2020.

“I’m blessed to have one other alternative to symbolize my nation. I go away with the most important delight,” the 37-year outdated stated.

Reporting by Omar Mohammed; Enhancing by Hugh Lawson, John Stonestreet and Clare Fallon

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.