Yulimar Rojas Aims for Gold in Tokyo After Meteoric Rise
Yulimar Rojas is on the cusp of greatness in the women’s triple jump. The 25-year-old Venezuelan sensation has dominated the event over the past half-decade, winning world titles in 2017, 2019 and the indoor crown in 2018. Now, with the Tokyo Olympics approaching, Rojas is the clear favorite to upgrade her silver medal from Rio 2016 to gold.
Rojas’ rise to the top has been nothing short of remarkable. Aged just 20 at the time, she claimed silver in Rio behind Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen. That result marked the beginning of a new era in women’s triple jumping, as Rojas has since surpassed her rival.
In the current Olympic cycle, Rojas has been the lone woman to consistently clear the 15-meter barrier, achieving the feat 17 times. Last year, she broke the world indoor record with a monstrous 15.43m leap, and this May she matched that outdoor personal best, coming within 7cm of the longstanding 15.50m world record.
Barring any unexpected setbacks, it seems only a matter of time before Rojas adds the outdoor world record to her growing list of accolades.
Her chief challengers include Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts, who jumped farther than Rojas in 2019, and Rojas’ compatriot at Cuba’s Liadagmis Povea. However, Rojas has proven herself an exceptional championship performer. She will be difficult to beat in Tokyo as she aims to fulfill her destiny and claim Venezuela’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in athletics.
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