Yulimar Rojas celebrates with ‘Air Jordan’: From world record to world record in the making
When Jordan Diaz’s gold was confirmed, the Spanish athlete went to hug his coach, Ivan Pedrosothe same coach of the triple jump queen, Yulimar Rojasand from someone who changed Jordan’s own life: Ana Peleteiro.
Rojas, who was unable to defend her Olympic title in Paris 2024 due to injury, was in the stands and celebrated with the Spanish jumper, along with other teammates who were also cheering him on, such as Fatima Diame.
It was, in fact, an expected celebration.
‘Air Jordan’, as Díaz is nicknamed, had already amazed the world at a young age representing Cuba. But, before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the athlete made the decision to change his nationality to Spain.
According to the regulations, at least three years must pass before competing under a new flag since the last competition under the previous one.
Thus, Díaz not only missed what was to be her Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, but also four World Championships (two outdoors and two indoors) and three European Championships (one outdoors, one indoor and one team championship).
But when Jordan Díaz returned, he did so in style and threatened the world record: he was crowned European champion in 2024 with the third best jump in history: 18.18 metros.
Only two men have ever jumped higher than this in the triple jump: Jonathan Edwards (18.29 meters, world record set in 1995) and Christian Taylor (18.21).
Díaz did not manage to break the 18-metre barrier at Paris 2024, but her ambition and youth (she is only 23 years old) suggest she has a bright future ahead of her.
That the embrace between Rojas, holder of the world record in the women’s triple jump, and Jordan Díaz in Paris 2024 could later become between two world record holders.
