Tokyo 2020 - Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas smashes triple jump world record with stunning leap for Olympic gold

ByHarry Latham Coyle

Published 01/08/2021 at 12:58 GMT

Rojas had pushed close to the world record throughout the final and produced a staggering 15.67m to beat Inessa Kravets' record. The expressive Venezuelan screamed her delight as the distance was shown having already been confirmed as bettering her silver medal from Rio 2016. You want it? We have it. Stream every Olympic event live on discovery+

Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas shattered the long-held women's world record in the triple jump as she secured Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020.

Rojas produced a stunning leap of 15.67 metres with her final attempt in the final at the Olympic Stadium.

She had already been confirmed as bettering the silver medal she won five years ago in Rio de Janeiro, but screamed her delight as her distance was revealed.

Tokyo 2020

'My son can't take medal to school now' - Kilty after Team GB 4x100m team stripped of Olympic silver

18/02/2022 at 21:49

Rojas had pushed the record of Inessa Kravets throughout the competition.

Her opening jump was just nine centimetres shy of Kravets' 15.50m record, set at the World Championships in Gothenburg in 1995.

• Tokyo 2020 - Olympic Games Medal Table
• Tokyo 2020 - Watch and follow LIVE!

That would have been comfortably long enough to secure a gold she had long craved, but the Venezuelan saved her best for last to write her name into the record books.

Patricia Mamona of Portugal took silver with a 15.01 metre leap, while Ana Peleteiro jumped 14.87 metres to secure a bronze medal for Spain.

It appeared that Rojas might even be able to push further - her second phase, the step, appeared contracted after an enormous opening hop.

TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 01: Bronze medalist Ana Peleteiro of Team Spain, gold medalist Yulimar Rojas of Team Venezuela and silver medalist Patricia Mamona of Team Portugal celebrate on the track following the Women's Triple Jump Final on day nine of the Tok

Image credit: Getty Images

The two-time world champion nonetheless flew over the sand, crashing down to make history at Tokyo 2020.

Both Mamona and Peleteiro set national records, but proved unable to match the brilliant South American.

---

Watch every unmissable moment live from Tokyo 2020 across Eurosport, Eurosport app and discovery+. Download the Eurosport app for iOS and Android now.

Tokyo 2020

Team GB stripped of Tokyo 2020 4x100m relay silver medal after Ujah loses doping case

18/02/2022 at 15:55

Tokyo 2020

Athletics already has the new Bolt - it’s time to appreciate Thompson-Herah

24/12/2021 at 14:04

Tokyo 2020

Thompson-Herah and Warholm named World Athletes of the Year

02/12/2021 at 09:48