Cuban Leyanis Pérez on the cover of World Athletic's official website

January 4, 2022

Leyanis Pérez, from Pinar del Río, is the most promising revelation of the year that is just ending and one of the greatest talents in contemporary Cuban athletics.

Her name started making rounds early in the season and as it progressed it kept strengthening until reaching a peak performance of 14.53 meters in June, during the pre-Olympic European tour.

She had previously jumped over 14 meters in seven local competitions at home, including a sub-20 national record of 14.48 meters that secured her a spot on the Cuban team for the Tokyo Olympic Games and the World Under 20 Championship in Kenya.

However, during her last training day in Spain before flying to Tokyo she suffered a muscle contraction in her right leg and could not recover in time to compete in either of the two world events. She missed the Olympic Games and also the World Championship for under 20s without that tarnishing a 2021 season in which she jumped over 14 meters in 10 of the 12 official competitions she faced and achieved several personal records, in addition to shattering the youth national record that was 14.36 meters, previously held (since 2009) by another great talent like Dailenis Alcántara.

"Being in Tokyo and not being able to compete was a huge blow and missing the World Sub-20 Championship was also difficult to accept. But my coach, mom, godfather and fellow athletes supported me during those difficult moments," she added in the note titled Emerging triple jump talent Pérez turns Tokyo disappointment into great motivation.

The I Pan American Junior Games in Cali offered her the chance to redeem herself. There she finally had the opportunity to showcase herself and made the most of it; leaving no room for doubt.

"It was a beautiful experience. I wanted to secure a mark from my first attempt and go for more in the following rounds. I am grateful to everyone who has supported me and it makes up for not competing in Tokyo," reflects the 19-year-old girl after winning the continental gold in Cali with a jump of 14.39 m. She exceeded 14 meters in all five of her jumps: 14.23, 14.39, 14.34 and 14.12, to confirm her quality.

See also: Leyanis Pérez steals the show
Now, as she rests from the emotions and assimilates the immediate challenges that include a couple of world championships in 2022: the indoor one that will take place in Belgrade and the outdoor one in Eugene, United States, she understands her goals and draws lessons from each of the events experienced.

"Watching the Olympic final live at the Tokyo Stadium was great motivation for me," she said. "I want to become an Olympic champion and I will go step by step to achieve my goals."

The girl is part of the present of Cuban triple jump in the women's sector. She shares leading roles with Liadagmis Povea and Davileydis Velazco, and is writing a trajectory that suggests a promising future. She has tremendous talent, and has already begun to show it.

"I consider myself a fast jumper and there is much I can improve. I need to strengthen my left leg and improve my run-up. I have full confidence in my coach and in my ability to keep improving, step by step," she concluded.

Her coach, Ricardo Ponce, bears witness to this: "She has the rare talent of being tall, fast and well-coordinated. She has great potential and we will guide her through her physical and mental growth," he said.

Leyanis has become a pleasant challenge; her talent has left no one indifferent. She is one of those athletes who calls for perfection; who invites us to put all our cards in favor of her development. After all, Yulimar Rojas at 19 years old barely reached 13.65m and Yargelis Savigne had not even attempted this specialty.