Davisleydi Velazco Flies Past 15 Metres to Set World Lead at Doha Diamond League

June 20, 2026

Cuban triple jumper Davisleydi Velazco produced one of the season's most spectacular performances, clearing the 15-metre barrier for the first time in her career to claim victory at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Doha, Qatar on June 19, 2026.

Velazco, who currently resides in Puerto Rico and competes without representing any national federation, reached 15.13 metres on her fifth attempt — a massive personal best that shattered her previous mark of 14.85m set in Oslo — and the best women's triple jump performance in the world this year.

The jump was the first legal 15-metre clearance since Thea Lafond of Dominica reached 15.02m to win at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The mark places Velazco at third all-time among Cuban-born athletes in the event, behind Yamilé Aldama (15.29m) and Yargelis Savigne (15.28m).

World champion Leyanis Pérez Hernández, also Cuban, finished second with 14.97 metres — her best of the season, just one centimetre off her personal best — while Senegal's Shaly Sarr took bronze at 14.86m. Fellow Cuban Liadagmis Povea placed fourth with 14.58m.

In the men's event, Cuban-born Pedro Pablo Pichardo — representing Portugal — won the men's triple jump with 17.71 metres, edging Jamaica's Jordan Scott (17.69m) and Algeria's Yasser Mohamed Triki (17.67m). Cuba's Lázaro Martínez withdrew from the competition injured after just one jump of 15.42m, raising concerns about a left ankle problem.

Velazco leads the women's triple jump Diamond League standings with 16 points after also winning the Oslo stop on June 11. Pérez Hernández and Sarr are tied second with 13 points each.