The Cuban Iván Pedroso behind Rojas's world record

February 27, 2020

The triple jumper of Venezuelan origin, Yulimar Rojas, two-time World champion in her specialty and Olympic silver medalist, recently managed to break the world record in the triple jump, in what has already become her favorite place for these surprises, Madrid. Rojas made the best jump of her history, 15.43 meters indoors in her last attempt. She left behind the 15.36 of Russian Tatyana Lebedeva, who achieved it on March 6, 2004 in Budapest, Hungary.

But behind all the successes of the Venezuelan is the wisdom of the long jumper and Olympic champion from Cuba, Iván Pedroso, who has resided for a long time in Spain, exactly in Guadalajara, the city where the Venezuelan Rojas' training base is located.

Pedroso has insisted on improving the technique of his student, and the goal will be to be crowned at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (that is if Coronavirus does not continue spreading globally and does not affect the games). She herself, Yulimar, has said that she has set out to "be more fierce, give it more courage" to this Olympic year.

Pedroso has been training for years in Guadalajara a group of elite athletes that also includes Portuguese Nelson Évora, Olympic champion in triple jump at Beijing 2008. This year, for the Madrid meet, Pedroso also trained Cuban Liadagmis Povea, and she finally finished second in the competition with 14.52. Third place went to Portuguese Patricia Mamona, with 14.28.

Rojas, in addition to this recent world record, is the author of the second best mark in history (15.41, on September 6, 2019 in Andújar). Rojas had debuted this year indoors with her best record: 15.03 in Metz, France, but now in her last attempt she achieved it all. She herself could not believe it.

"I really cannot believe it, I am in a state of 'shock'. I do not think I have broken a world record. The emotion is so indescribable. When I get home, I am going to cry because this is what any athlete desires and today we have achieved it," she finally told the press.