Leyanis Pérez and Liadagmis Povea win gold and silver in triple jump at Indoor World Athletics Championship

March 24, 2025

Cuban athletes Leyanis Pérez and Liadagmis Povea won gold and silver, respectively, in the triple jump discipline, placing their country among the most prominent protagonists on Saturday during the second day of the World Indoor Athletics Championship in Nanjing, China.

On this occasion, Leyanis fulfilled her responsibilities: she gave her all to her first jump and the flight to 14.93 meters left all other competitors behind, including current Olympic champion Thea Lafond of Dominica.

Despite falling just five centimeters short of her personal best, the athlete from Vueltabajo established herself as the season's best in her discipline and, in the process, shed the disappointment that had bothered her since her modest performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Unlike that night in French territory, the student of Ricardo Ponce gained the confidence she needed with her first leap and moved toward greater heights. Perhaps for that reason she was unsuccessful in rounds two and four—with a pause between them—and convinced that none of her rivals could overshadow her, she withdrew on her final two attempts.

Therefore, she improved upon the silver medal she received a year ago in Glasgow, when she had to compete with Lafond. On the other hand, she brought Cuba back to the top of this discipline, 17 years after Yargeris Savigne claimed it in Valencia.

For added satisfaction, Saturday's applause also reached Povea, who had only achieved one world podium during her youth. By now marking 14.57 meters, she surpassed the record she had set in the current season and confirms that, among her most outstanding characteristics, her competitiveness in the most rigorous competitions stands out.

Povea, who finished fourth in Paris 2024, registered five valid jumps in her sequence, including one of 14.56 meters that would have also guaranteed her second place.

This time, Spanish athlete Ana Peleteiro-Campaoré completed the podium by marking 14.29 meters, which allowed her to stay safe from Lafond's pressure (14.18), who had to settle for fourth place.