Yarisley Silva will not be in the Diamond League final due to injury

August 29, 2018

Cuban pole vaulter Yarisley Silva, Olympic silver medalist from London 2012 and world champion in Beijing 2015, will not participate in the Diamond League stop in Zurich due to an injury. On Thursday, in the Swiss city, the first 16 champions in the same number of disciplines will be decided, while the remaining 16 will be crowned a day later in Brussels.

The Central American and Caribbean champion from Barranquilla 2018 injured her right leg during the Beckum meet in Germany, and will now be evaluated by a doctor to determine the severity of what happened.

Consideration will then be given to whether or not her participation is possible in the III Continental Athletics Cup in Ostrava on September 8 and 9, for which she has been called up as part of the Americas team along with discus thrower Yaimé Pérez and triple jumper Cristian Nápoles.

"I don't think it's serious, but we are waiting for the specialist's assessment, and from there it will be decided whether she goes or not," commented her coach, Alexandre Navas, who together with the athlete made the decision not to attend this Diamond League stop.

Silva would be the only representative from the Island at the first date of 16 finals at Letzigrung Stadium, which is hosting a decisive stage of the Diamond League for the ninth time.

The Cuban has accumulated 12 points in three appearances in the Diamond League and shares seventh place with British athlete Holly Bradshaw. At the tenth stop, held last July in Monaco, she finished second with a jump of 4.80 meters.

In the Swiss city, American Sandi Morris, the season's leader with 4.95 meters, and Greek Ekaterine Stefanidi (4.85), Olympic and world champion, will be present.

In addition to pole vault and triple jump, women will compete for final prizes in Zurich in high jump, javelin, 800 meters flat, 400 meters hurdles, 100 and 5,000 meters. Meanwhile, in the men's competition, titles will be contested in javelin, shot put, 400, 1,500 and 200 meters flat, long jump, 3,000 meters steeplechase and 400 meters hurdles.

Silva has had her best season in recent years in 2018. Weeks ago she won at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, with a jump of 4.80 meters.

At this Diamond League stop, discus throwers Yaimé Pérez and Denia Caballero will also compete for Cuba, who already have four silver medals, the former, and four bronze medals, the latter.

Pérez is ranked second in the overall standings with 28 points, behind two-time Olympic champion Croatian Sandra Perkovic (32), while Caballero appears with 24 points.