Yarisley Silva jumps 4.60 meters, her best mark of the year

June 15, 2021

Cuban pole vaulter Yarisley Silva flew to 4.60 m in her last test on Cuban soil before traveling to Europe to refine her competitive preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

World champion in the outdoor competition in Beijing-2015 and Olympic silver medalist in London-2012, Silva showed great motivation last Saturday morning at the Panamerican Stadium in eastern Havana, when she attempted 4.71, after achieving her year's best (4.60) in her second attempt.

"I'm happy. After more than a year without competing I've started again with 4.50 after several competitions without finding my best form," Yarisley, 34, told Radio Habana Cuba, who will be in Tokyo for her fourth Olympic Games.

She admitted feeling "a little tense," but assured that she enjoys competing and "now I feel more confident." "I'm going all out for Tokyo. The level has risen, but that excites me more," added the star figure of Cuban athletics, also world indoor champion in Sopot-2014.

Until this Saturday, her best result in Cuba had been the 4.50 she achieved on May 29 in the same facilities in eastern Havana.

Yarisley, also bronze medalist at the World Championships in Moscow-2013 and London-2017, traveled Saturday night to Europe with her coach Alexandre Navas and another group of island athletes qualified for Tokyo, who will celebrate several preparatory competitions as preparation.

"Preparation is going well. We are in the eighth week of preparation, because as you all know we were stopped for a month because Yarisley suffered from Covid. And today (Saturday) we're heading to Europe to compete in 3 or 4 competitions," added her coach Alexandre Navas.

"She is an experienced athlete and adapts quickly to her level," argued the coach and considered that Tokyo will be an even fight, where she should win with around 4.90 m.

"These will be her last Olympic Games and we are doing everything possible for her to be on the podium," he concluded.

With her jump on Saturday she ranked 17th on the world list, which is led with 4.93 m by American Katie Nageotte, her runner-up on the podium at the Lima-2019 Pan American Games, where the Cuban achieved her third consecutive continental gold.