Cuban triple jumper Leyanis Pérez has taken a liking to being a world champion and this Saturday she enjoyed her third consecutive title, the second in an indoor world championship.
She did it at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena in Torun, Poland, and with the hallmarks of the greats: dominating from start to finish, to win with a jump of 14.95 meters, equaling the season’s best mark.
The competition was packed. Leyanis and her teammate Liadagmis Povea – last year’s runner-up – were there, as well as the 2024 Paris Olympic champion, Thea Lefond of the Dominican Republic, and the Venezuelan world record holder, Yulimar Rojas.
Amid such a field, the battle was fierce, though other athletes showing signs of progress, like Senegal’s Saly Sarr, who secured her first world podium finish, were also present.
The most important thing was the image Leyanis projected on the night she was defending her 2025 gold. She opened with 14.88 meters, which immediately put her in the lead. Then came the 14.95 meters that secured her the title, and she completed her sequence with 14.49 and 14.77 meters before finishing with a couple of misses.
These were surely caused by her attempt to reach a mark beyond 15 meters, because although she didn’t need it to retain her title, it would have been a spectacular finish.
The other two medals went to Yulimar, who took silver with 14.86 meters, once again demonstrating her mastery and courage in competition despite her experience; and to the aforementioned Sarr, who won bronze with 14.70 meters (a personal best).
Applause is also due to Povea for her fourth-place finish, another of the top competitors. Always ready to show her best performance at the key moment and this time was no different, because the 14.41 meters that took her to fourth place is her best mark of the year.
