Yulimar Rojas is still in the clouds. “It is almost better than in Tokyo”, they said from their surroundings. And at the La Pontaise stadium in Lausanne, on a cold afternoon (18 degrees), not very conducive to jumping, he flew again. The Venezuelan won the triple jump contest, but that is nothing new. His world record is 15.67, made in the Olympic final.. And the previous one was 15.50, from Inessa Kravets in 1995. Yulimar jumped in this Diamond League beyond that distance, signed 15.52 (with legal wind +0.6) and 15.56 illegal (+3.5). It already has the two best brands in history.
At 25, Yulimar has decided to make a great sacrifice. Instead of going to Venezuela to celebrate the Olympic gold medal with his family and his people from Barcelona, he has stayed in Guadalajara. In the heat of the Alcarria in August, at the Fuente de la Niña stadium, he has continued to grind. Under the volume of his thunderous JBL speaker and bachata and cumbia, countless multi-jumps, weights, speed have fallen… Iván Pedroso, his coach, does not give up. If they want to continue the season, they go for it all. And so it was demonstrated. Yulimar remains fast, flexible, unattainable for her rivals …
His series was brutal: 15.56 (+3.5), null, 15.42, 15.52, step and the final jump: 15.11. Because even if he broke the Diamond League triple record, Yulimar might not have won. Now the best three of the contest are played in one last jump, something that does not allow the athletes to risk as much as they would like. For this reason, Rojas ‘assured’ with 15.11. Because it is in another dimension for its rivals. Ricketts stayed at 14.52 and Minenko at 12.62 (he had jumped 14.47 to enter the final at 3). Another planet…
Because once he has achieved the Olympic gold and the world record, Yulimar Rojas assures that he is still “hungry.” Your new goal is set: “I want to be the first woman to jump more than 16 meters in triple jump. I have discussed it with Iván and we believe that it is something possible ”. Therefore, in 2021 she has become a super athlete. Finer in shape than ever, that takes care of food as much as possible, that rests … that makes sacrifices. Because sport comes first and Yulimar Rojas lives in the clouds.
Fraser-Pryce beat Elaine Thompson at 100
And the 18 degrees of Lausanne did not prevent the Jamaican 100-meter party either. It was Elaine Thompson, the triple Olympic champion in Tokyo, against Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 100 silver. There was a surprise on the La Pontaise straight. Fraser-Pryce won with a tremendous record: 10.60 (+1.7 wind) and a personal best at 35. At 11 hundredths of the world record of Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49). Last Saturday Thompson had dropped to 0.05 with his 10.54 at Eugene. An impregnable record that reels.
Pocket Rocket came out (Pocket Rocket nicknamed Shelly Ann) by 151 hundredths, almost the same as Thompson (154). But the Fraser-Pryce snatch, its first 40 meters, are tremendous. And this time they were too. 5.0, one tenth ahead of Fast Elaine (5.1). A lot of distance to later recover. Thompson came in at 10.64, four hundredths behind the winner. Country companion, and not too much of a friend.
“It was cold but I came here to do my job,” explained the 35-year-old veteran sprinter, Zyon’s mother. “Believe it or not I have not run my best race yet, I know there is more to give, because I still I have to work harder to perfect my technique ”. Ambitious Shelly-Ann: “There will be more of me this season, and certainly my goal is to run 10.5 already.” Like her rival Elaine Thompson.
Duplantis and Warholm failed
Many stars failed in Lausanne. The clearest was Duplantis, who stayed at 5.62 on the pole. A result very far from the world record (6.18) that always threatens when he jumps onto a track. Karsten Warholm, the world record holder for 400 meters hurdles who did 45.94 hurdles in Tokyo, an impressive record. But in Switzerland he was fourth in 400 slides and signed 45.51, just four tenths faster than hurdles. Something that reflects that his form or this Thursday was not so fine.
Marta Pérez was fourth in 1,500
Good performance had Marta Pérez, fourth in 1,500 with 4: 03.79. The soriana came out brave and was in the race at all times. The Ethiopian Gebreezibeher won, with 4: 02.24. It was not a race for Spain’s record, but the Soriana confirmed what was seen in Tokyo (she was ninth with 4.00.14): she has established herself with the international elite.
He was eighth Adrián Ben in 800, with 1: 46.74, in a race in which he came out brave, almost in the lead. It was a replica of the Olympic final in which Viveiro’s was (he was fifth), but this time he lacked his explosive final. He reached 600 in the group of favorites and, however, on the final straight he had less spark. Marco Arop, the Canadian, won with 1: 44.50. Ahead of Olympic champion Korir. Every 800 run is a world. And Ben will have another chance in Paris, this Saturday. Another Spanish raced in Lausanne, Aauri Bokesa with 23.64 (+2.5 illegal wind) in 200 and seventh.