Way back in 1996, Kenny Moore, one of the finest writers to even write about our sport, wrote about the triple jump. His article was on Jonathan Edwards, the World Record holder in the Triple Jump. In August 1995, Jonathan Edwards, a mild mannered British long jumper, destroyed the TJ world record, not once, but twice, in front of 45,000 fans in Goteborg, Sweden!
Caterine Ibarguen, photo by PhotoRun.net
The triple jump for women had been, the real estate of woman from the former Soviet bloc. Then came Caterine Ibarguen, a fast, technically profiscient Columbian who brought emotion and attention to the triple jump. Ibarguen won medals in every global and regional TJ championship from 2012 to 2016 (all gold but 2012, silver in London). In 2017, she touched Earth once again, as Yulimar Rojas, battling Ibarguen through each round.
Yulimar Rojas, photo by PhotoRun.net
Yulimar Rojas is from Venezuala, and is as talented as Ibarguen, who has competed since 1999 in the high jump, long jump, triple jump (oh, and heptathlon).
Rojas dropped the big one in the fifth round, with a 14.91 meters. It was as if two great dancers were challenging each other. In the sixth round, Ibarguen took the challenge and leaped 14.88 meters, just missing taking Rojas off the top.
Olga Rypkaova, photo by PhotoRun.net
In third, Olga Rypakova, who has medals from Beijing, London and Rio, reminded the world that she is still competing, with her 14.77 meter jump.
An interesting presser, with Spanish and Russian being spoken, as the three finest triple jumpers in the world spoke about their event.
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