Last August 2 at the Jahn-Stadion Beckum Stadium, Germany, was a crucial day for Cuban pole vaulter Yarisley Silva. Just as thousands of times before, she grabbed her pole, charged in a sprint of 14 steps to the takeoff point and produced yet another elegant performance, launching herself one centimeter closer to the heavens, with a jump of exactly 4.91 meters.
This was no ordinary jump. For the athlete from Pinar del Río, born on June 1, 1987, this was the third time she exceeded the barrier of 4.90 meters, in addition to making her leader in the world rankings for the 2015 season. Thanks to her many achievements, Silva, measuring 1.61 meters and weighing 63 kilograms, was selected as the best individual athlete of Cuba in the last 12 months.
For many fellow pole vaulters, that height will remain a pipe dream. Only two other women have surpassed it: Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva (5.06m in Zurich on August 28, 2009), and Jennifer Suhr of the U.S. (4.92m in Eugene, July 6, 2008).
Very few know that as a child Yarisley was torn between ballet and sports, even auditioning, as she longed to become a ballet dancer. Ultimately, she gave up on this, as she was told her physique as she grew up would not favor her, and at the age of nine she decided on athletics, training under coach Isidoro at the Manuel Ascunce primary school in her home city of Pinar del Río.
Later, at the Sports Initiation School (EIDE) she was supported and encouraged by her aunt María de la Caridad. As almost always happens at the beginning, she practiced several events, until age 12, when she chose to dabble in the pole vault. Thus she came to join the national team in 2002, at the age of 15, achieving a jump of 3.60 meters.
AN UNDISPUTED ALLIANCE
Alexander Navas has been key to Yarisley’s success, discipline and perseverance. She spoke of her mentor, who now also coaches Lázaro Borges, Daegu 2011 silver medalist. “Navas is central to my performance and evolution. I have been with my teacher since I was 15, I love him like a father. He is very patient, methodical, it’s part of his personality. Also due to his qualities, we have achieved all the results that we showcase. He has a big heart, not just according to me, but others. His nature as an excellent person combines with his intelligence and detailed planning, and as you can see, here we are, and we continue full of ambition.”
AREVA MEET, A TURNING POINT
The Areva Meet, at the emblematic Saint-Denis stadium in Paris, marked the turning point for Yarita, as many affectionately call Yarisley. Just as in 2014, she had not started the season all that well, with a slight lack of self-confidence and preparation.
“Paris was an extremely interesting competition, the kind of hurdle that life puts before you so that you become stronger. I finished in second place with 4.73m behind Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou (4.83m) of Greece, but personally it was a psychological victory, crucial to shaking off my fears.
“My pole snapped. So I told myself: “Yarita you have to move on” ... It was a total test: with all my confidence I grabbed another pole and overcame the 4.73m mark. That second place strengthened me mentally, those beliefs that I could not take off, that my hands would slip, not wanting to run strong with a harder pole...they disappeared.”
TORONTO
“Additional pressure. To maintain the title, that unprecedented record of Guadalajara 2011, again the Brazilian Fabiana Murer and Suhr of the U.S. as significant rivals. Cuban athletics with weak performances. The night before I tried to sleep peacefully, the “Prof” talked to me, he told me I had everything to repeat the victory. Jump by jump, everything was flowing.
“A single mistake at 4.75m. Then, when I saw that I had exceeded 4.85m in the third run, I said to myself: 'Now this is yours Yarita'. Over 4.91m the adrenaline dropped, knowing you are the champion influences and technically I did not perform as well at that height in the York Stadium. It was a very tough competition, but very important for my career, as that gold medal was a boost.”
BECKUM POLE VAULT MEET
“Beckum is a competition that I really enjoy, just like the Drake Relays in Iowa, the United States, or the Pole Vault Stars meet in England. They are scenarios in which people support you a lot, they show signs of hospitality and friendship. It is a privilege to compete there. The result surprised me, I did not expect it that day, but that's sports. Technically, the pole with which I jumped 4.91 is the Pacer brand, it supports a weight of 170 pounds and measures 4.45 meters.
“That jump helped me to keep the idea of lifting myself above five meters alive in my mind, but it is not as easy as they say. Human beings are capable of doing anything, when they put their mind to it. For some time, this long-term goal has been behind every piece of advice from my coach Navas. In order to reach five meters I must extend my sprint to 16 steps and possibly raise my grip a few centimeters. Of course, these changes will materialize next year. “Isinbayeva is an excellent athlete and I really admire her dedication, finesse and friendliness, her results and records, for all that she has managed to show the world. If she ultimately returns to top competition in Rio de Janeiro 2016, it will be an honor to once again compete with her. I will always remember the lap of the track that the three of us, Isinbayeva, Suhr and I, shared at London 2012 as one of the most exciting moments of my sporting career.”
BEIJING…. THE CLIMAX
Many will recall Yarisley’s sequence, not apt for those with heart problems, at the stunning Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing, host to the World Athletics Championships in August 2015. Her persistence paid off this time, in the same venue where she failed to secure glory during the 2008 Olympics.
She began by soaring above the 4.70m mark; made a mistake at 4.80 and then set her eyes on the 4.90m, unachievable for any other pole vaulter in the 2015 campaign.
Gradually, she gauged the competition and watched as heavyweights fall: the German Martina Strutz (4.60), Jennifer Suhr (4.70) of the U.S., Sweden’s Angelica Bengtsson (4.70).
She was still full of life and provided us with another winning performance, surpassing the 4.90m mark, coupled with a cry of disbelief as she held her arms open to the sky. As occurred in the discus throw with Denia Caballero, this was the first time a Cuban pole vaulter took the world title. She even attempted a 5.01m jump, but ultimately the bar denied her of a dream that she will not cease to pursue.
Murer (4.85m), Kyriakopoulou (4.83m) and Suhr (4.82m), Yarisley’s closest rivals in the world rankings, will once again seek to measure up against Cuba’s champion in the Marvelous City, as the next Olympic host is known. Isinbayeva may join the competition, after a period of absence due to maternity. For now, however, all eyes are on Yarisley as the likely champion.
A win for the Cuban will have been well earned, based on her self-confidence, dedication, meticulous work and undisputed competitiveness. Aspects which together with her technical strengths and sporting expertise, have made her a first class athlete... one of the best in Cuba.
