How proud Cuba is, what a beautiful dawn Leyanis Pérez, the girl from Pinar del Río, gave us. She is the world champion in the triple jump, with a leap of 14.94 meters in Tokyo.
The milestones of her victory are that, since 2019, the largest of the Antilles had not had a universal crown in athletics, after Yaimé Pérez's triumph in the discus throw in Doha; that it is Cuba's first gold medal in a World Championship in 2025, in any sport; that her victory is the 65th podium in world championships...
Her feat was written over the last two Olympic champions: Thea Lafond of Dominica (14.78) in Paris 2024 and the ever-great Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela (14.76) in Tokyo 2020.
As if that weren't enough, she kept the Central American and Caribbean reign alive by continuing the empowerment that began with Colombia's Caterine Ibargüen at the 2013 and 2015 summits, and which Yulimar continued in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023.
Latin America and the Caribbean are proud of that podium, and also because the top five live on the Caribbean coast, the home of the little ones, which shelters the noblest hearts. The combative Cuban Liadagmis Povea (14.72) was fourth, and Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts (14.66) fifth.
As history rewards those who rise to the challenge, regardless of difficulties or adversities, Leyanis Pérez, a beautiful 23-year-old black woman from western Cuba, with a contagious smile and emotions close to the surface, became world champion on the same day that, 45 years ago, another black man, but from the eastern end of the island, became the first Latin American cosmonaut. Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez, from Guantanamo, reached the cosmos on September 18, 1980.
"I came to win, to get this gold medal. I knew I could do it. I've had a great year. Yulimar? She's great. I'm very happy that she competed. She motivates us all and continues to be a role model. She came back with a bronze medal, which says a lot about her."
These words demonstrate the ethics, sportsmanship, and greatness of this young woman who has made us jump for joy three times with pride in our country.Leyanis Pérez. Photo: Ricardo López Hevia
