Yulimar Rojas to Contest Triple Jump Final at World Championships in Japan

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Yulimar Rojas to Contest Triple Jump Final at World Championships in Japan

Sep 16, 2025

September 16, 2025

No doubt about it—the queen is back. Yulimar Rojas needed just one attempt on Tuesday to silence any questions about her physical condition, comfortably booking her place in the women’s triple jump final at the World Athletics Championships in Japan.

With a clean jump of 14.49 meters at Tokyo’s National Stadium, the Venezuelan easily surpassed the qualifying mark of 14.35m to advance to the medal round. She even broke into a celebratory dance, making it clear she’s more than ready to defend the crown she won in Budapest in 2023.

“I’m very happy, my heart is full of gratitude,” Rojas said from Japan after sealing her qualification for the final. “Everything happens in God’s time. We’ve taken this important step, and now we move forward.”

For Yulimar Rojas, 29, this was a significant milestone. The seven-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist tore her Achilles tendon three months before the Paris 2024 Games and had been absent from official competition for two years.

Thirty-five competitors took to the pit in the Japanese capital chasing a spot in the decisive round, and Rojas’ leap turned out to be the second-best mark of the qualifiers (and the top result in Group B). The final will take place on Thursday, September 18, at 7:55 a.m. Venezuela time.

Who Will Contest the Final?

In the battle for the title, the Venezuelan world-record holder’s strongest rival will be Cuba’s Leyanis Pérez, who posted the best jump of Tuesday with 14.66 meters. Paris Olympic champion Thea LaFond also advanced (14.40m), as did another Cuban, Liadagmis Povea, with 14.44m.

No other athlete hit the automatic qualifying mark, but the organizers had stipulated that the 12 best performers would advance. Joining the final are Olympic medalists from Paris 2024 Shanieka Ricketts (Jamaica, 14.30m in qualifying) and Jasmine Moore (United States, 14.22m).

Other finalists include Senegal’s Sally Sarr (14.21m), Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith (14.21m), Germany’s Caroline Joyeux (14.29m), Sweden’s Maja Åskag (14.15m), Slovenia’s Neja Filipic (14.05m), and Turkey’s Tugba Danismaz (14.00m).

Rojas says she’s not feeling pressure and is savoring her comeback: “To be in a stadium like this, in a final, is something wonderful,” she emphasized.