Perez Hernandez leaps world lead to win triple jump title in Nanjing

Cuba's Leyanis Perez Hernandez won the triple jump with her single valid leap of the competition, soaring a world lead of 14.93m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 on Saturday (22).

After world bronze outdoors and world indoor silver, she now has a first global gold to add to her collection after competing in five global finals.

She led a Cuba 1-2, as Liadagmis Povea was second with 14.57m while Spain's Ana Peleteiro-Compaore clinched bronze with 14.29m.

Having finished fifth despite entering the Paris Olympics undefeated, 23-year-old Perez Hernandez sought to turn her fortunes around at the WIC Nanjing 25. She arrived as the competition favourite, backed by her world-leading mark of 14.62m set in Lievin.

Facing a formidable lineup that featured Olympic and defending world indoor champion Thea LaFond of Dominica, making her 2025 debut, her fellow Cuban Povea, and newly-crowned European indoor champion Peleteiro-Compaore, Perez Hernandez knew she had to raise her game.

Povea, who finished fourth at the Paris Olympics, set the tone with a solid 14.56m on her first attempt, while Peleteiro-Compaore recorded 14.24m. In response, Perez Hernandez delivered an exceptional opening jump of 14.93m – a world lead – that immediately placed her at the top of the standings.

Povea improved by just one centimetre in the second round, matching her season’s best of 14.47m set at the Elite Indoor Track Miramas Meeting. Peleteiro-Compaore added 5cm with her own second attempt, while LaFond struggled, managing only 11.84m after an opening jump of 13.85m.

Perez Hernandez recorded a no-jump on her second attempt and skipped her third, hoping her lead was secure. She fouled again on her fourth attempt and passed on both her fifth and sixth. With her victory, she becomes only the second Cuban woman to win the World Indoor Championships triple jump title, following Yargelis Savigne’s triumph in 2008.

“I didn't really expect this result, and to be able to win with a single jump of 14.93m,” she said. “My goal was to improve my mark from last year's World Indoor Championships, so I am really pleased with my performance today. The more rivals out there, the better for achieving better results. In fact, some of my best performances happened when Yulimar (Rojas) was also competing. But soon she'll be back (after injury) and will bring that emotion that she always brings with her. 

“I believe that jumping 15 metres is coming soon, and maybe this summer, but for now I'm very pleased with my result. In Cuba, when you look at the pool of triple jumpers and their legacy, you know you have to work hard to hit that standard.”

For Peleteiro-Compaore, bronze marked her fourth global medal, adding to her bronze finishes at the 2018 and 2024 World Indoors and the Tokyo Olympics.

LaFond improved to a season’s best of 14.18m in the final round which elevated her to fourth place, just above Sweden’s Maja Askag (14.01m).

Yemi Galadima for World Athletics