Yoelbi Quesada of Cuba dominated the triple jump competition from the start, opening up with a fine leap of 17.60. The Olympic bronze medallist improved to 17.85 in round two, and that was all he needed to win the gold.
Great Britain’s Jonathan Edwards, the world record holder, reached 17.33 on his first attempt, a mark that put him in second position at the end of that round. In round two, Cuba’s Aliecer Urrutia bounded to 17.64 to displace him. Two rounds later, Edwards produced a 17.66 to grab the silver back again. In the last two rounds, he jumped 17.57 and a best of 17.69, while the other medallists didn’t get marks.
Russia’s Denis Kapustin just missed out on the medals, hitting a best of 17.59 in round five. Christos Meletoglou of Greece captured a national record by leaping 17.12 to finish 7th.
The medals that Quesada and Aliecer won are the first ever for Cuba in this event.
