As all fans know, and as its name indicates, the triple jump consists of measuring the distance reached in three successive jumps: the first is performed with the same leg (hop), in the second the supporting leg is changed (step), and the third (jump) is a long jump with a landing in a sand pit. The rules require it to be performed in this way, although other combinations were initially permitted.
Bounce and forward movement are the two keys to good triple jump performance. I prefer to use the term ‘bounce’ rather than ‘jump’, as it better reflects the behaviour that an athlete in this discipline should have, similar to that of a golf ball when it bounces on the ground: little deformation on contact and an intense response in the upward phase. A triple jumper can support more than 15 times his body weight on the landing of the first parabola. If the athlete is not sufficiently compact and aligned when touching the ground, he will sink and not be able to finish the attempt.
Bouncing is essential for a triple jumper. All good specialists do it, but this is not enough to achieve a good mark. To those three sustained notes, characteristic of a good attempt, you have to add forward movement, trying not to lose speed, and reach the third jump with enough force to make it as long as possible. In this aspect, determination in the last steps before reaching the board is also crucial; you have to go for it without hesitation. The fear of the zero and the hard impacts afterwards play against you. The slightest hesitation at that moment will be reflected in the distance of the third jump.
The triple jump must be approached with a global vision of its execution. Triple jumpers design their strategy based on their physical conditions. Some, the fastest, tend to perform tense parabolas, giving priority to speed, resembling stones when they bounce on water. Others, not as fast but more powerful and with great jumping ability, opt for higher parabolas, sacrificing speed. These can reach great distances in the landing of the second jump, but usually suffer in the last.
The final in Paris promises to be exciting, with four clear candidates for the three podium places.
My favourite is the Spaniard Jordan Diaz, who holds the world record of the year and the third of all time (18.18m). His triple jump is imperial, aesthetically impeccable, with a very marked rhythm and a feeling of weightlessness; it gives the impression of jumping on the moon. His technique is very Cuban, in line with his place of origin and that of his coach, the great Ivan Pedroso, although without losing too much speed during the jump. In other words, he has everything from a technical point of view, and he has also shown himself to be an excellent competitor who handles pressure perfectly, as he did when winning the European Championships in Rome. The world record (18.29m by Jonathan Edwards) is within his reach in the medium term if he optimises his entry speed.
His biggest rival could be the Portuguese Pedro Pichardo (18.08, his best time), world champion in Oregon 2022. He also has a very Caribbean jumping style (he is of Cuban origin) that is characterized by large parabolas. In my opinion, he does not attack the board with the same aggressiveness as Jordan, but he will still be a formidable opponent. Another medal candidate is the representative of Burkina Faso, Hughes Zango (18.07m). In athletics, talents can emerge anywhere in the world. This 31-year-old Burkinabe, a graduate in electronic engineering and resident in Paris, executes a lower triple jump than the previous two. He is the current world champion and Olympic medalist (bronze in Tokyo). Although his credentials are excellent, I think he is one point below the previous two.
Finally, the 19-year-old Jamaican Jaydon Hibbert, one of the greatest athletics talents of recent years and world U20 record holder with a time of 17.87m, could be a major threat. His execution is electric. With a very short sprint, he has an impressive ability to accelerate and move forward during the jump. He could be very dangerous if he competes with the irreverence typical of his youth, or he could be fragile if he does it as a rookie in the world’s biggest sporting event. We will see him on Friday from 20.13.
This is what there is, although other great specialists may shine in the final: Andy Díaz, Lázaro Martínez, Zu, Mane…
I invite you to clap from your armchairs at home to accompany Jordan in the exciting final that awaits us.
Ramon Cid He has been the Spanish triple jump record holder and is the coach of María Vicente
You can follow EL PAÍS Sports on Facebook and Xor sign up here to receive the Daily newsletter of the Paris Olympic Games.
