Yulimar Rojas breaks world record, wins women's triple jump gold in Tokyo

Gold medallist Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela jumped 15.67 metres, breaking the previous women's triple jump world record of 15.50 metres set by Ukraine’s Inessa Kravets in 1995.

Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela poses for a photo following her win in the Women's Triple Jump final at the Tokyo Olympics, where she broke the world record on her way to gold.

Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela jumped 15.67 metres on Sunday to smash the world record in the women's triple jump event with her final attempt, having already secured the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

The previous record of 15.50m was set by Ukraine's Inessa Kravets in 1995 in Sweden.

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"I was looking for it, I knew we had that distance in my legs to get it today. I was failing a bit in the technical aspect but the last jump was one to give everything, and it was like that," she said. "I focused on giving my best, enjoying, and it came out."

The win made Rojas Venezuela's first woman Olympic champion. Patricia Mamona of Portugal won silver with 15.01m, a national record. The bronze went to Spain's Ana Peleteiro, who also broke the national record with 14.87m.

Rojas broke the Olympic record of 15.39m with her first attempt in the final. The two-time world champion had won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.