Olympic and world triple jump champion Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela) will miss the Paris 2024 Olympics due to injury. The world record holder from Venezuela said on social networks that she injured her Achilles tendon during training.
“I am very sad and disappointed to inform you that during training, when I landed, I felt pain. The examination showed a damaged Achilles tendon in my left leg. I am heartbroken both because of my personal disappointment that I will not defend my title, but also because the absence of the shouts of the audience that fuel me every time”, wrote Yulimar Rojas on her Instagram account. “The last hours were very complicated. I questioned myself and analyzed why this happened. However, I understand that, in God’s plans, we are only instruments of his will. Apparently today I have to stop, understand this, recover and come back with great strength to continue flying together”, added the Venezuelan athlete.
Yulimar Rojas won her fourth straight world title in Budapest last year and also has silver at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The Venezuelan athlete is one of the stars in jumping in the Diamond League – the most prestigious regular competition in athletics. The 28-year-old Yulimar Rojas is the champion from Tokyo in 2021 with a result of 15.67m, which is both a world and an Olympic record. She has four world titles (London 2017, Doha 2019, Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023). Three of her indoor world titles, as well as season final victories in the Diamond League.