In 2021, Jordan Díaz decided to erase the possibility of competing in the Tokyo Olympic Games and left the Cuban training camp during a training tour in Spain.
Many were surprised, because the decision was not easy, but definitely the young triple jumper had his plan laid out and it involved waiting and conserving his strength to shine in Paris 2024.
He waited patiently for the moment to legalize himself in the "Motherland" and chose his running mate: his fellow countryman and former long jumper Iván Pedroso, considered today the best triple jump coach in the world.
After the nationalization process concluded in 2022, everything has been on the rise, to the point that just a few weeks ago it demonstrated its enormous talent by achieving the third-best record in history: 18.18 meters, at the European Athletics Championship.
On June 11, the 23-year-old born in Havana also achieved the best result of the current season and was just 11 centimeters away from the world record held by the British Jonathan Edwards.
The historical ranking was as follows: Jonathan Edwards (18.29), the American Christian Taylor (18.21), and Díaz, who made his debut representing Spain and became the top favorite for the Paris Games.
With that and other credentials, he will set out to seek success, which he will not find easy, because two other compatriots have the quality to pose a challenge. Pedro Pablo Pichardo (Portugal), the reigning champion, and Andy Díaz (Italy), a two-time Diamond League winner, stand out as his main rivals.
All are part of the group of 21 Cuban athletes competing in these Olympic Games under other flags. Thirteen nations benefit from the talent of those born on the island, while two are part of the Refugee Team: canoeist Fernando Dayán Jorge and weightlifter Ramiro Mora.
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