Jorge Odelin Rodríguez, the Cuban long jumper who is just 19 years old, finished fourth this Thursday at the Weltklasse Zürich with a mark of 8.32 meters, in one of the most challenging stops of the world's premier athletics circuit.
According to the specialized page DeporCuba on the social network Facebook, the athlete from Sancti Spíritus finished just one centimeter away from the podium in a highly competitive event. The victory went to the Greek Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou, who won with a jump of 8.45 meters, while Jamaicans Tajay Gayle (8.43) and Wayne Pinnock (8.33) completed the podium. The Cuban athlete Lescay also participated in the event; however, he does not represent the island's federation and finished in eighth place with a jump of 7.85 meters.
The result in Switzerland confirms Odelin's great moment, who arrived in Zurich ranked sixth in the World Athletics long jump world ranking. His performance throughout the season also earned him official qualification for the Diamond League final, scheduled for September 4 and 5 in Brussels, at the King Baudouin Stadium, the venue of the historic Memorial Van Damme.
The young athlete, born on May 16, 2007, is experiencing the best moment of his career. In June, he set the world record under-20 with 8.46 meters at the Envol Trophée Auvergne in France, and at the Diamond League in Monaco, he stepped onto the podium with a jump of 8.38 meters. His fourth place at the Indoor World Championships, with a jump of 8.26 meters, rounds off a season's achievements that place him among the best jumpers in the world.
Cuba will reach the final in Brussels with a strong representation. Among the athletes affiliated with the Cuban Athletics Federation will be Leyanis Pérez and Liadagmis Povea in women's triple jump, Roxana Gómez in the 400 meters, and Lázaro Martínez in men's triple jump, in addition to Odelin himself in long jump.
Cuban athletes will also compete in Brussels independently: Davisleydi Velazco in the triple jump, Reynier Mena in the 200 meters, and Kendry Menéndez in the 110-meter hurdles.
Leyanis Pérez reaches the final in a privileged position: she shares the overall lead in the circuit in triple jump with 28 points, tied with Senegalese athlete Sally Sarr, making the event in Brussels a highly charged showdown for Cuban athletics.
The final of the 2026 Diamond League in Brussels will feature 32 events over two days and will be the stage where Odelin will once again compete against Tentoglou and the rest of the world's elite in the long jump.
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