Cuba's Leyanis Perez Hernandez produced the performance of her life on Thursday night, leaping 14.94 meters to secure the women's triple jump crown at the World Athletics Championships and dethrone four-time world champion Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela.

Leyanis Perez Hernandez of Cuba kisses her medal after the women's triple jump final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)

Hernandez, 22, made her world-leading leap on her third attempt. The silver medal went to Thea Lafond of Dominica, who jumped 14.89m.

Despite a late surge, Rojas, who won Olympic gold at the same Tokyo stadium four years ago, could only manage 14.76m for the bronze.