London Diaries, Olympics, Day 3: Olga Rypakova wins Triple Jump

by Larry Eder
The Triple Jump is the most technical of all the jumps. It requires coordination, speed, and grace. It would also be nice if the US could put some focus on this event. Coaches in high schools, get your prospects from good spiker in volleyball, good basketball jumper, and former gymnasts, and even ballet dancers who want to do a sport. Come on!

I was happy to see Olga Rypakova win the gold medal tonight with a nice jump of 14.98. It was sad, for me to see Tatyana Lebedeva, of Russia, the best combo LJ/TJ er in the world, finish in tenth place. She was a master and at thirty-six, she still is a classy athlete.

Olga Rypakova is the gold medalist int the triple jump. She gave no one any room to challenge her tonight. Her series, 14.54m, fould, 14.98m, foul, 14.89m, and then 14.40m, gave her two jumps that would have taken gold.

Caterine Ibuargen of Columbia, the World Indoor Champ, was out of the medals until her final throw, where she let it rip, jumping 14.80m and going from sixth to second. Her series, 14.45m, 13.99m, 14.57m, 14.37m, 14.35m, 14.80m.

And Olha Saluduha of the Ukraine pushed herself into the bronze on jump six, with her best of 14.79m. Her series, 13.92m, 14.48m, foul, 14.53m, 14.51m, 14.79m.

Ukranian Hanna Knyazeva was fourth, with her jump of 14.56m.

Yamile Aldama of Great Britain was fifth, with her final jump of 14.48m.

Women's Triple jump, 1. Olga Rypakova, KAZ, 14.98m, 2. Caterine Ibarguen, COL, 14.80m, 3. Olha Saladhuha, 14.79m, UKR, 4. Hanna Knyazeva, UKR, 14.56m, 5. Yamile Adams, GBR, 14.48m, 6.Kimberly Williams, JAM, 14.48m, 7. Trecia Smith, JAM, 14.35m, 8. Victoria Valyukevich, RUS, 14.24m, 9. Yargeris Savigne, CUB, 14.12m, #london2012, #olympics, #triplejump