Andy Díaz, a Cuban-born triple jumper who now competes for Italy, made history in Florence this Saturday by clinching the Italian National Championship with an outstanding leap of 17.87 meters. This remarkable jump not only set a new Italian national record but also marked Díaz's personal best and the top global performance of the year in the event.
Born on December 25, 1995, in Havana, Díaz showcased his dominance from the very first jump at the Campionati Italiani Assoluti. He achieved a stunning 17.87 meters on his initial attempt and followed it up with a 17.81-meter jump on his third try.
The podium was completed by Simone Biassuti, who recorded a jump of 17.32 meters, and Andrea Dallavalle, who managed 16.86 meters, both trailing Díaz by over half a meter.
The previous Italian triple jump record stood at 17.80 meters, set by Díaz himself on March 21, 2025, during the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. With Saturday's performance, he improved the record by seven centimeters.
Earlier in the year, Díaz also held the world's best mark with a jump of 17.72 meters in Barletta, Italy, on July 3, 2026. His latest achievement in Florence far surpassed that distance.
Pushing Boundaries in Triple Jump
Díaz is edging closer to the legendary 18-meter mark, a feat achieved by only a few elite athletes. The world record, held by Britain's Jonathan Edwards at 18.29 meters, remains a challenging target for triple jumpers.
Trained by renowned Italian triple jumper Fabrizio Donato, Díaz left Cuba in 2021 during preparations for the Tokyo Olympics and settled in Livorno. He obtained Italian citizenship in February 2023, thanks to his athletic achievements, and became eligible to represent Italy internationally from August 1, 2024, after completing World Athletics' waiting period.
Since then, Díaz has seen his career flourish. He earned an Olympic bronze in Paris 2024 with a jump of 17.64 meters in a historic final where all three medalists were of Cuban origin: Jordan Díaz (gold, Spain), Pedro Pablo Pichardo (silver, Portugal), and Andy Díaz (bronze, Italy).
Adding to his Olympic bronze, Díaz claimed the European indoor crown in Apeldoorn 2025 and two consecutive world indoor titles: Nanjing 2025 and Toruń 2026.
His performance in Florence cements Díaz's status as one of the most dominant triple jumpers worldwide and a key figure in the so-called Cuban school of triple jumping, whose top athletes now compete under European flags after leaving Cuba.
The specialized portal Swing Completo notes that "arriving in Italy opened new doors for the athlete, and he seized them without hesitation," attributing his success to his "explosiveness, speed, and technique," which position him as a leading contender to breach the 18-meter barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Andy Díaz's Record-Breaking Performance
What record did Andy Díaz set in Florence?
Andy Díaz set a new Italian national record with a triple jump of 17.87 meters, which also marked his personal best and the top global performance of the year in the event.
Who were the other medalists at the Italian National Championship?
The other medalists were Simone Biassuti, who jumped 17.32 meters to claim silver, and Andrea Dallavalle, who secured bronze with a jump of 16.86 meters.
What significant achievements has Andy Díaz accomplished since representing Italy?
Since representing Italy, Andy Díaz has won an Olympic bronze medal in Paris 2024, a European indoor title in Apeldoorn 2025, and two world indoor championships in Nanjing 2025 and Toruń 2026.