Originally hailing from Cuba, Andy Díaz Hernández, now representing Italy, claimed the gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. His remarkable leap of 18.15 meters has made him the fourth greatest triple jumper of all time.
Achieving this distance on his second attempt during Saturday's final, Díaz not only shattered Italy's national record but also delivered the leading performance worldwide for the 2026 season.
Historically, only three athletes have jumped further: Britain's Jonathan Edwards with 18.29 meters in 1995, America's Christian Taylor at 18.21 meters in 2015, and Cuban-Spanish Jordan Díaz's 18.18 meters in 2024.
The final turned into yet another showcase of Cuban talent competing under different flags. Portuguese athlete Pedro Pablo Pichardo, the Olympic champion from Tokyo 2021 and reigning world outdoor champion, settled for silver with a jump of 17.76 meters. Meanwhile, Italy's Andrea Dallavalle secured the bronze with a 17.37-meter effort.
For the 30-year-old Díaz, this outdoor European title marks his first major international victory, complementing his impressive indoor track record.
Over the past two years, the Havana-born athlete clinched back-to-back world indoor championships in Nanjing 2025 and Toruń 2026, and also topped the podium at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn 2025, becoming only the second athlete to win consecutive indoor world triple jump titles.
Díaz made his international debut for Italy at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he earned bronze with a leap of 17.64 meters in a historic final, where all three medalists—Jordan Díaz for Spain, Pichardo for Portugal, and Andy Díaz for Italy—were Cuban-born.
The pivotal moment in Díaz's career came in July 2021 when he left the Cuban delegation during a training camp in Madrid, seeking refuge in Italy. There, he was welcomed by former Olympic bronze medalist Fabrizio Donato in Livorno, who became his coach. Díaz gained Italian citizenship in February 2023, and since then, he has consistently collected titles.
Meanwhile, Pichardo has now finished as the European runner-up for two consecutive championships. In Rome 2024, it was Jordan Díaz who took the gold from him; in Birmingham 2026, that honor went to Andy Díaz. The outgoing European champion, Jordan Díaz, was unable to defend his title in Birmingham due to injuries that have severely limited his past two seasons.
The Cuban school of triple jumping continues to dominate the global scene, although its finest athletes now compete under European flags. With his 18.15-meter jump in Birmingham, Andy Díaz has made it clear that he aims to challenge Edwards' long-standing world record, which has stood for over three decades.
Exploring Andy Díaz's Historic Triple Jump Achievement
Who is Andy Díaz Hernández?
Andy Díaz Hernández is a Cuban-born track and field athlete representing Italy in the triple jump. He recently won the gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham with a jump of 18.15 meters.
What record did Andy Díaz set at the European Athletics Championships?
Andy Díaz set a new Italian national record with his 18.15-meter jump, which is also the best performance worldwide for the 2026 season.
How does Andy Díaz's jump compare to historical records?
Only three athletes have jumped further than Andy Díaz's 18.15 meters: Jonathan Edwards, Christian Taylor, and Jordan Díaz.