A leg injury sustained last Friday in Brussels has sidelined Cuban long jumper Jorge Hodelín from participating in the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, the most challenging event on the autumn athletics calendar, slated for next weekend in Budapest, Hungary.
The mishap took place during his first attempt in the final of the Diamond League in the Belgian capital, marking the last stop of the circuit, as reported by the state-run media JIT. On that jump, Hodelín managed only 6.81 meters—significantly below his usual performance—and was forced to withdraw from the competition immediately.
His coach, Miguel Vázquez, confirmed the decision to the media: "We've already decided he won't compete in the Ultimate World Championship next weekend."
The 19-year-old athlete from Cabaiguán, Sancti Spíritus, arrived in Brussels as one of the top global talents in his field, following an extraordinary 2026 season.
Hodelín reached a career milestone on June 13 by setting a new world under-20 record in Pierre-Bénite, France, with a jump of 8.46 meters, surpassing the previous record held by Italy’s Mattia Furlani (8.38 meters), as confirmed by World Athletics.
Throughout the Diamond League, Hodelín delivered impressive performances: he secured third place in Rome with 8.18 meters, claimed victory at the Papaflessia International Meeting in Greece with 8.22 meters, and jumped 8.38 meters in Monaco, among other notable performances.
His fourth-place finish in Zurich, with a leap of 8.32 meters on August 28, earned him both a spot in the Brussels final and a place in the inaugural Ultimate World Championship, an event bringing together the top-ranked athletes globally.
Hodelín also made his debut at the World Indoor Championships with a fourth-place finish and a jump of 8.26 meters, reinforcing his status as a promising figure in Cuban athletics, a discipline with a rich history on the Island thanks to legends like Iván Pedroso and Juan Miguel Echevarría.
In Brussels, with Hodelín unable to compete, the long jump victory went to Jamaican Tajay Gayle with an 8.46-meter jump on his final attempt, followed by Greek Olympic and world champion Miltiadis Tentoglou (8.40 meters) and Switzerland's Simon Ehammer (8.23 meters).
Vázquez chose to prioritize the athlete's health over competitive results, aligning with what JIT described as "one of the sacred principles of Cuban sports: that nothing is more important than the athlete's health."
The Ultimate World Championship will take place from September 11 to 13 in Budapest, and the Cuban team's focus will now shift to the recovery of their young long jump star before the upcoming commitments of the season.
Jorge Hodelín and the Impact of His Injury
What caused Jorge Hodelín to miss the Ultimate World Championship?
Jorge Hodelín suffered a leg injury during his first attempt in the final of the Diamond League in Brussels, which led to his withdrawal from the Ultimate World Championship.
What achievements did Jorge Hodelín have prior to his injury?
Before his injury, Jorge Hodelín had an outstanding 2026 season, setting a world under-20 record with a jump of 8.46 meters and securing notable performances in the Diamond League.
Who won the long jump in Brussels after Hodelín's injury?
Following Hodelín's injury, the long jump event in Brussels was won by Jamaican Tajay Gayle, with a jump of 8.46 meters in his final attempt.