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News12 Jul 2001


Popescu – 2001 first World Youth Champion

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Popescu – 2001 first World Youth Champion
13 July 2001 – Debrecen – The first gold medal of these 2nd IAAF Westel World Youth Championships was awarded to Romania’s Alina Popescu who won the women’s triple jump contest.

“I am extremely happy to be the first gold medallist of these championships,” said a delighted Popescu after the award ceremony.

“I still can’t believe this gold medal is mine. I jumped a huge personal best today and without this mark I wouldn’t have won the event.”

Still only 15, Popescu outclassed her opponents with a series of four valid jumps. She passed the third and fifth attempts because she “felt pain in her left ankle.” The shortest of her efforts would nevertheless have been sufficient for winning the gold medal. Silver went to Russia’s Svetlana Bolshakova (13.32) and bronze to the USA’s Michelle Sanford (13.22).

Entered in the competition with a personal best of 12.96m, Popescu improved her mark at each of her attempts. Jumping in sixth position, she killed the contest with her first leap measured at a massive 13.67m. She improved on that mark at attempt number four – she had decided not to try attempt number 3 – by 9 centimetres for a new personal best of 13.76m. Her mark is also the third best Junior performance in the World this year and Popescu is likely to return to competition very soon.

“I still do not know whether I will compete at the European Championships but I will certainly take part in the Balkan Championships.”

Congratulated by the President of the Romanian Federation, former Olympic champion Iolanda Balas, Popescu explained why she took up the triple jump, an event which has seen her older compatriots perform particularly well in the seniors.

“I chose the triple jump simply because I enjoy this event. It requires technique, balance and coordination and I think I have proved today that I can put all three together.”

Popescu actually took her first steps in athletics four years ago when she was an all-round athlete. National youth record holder for the pentathlon, Popescu’s favourite discipline before turning to the triple jump was the 100m hurdles. “I am also the national champion in the hurdles, you know.”

Questioned about her performance today, Popescu seemed all but surprised. “I have been training very hard for these championships. I knew I could improve my personal best but to be honest never thought I’d add 80 centimetres to it!”

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