Delta Amidzovski Claims Gold in Long Jump at World Athletics U20 Championships 2024
The 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships held in Lima, Peru witnessed a remarkable achievement by Australian athlete Delta Amidzovski, who secured the gold medal in the women’s long jump event. Amidzovski’s triumphant performance on the second day of competition not only shattered her personal best but also made history by becoming the first Australian woman to win a long jump medal at the U20 level or higher. This victory marked Australia’s second gold medal of the championships.
Competing against formidable opponents, Amidzovski emerged victorious, surpassing athletes Sophia Beckmon from the United States and Poland’s Julia Adamczyk in the final. The competition intensified after initial attempts; Beckmon initially led the standings with a jump of 6.48 meters, while Amidzovski recorded a jump of 6.18 meters. However, Amidzovski soon reclaimed the lead by bettering her prior personal best of 6.37 meters in her second attempt.
The 18-year-old athlete further excelled during her penultimate attempt, achieving an impressive jump of 6.58 meters to clinch the title. In a statement provided by Athletics Australia, Amidzovski expressed, “I was just thinking if they go out and jump, why can’t I jump? We are all human and we can all do it. It was just another fun jump and another great jump.” She conveyed her emotional state by stating, “It’s not much like me to share emotion but I think tomorrow at the medal ceremony, I might shed a tear. I hope I do; I deserve it.”
In addition to her success in the long jump, Amidzovski is also scheduled to compete in the women’s 100-meter hurdles event on the same day.
Another noteworthy achievement for Australia came from athlete Marley Raikiwasa, who earned a bronze medal in the women’s discus throw final. The gold and silver medals were secured by athletes Bingyang Han and Jingru Huang from the People’s Republic of China, respectively. Despite a rocky start where Raikiwasa failed to register a mark on her first attempt, she rose to prominence with a throw of 54.92 meters on her second attempt. She improved her distance to 56.25 meters on her fifth attempt, although this was surpassed by Huang, who recorded a throw of 56.47 meters.
Raikiwasa credited her confidence to the collective support from her parents, coaches, and friends, stating, “My confidence is credited to a lot of people. My parents, my coaches, friends and family back home and in America. My confidence is not just me, it’s everyone around me lifting me up.”
As of the current standings, Australia leads the medal tally at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2024, boasting three medals: two gold and one silver. A contingent of 68 athletes, which includes Olympians Torrie Lewis, Peyton Craig, and Claudia Hollingsworth, represents Australia at these championships, with the event scheduled to conclude on August 31.
Post Comment