Jordan Díaz, the Cuban Olympic champion in the triple jump who has represented Spain for years, has made a radical change in his career. He is leaving the triple jump legend, his long-time coach Iván Pedroso, and moving his training to the United States. This decision, described by Spanish media as a surprising turn, involves leaving Spain, where the athlete has trained since 2018 and obtained citizenship. His new training base will be the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, known for its strong track and field program. This change comes at a crucial moment, less than two years before the next Olympic Games.

Parting Ways with a Legendary Coach

Jordan Díaz has decided to end his collaboration with Iván Pedroso, a multiple world champion and the coach who has guided him since his arrival in Spain. Pedroso was a key figure in Díaz's career development.

Move to the United States

Díaz's new training location will be the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, considered one of the leading track and field centers in the USA. The decision means physically leaving Spain, where the athlete won medals and gained citizenship.

Olympic and Career Context

The change comes during preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games. Díaz is the current Olympic champion from Paris 2024 and a multiple world championship medalist, making the decision strategically important for defending his title.

Mystery and Surprise

Spanish media describe Díaz's decision as a "mystery" and a "radical turn," suggesting surprise in the sports community. The details of the motivation and the exact reasons for parting ways with Pedroso are not fully disclosed.

Cuban Olympic triple jump champion, representing Spain, Jordan Díaz, has made a surprising turn in his career, leaving both his legendary coach, Iván Pedroso, and Spain – the country that welcomed him six years ago. The news of this decision was reported on Wednesday by three leading Spanish newspapers, with the latest article published at 19:46 Polish time. Díaz, the current Olympic gold medalist from Paris 2024, has decided to move his preparations to the University of Arkansas in the United States. Jordan Díaz was born in Cuba, where he began his career. In 2018, at the age of 17, he left the country and was granted political asylum in Spain, which allowed him to compete for Spain from 2022. His former coach, Iván Pedroso, also Cuban, is a triple jump legend – a four-time world indoor champion and Olympic gold medalist from Sydney 2000. Pedroso coached Díaz from the beginning of his stay in Spain. The decision to part ways with such an experienced coach and leave Spain has caused great surprise. The newspaper "El Mundo", which was the first to report the news of a "radical turn," indicates that the change is comprehensive and concerns the entire training environment. "ABC" specifies that Díaz's new base will be the renowned track and field program at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, known for its modern training methods and work with top jumpers. „No puedo quedarme estancado. Necesito nuevos retos, un nuevo ambiente que me impulse a seguir mejorando. Arkansas representa esa oportunidad.” — Jordan Díaz This statement suggests the athlete's motivation is the search for fresh stimuli and further development. The Spanish Athletics Federation, which Díaz represents, has not yet publicly commented on this decision. The change occurs at a crucial point in the Olympic cycle, less than two years before the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Díaz will be defending the gold medal he won in Paris there. The move to the USA could mean adapting to the conditions and competition in the host country of the future Games. It is not clear whether the decision will affect his status as a Spanish representative, as he formally remains a Spanish citizen and athlete. The media raises questions about the long-term consequences of this change for Spanish athletics, which is losing one of its biggest stars on a daily basis.

Mentioned People

  • Jordan Díaz — Cuban track and field athlete, Olympic triple jump champion from Paris 2024, representing Spain.
  • Iván Pedroso — Cuban track and field athlete, Olympic long jump champion from Sydney 2000, coach of Jordan Díaz.